In short

Stretch marks are extremely common in puberty and affect most teens at some point. 

They appear on hips, thighs, breasts, calves, and lower back as her body grows quickly, and they almost always fade naturally over time. 

The most useful thing you can do is reassure her, normalise them, and avoid expensive "fixes" that don't really deliver.

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Is it normal for my daughter to have stretch marks?

Yes, completely. The NHS describes stretch marks as narrow streaks or lines that appear on the skin and are very common during puberty, pregnancy, or rapid growth.

A few things to know:

• They affect girls and boys, though girls notice them more often during puberty
• They tend to appear on areas that grow or change shape quickly
• They often look red, pink, or purple at first, then fade to silvery white over time
• They're not a sign that anything is wrong with her health or body
• Many adults still have them, and most have stopped noticing

If you'd like a fuller medical explainer, luna's guide on understanding your daughter's stretch marks covers the basics.

Why do teens get stretch marks?

Stretch marks happen when the skin stretches faster than it can keep up with. Teen bodies do a lot of stretching very quickly, especially during puberty growth spurts.

Common reasons stretch marks show up in teens:

• Growth spurts, especially around age 10 to 14
• Breast development, which often produces marks on the sides of the breasts
• Hip and thigh changes as her body shape develops
• Calf and shoulder growth in teens who are sporty or growing tall fast
• Weight gain or loss
• A family history of stretch marks (genetics play a real role)
• Some medical conditions or medicines (rarer)

The marks themselves are tiny tears in the deeper layer of the skin, which is why they look like streaks. 

They're not a flaw, just a record of how fast her body is changing.

Why is she so upset about them?

Even though they're harmless, stretch marks can hit hard, especially when she's already adjusting to a body that doesn't feel like hers yet.

Some context from luna polls:

• A luna poll of 2,156 girls found that 22% say body image struggles are their top worry going into summer
• A luna poll of 2,536 girls found that 18% say comparing their body to others impacts their body image most
• A luna poll of 1,464 girls found that 54% edit or filter their appearance in photos at least sometimes
• A luna poll of 2,718 girls found that 84% have felt pressure to "glow up" before going back to school

She's not just upset about a few marks: she's living in a feed full of edited skin and constant comparison. 

luna's guides on Instagram Face and how it might be affecting teens and SkinnyTok cover the wider pressure.

How do I talk to her about her stretch marks?

Lead with listening, not solutions. Most teens want to feel heard before they're given advice.

What tends to land well:

• Ask her how she's feeling about her body right now, not just the marks
• Avoid "they're nothing, you don't need to worry": her feelings are real
• Normalise rather than minimise ("they're really common in puberty" lands differently from "they don't matter")
• Share that lots of adults have them too, including ones she'd never expect
• Don't compare her to siblings, friends, or yourself
• Avoid commenting on her body unprompted, even positively
• If she asks for advice, give her information, not instructions

You don't have to fix this in one conversation. The goal is to keep the door open, not land on a solution today. 

luna's wider guide on what to do if your daughter has body image issues goes deeper.

Will her stretch marks go away?

Mostly, yes. Stretch marks fade significantly over time, even without any treatment, though they don't usually disappear entirely.

What typically happens:

• New stretch marks often look red, pink, purple, or dark brown
• Over months to years, they fade to a pale, silvery colour
• They become flatter and less noticeable
• On her natural skin tone, they often blend in much more than she expects
• Once her growth slows, fewer new ones tend to appear

The NHS confirms that stretch marks usually become less noticeable over time, even without treatment. Time is the most reliable "treatment" there is.

Are there any treatments that actually work?

Mostly, no. The NHS is clear that no single cream, oil, or gel has been proven to consistently get rid of stretch marks, despite a huge market of products that claim to.

What the evidence actually says:

• Moisturising the skin can keep it comfortable and may help slightly during growth
• Products containing tretinoin (a vitamin A cream) may improve newer marks, but it's prescription only and not usually offered to teens
• Laser treatments and microdermabrasion are sometimes offered privately, but results are inconsistent and they're rarely available on the NHS
• Pregnancy creams, oils, and "stretch mark serums" sold online have very little evidence behind them
• Nothing reliably removes stretch marks completely

So if she's begging for an expensive cream, it's worth a gentle conversation about what's actually been shown to work.

Saving the money and waiting for natural fading is usually a better call.

If she's exploring skincare more widely, luna's guides on should your daughter be using retinol?, navigating TikTok skincare trends and can teens use too much skincare? are useful.

How do I help her feel better about her body?

Body image work is slow, layered, and personal. There's no one fix, but a few things genuinely help over time.

Things that tend to make a difference:

• Model your own body acceptance out loud (the way you talk about yourself sets a tone)
• Diversify her social feed: encourage follows of creators with stretch marks, varied bodies, and real skin
• Avoid commenting on other people's bodies, including celebrities and family members
• Don't make food, weight, or shape the centre of conversation
• Normalise stretch marks at home: a passing mention that "yep, I have them too" is sometimes enough
• Give her time. Most teens become less self-conscious as they get used to their changing body

If you'd like to think about your own approach to bodies and food at home, our guides on are you an almond mum? and what does almond daughter mean? are short, honest reads.

If her upset about stretch marks is part of a wider self-esteem dip, luna's guide on low self-esteem in teens walks through what to look for.

FAQ

Are stretch marks a sign of weight gain?

Not necessarily. Stretch marks are about how quickly skin stretches, not just weight. Plenty of teens get them during normal growth spurts without any weight change.

Will exercising or losing weight make them disappear?

No. Once stretch marks have formed, they don't disappear with weight loss or exercise. They fade naturally over time regardless.

Should I buy her a stretch mark cream?

It's your call, but the evidence behind most stretch mark creams is weak. A basic moisturiser is just as good for keeping skin comfortable, and a lot cheaper. 

The NHS doesn't recommend any specific product for stretch mark removal.

When should I see a GP about stretch marks?

Stretch marks aren't usually a medical issue. 

But it's worth a GP visit if she has a sudden appearance of lots of stretch marks alongside other symptoms (rapid weight gain, mood changes, fatigue), as some rarer conditions can cause this.

Could her stretch marks be a sign of something else?

In most cases, no. Stretch marks in puberty are very normal. 

Very rarely, they can be linked to conditions affecting hormones (like Cushing's syndrome) or connective tissue. If something feels off, your GP can rule things out.

A small note before her next growth spurt

Her body is doing exactly what it's supposed to do, even if she'd rather it slowed down. 

Stretch marks are evidence of growth, not damage, and most teens stop noticing them within a few years.

If she's struggling with how she feels about her body more broadly, luna's guide on what to do if your daughter has body image issues is a good next read.

If she has a sudden, unexplained appearance of lots of stretch marks alongside other physical changes, book a GP appointment to rule things out.

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