You can find many people having stretch marks on their thighs, be it male or female. This part of the body is more prone to stretch marks.
The stretch marks can occur at different parts of the inner thighs or outer thighs but can offer an unsightly look as a whole.
Irrespective of gender and age thigh marks are a bit of embarrassment when exposed.
This is especially the case when one plans to wear clothes such as minis, shorts, short skirts, etc.
Causes of Stretch Marks on Thighs
There can be many causes of thigh stretch marks, including sudden weight gain, hormonal disbalance, use of steroids, medical conditions, bodybuilding, etc.
The main reasons are discussed here -
Weight Gain
The main reason behind the occurrence of these marks on the thighs is weight gain.
While gaining body weight most of the people tend to experience extra flabs, which are actually fats that settle at some prime areas of the body such as thighs, breasts, hips, and abdomen.
Medical issues
A chronic medical condition known as Cushing’s syndrome causes hormonal imbalance in your body, which can also lead to the appearance of stretch marks on your legs and thighs.
Excess use of steroids
Excessive use of steroids can also lead to a massive and fast body muscle development which can because of stretch marks at selected parts of the body like the thighs.
Other causes
People who are passing through puberty stage or pregnant or into bodybuilding would find certain parts of the body growing at a rapid pace, which would trigger the appearance of stretch marks on various parts of the body such as thighs, legs, and arms as the growth rate are very fast.
How to Prevent Stretch Marks on Thighs
The easiest way to stop stretch marks from spoiling the look of your body is through prevention.
Make sure you follow some of these precautions if you are using some steroids, planning for a baby, or following a new workout pattern.
Apply natural oils
Having regular massage performed using natural oils may help to prevent the appearance of stretch marks as the oils are packed with essential nutrients that can nourish the skin and reduce the development of stretch marks on your skin.
The following oils can be used regularly to stay away from the nagging issue of stretch marks.
Frankincense oil: Most aromatherapists recommend this oil to treat the stretch marks as they can keep the skin hydrated and hence helps in eliminating the formation of stretch marks on the skin.
Coconut oil: This oil is well known to possess skin conditioning qualities which explains why it was used in ancient times to cure all kinds of marks and scars on the skin.
Today, coconut oil is easily available and is not very expensive too. You can also use virgin coconut oil as it is rich in Vitamin E, which is essential for nourishing the layers of your skin.
Cocoa butter oil: This oil is derived from the beans of cocoa plant and is rich in antioxidant properties that can detox and cleanse the skin while maintaining it free from stretch marks.
Applying this oil from the initial stages of pregnancy will help to keep stretch marks at bay.
Follow a balanced diet
Make sure you consume lots of fresh fruits and vegetables as they have rich antioxidants that can hydrate and enrich your skin.
Do not take foods loaded with too much sugar, fat or salt as it can dehydrate the skin greatly.
Weight control
Increased weight can cause lots of other problems and stretch marks is just one of them. It is thus best to control your weight.
Steroids
Excess use of steroids is not only harmful to the body but also cause stretch marks due to rapid muscle growth.
Stay hydrated
Have lots of water every day, which must be more than 8 glasses per day.
In addition, drink green tea that is good for your skin as it flushes out the toxic free radicals.
How to remove stretch marks on thighs?
What if you already have stretch marks? Do not worry, you can remove the stretch marks on your thighs to a great extent in many ways.
They are discussed below.
Exfoliate regularly
When you exfoliate regularly, you will lose unwanted fat on your thighs as it gets deposited in this part of the body usually.
You can exfoliate using any natural product such as aloe vera or olive oil and combine with a natural exfoliator from a renowned brand at home.
Apply this mixture on your thighs and massage gently in circular movements until the moisture is fully absorbed by the skin. This will help the marks on the thighs to lighten.
Stretch mark creams
You will also find stretch mark creams and lotions on the market with a special formula to lighten stretch marks on your thighs.
These could be effective too. It is one of the most cost-effective methods.
Moisturize your thighs
Choose any natural product rich in moisturizing properties like cocoa butter or coconut oil or go for branded moisturizers to replenish the lost moisture in your thighs.
Laser treatment
This is an expensive treatment, which can be chosen when you do not find any improvement in the appearance of your stretch marks by other methods or the extent of stretch marks is very severe.
You can go for methods such as fractional laser or CO2 laser methods to reduce the levels of pigmentation of the skin on your thighs.
Chemical peels
Seek a qualified dermatologist to get a chemical peel performed on your thighs.
The specialist would peel away some layers of your skin to make way for the new skin to grow which would have a better texture.
Summary
Stretch marks on thighs are common and can occur due to various reasons.
The best way to avoid stretch marks is to prevent any rapid changes in the body which can stretch the skin and always keep skin hydrated.