Why Stretch Marks Don’t Tan

Stretch marks aren’t just a nuisance for pregnant women. They occur whenever anyone gains weight quickly, causing skin to stretch beyond its normal capacity. A stretch mark essentially is a scar that responds to tanning much differently than normal skin.

Basics

Normal skin contains a balance of vitamin E and collagen, which is a protein building block that connects cell fibers together.

What Is Missing In A Stretch Mark

A stretch mark is a scar caused when collagen production cannot keep up with the stretching of the skin because it is occurring too extensively, in too short of a time period.

Scars Cannot Accept Tan

Because a scar is damaged skin, it does not have the chemical properties of healthy skin that allow the tanning process (associated with exposure to ultraviolet rays) to be accepted by the skin.

Options To Try

Manufacturers of some sunless tanning products claim that collagen-boosting properties in their lotions can help stretch marks fade. As each person’s skin is individual, each person would have to try various products to test their effectiveness.

Healing Stretch Marks

To help heal stretch marks, drink lots of water and pump up your vitamin intake. Concentrate on vitamin C, E and B-complex, as well as vitamin A (which helps improve your skin’s elasticity). As new layers of healthy skin develop, stretch marks will fade.