Can Guys Get Stretch Marks? | Causes And Fixes That Work

Yes, stretch marks can appear on men after fast muscle or weight shifts, and they often fade as skin heals.

Stretch marks aren’t a “women only” thing. Guys get them during puberty, after a bulking phase, or after a quick change on the scale. They can show up on shoulders, arms, chest, belly, hips, thighs, and lower back.

Most of the time, these lines are harmless. Still, they can mess with confidence, so this article sticks to what’s known, what’s worth trying, and what to skip.

Can Guys Get Stretch Marks? Real Reasons And Timing

Yes. Male skin gets stretch marks for the same core reason as anyone else: the skin stretches or shrinks fast enough to stress the dermis, the layer that holds collagen and elastin. Medical references describe them as scarring tied to rapid size changes, including rapid growth, weight change, and bodybuilding.

When they first form, they often look red, purple, pink, or dark brown, depending on your skin tone. Later, they tend to fade toward lighter lines.

Moments When Guys Usually Notice Them

• Puberty growth spurts: fast height and weight changes.
• Rapid muscle gain: a hard bulk adding inches to shoulders, chest, arms, glutes, or thighs.
• Quick weight gain or loss: belly and hips changing shape in weeks.
• Long-term steroid use: skin can thin and mark more easily.

Places They Show Up On Male Bodies

Guys often spot them where size changes show first: shoulders and upper arms, chest and lats, belly and hips, thighs and glutes, and the lower back.

What Stretch Marks Are

A stretch mark is a narrow strip of scar tissue formed under the surface when the dermis is stressed. The American Academy of Dermatology’s stretch marks page describes how early marks often look red or purple and then change over time.

This is why “erase it in a week” products disappoint. You can reduce visibility, but a scar rarely returns to untouched skin.

How To Spot Stretch Marks Vs. Other Skin Lines

Many guys mix up stretch marks with scratches or dry-skin cracking. These quick checks help:

• Stretch marks: parallel streaks, often in clusters, that change color over weeks or months.
• Scratches: sharp lines tied to a clear cause, healing in days.
• Single old scars: linked to one injury, not a band of lines.
• Dry-skin fissures: flaky surface with tiny shallow cracks.

If marks appear with other changes like easy bruising or sudden fat gain in a new pattern, get checked. The NHS stretch marks page lists red-flag symptom patterns that need medical review in rare cases.

What To Do In The First Two Weeks

New marks can itch and feel tender. Simple habits can make skin feel better fast, even if the look changes slowly.

Keep Friction Low

Tight straps, rough seams, and belts can irritate fresh marks. Softer fabrics and a clean rinse after sweaty sessions help.

Moisturize Consistently

Moisturizer won’t guarantee prevention, yet it can cut dryness and itch, and it can make the surface look smoother. Use a fragrance-free cream after showering.

Slow Down Size Swings When You Can

If you’re gaining fast on a bulk, ease the weekly pace. Same idea for aggressive cuts. A steadier shift gives skin more time to adapt.

Myths That Waste Time

Myth: Only overweight people get stretch marks. Reality: Lean lifters and teens get them, too, since speed of change is the driver.

Myth: Drinking more water makes them disappear. Reality: Hydration is good for skin comfort, yet it won’t erase scar tissue by itself.

Myth: Scrubbing hard will “buff them out.” Reality: Aggressive scrubs can irritate new marks and make redness last longer.

Myth: One miracle cream works for everyone. Reality: Marks differ by age and color, so results vary a lot.

How Long They Take To Fade

New marks usually look the loudest in the first weeks. Many guys notice color settling over a few months, then slower blending after that. If your marks are still red or purple, you’re still in the early stage where some treatments tend to work better. If they’ve turned pale or silvery, your best gains often come from texture-focused care like consistent moisturizing, retinoids when appropriate, and in-clinic procedures.

Try not to judge changes week to week. Skin remodeling is slow. Check progress every 6–8 weeks using the same light and a quick photo.

What Changes The Look Over Time

Stretch marks usually fade. Many become harder to notice at a casual glance. Still, they rarely vanish completely. The Mayo Clinic’s stretch marks treatment page notes that treatment can improve appearance and results vary.

Judge progress with the same lighting and angle. Gym lights can exaggerate lines, while soft daylight can make them look milder.

Use this table as a quick map of the main levers you can control.

What Affects Visibility	What You Might See	Practical Move
New vs. older marks	New ones look red/purple/dark; older ones turn lighter	Start care early; expect slower change later
Rate of change	Fast bulks or cuts can create wider clusters	Choose steadier weekly targets
Skin dryness	Marks look sharper; skin feels tight	Fragrance-free cream after showering
Training friction	Itch around straps or waistbands	Adjust gear; reduce rubbing
Sun exposure	Higher contrast between mark and skin	Sunscreen; skip deliberate tanning on marks
Skin tone	Early color may stand out more on some tones	Give color time to settle; avoid harsh scrubs
Family history	Marks show with smaller size shifts	Go gradual; treat early if desired
Long-term steroids	Thinner skin; easier tearing	Medical review; avoid unsupervised steroid use

At-Home Treatments Worth Trying

Home care won’t delete stretch marks, but it can improve texture and reduce contrast. The best picks depend on whether marks are new or old, plus your tolerance for irritation.

Prescription Retinoids For Newer Marks

Prescription tretinoin has evidence for early, colored marks in some studies, with changes seen over months. A clinical trial in JAMA Dermatology on topical tretinoin for early stretch marks tested daily use for six months and reported improvement in treated participants.

Retinoids can irritate skin and raise sun sensitivity. Follow medical directions and use sunscreen. If you can’t get a prescription, over-the-counter retinol is a gentler cousin with less direct research on stretch marks.

Moisturizers And Gentle Exfoliation

Moisturizers help the surface feel smoother. If your skin tolerates it, a mild lactic acid body lotion a few nights per week can help with rough texture. If you feel burning or peeling, stop and return to plain moisturizer until calm.

Camouflage For Instant Blending

If the look bothers you right now, body makeup or self-tanner can blend contrast for a night out or a beach day. Patch-test first so you don’t irritate new marks.

Clinic Treatments Guys Ask About

Procedures can create faster change than creams, yet they still take time. Expect a series of visits and gradual improvement.

Microneedling

Microneedling nudges collagen remodeling and is often used for older, pale marks where texture is the main issue.

Fractional Laser

Fractional lasers can target color, texture, or both, depending on the device. Skill matters, since settings must match skin tone and mark type to reduce pigment risks.

Radiofrequency Microneedling

Some clinics pair microneedling with radiofrequency energy for texture and firmness, often with limited downtime between sessions.

Here’s a quick comparison to help you pick a lane.

Option	Best Fit	What You Might Notice
Moisturizer + sunscreen	Any mark, any budget	Smoother feel; less sun contrast
Prescription tretinoin	Newer, colored marks	Gradual softening over months
Microneedling	Older, pale marks	Slow blending after a session series
Fractional laser	Color or texture targets	Change for some; downtime varies
RF microneedling	Texture focus, limited peeling	Firming feel; series of sessions
Camouflage products	Instant visual blending	Same-day cover; washes off

Stretch Marks And Lifting: Simple Tweaks

If you lift, you don’t need to stop chasing gains. Aim for steadier progress and less rubbing on the areas that are changing.

• Track inches. When measurements jump fast, slow the surplus a bit.
• Check your gear. Backpacks, dip belts, and waistbands can rub new marks.
• Respect sleep. Better recovery helps skin repair, too.
• Use sunscreen. UV can raise contrast and make lines stand out.

When To Get Checked

Most stretch marks are harmless. Medical care makes sense when marks are sudden, very wide, or paired with other symptoms, or when you’re on steroids. It also makes sense if you want prescription treatment like tretinoin and need a safe plan for your skin.

A Simple 6-Week Routine

If you want a plan that’s easy to keep up with, start here:

1. Weeks 1–2: Moisturize daily after showering. Add sunscreen on exposed marks.
2. Weeks 3–4: If calm, add retinol at night 2–3 times per week.
3. Weeks 5–6: Keep the pace of bulking or cutting steadier if size is changing fast.

Take a photo in the same light at week 1 and week 6. If you want more change, book a clinic visit and ask what device they use for your skin tone and mark color.