Causes and How to Remove Stretch marks on Knees

Are you troubled by stretch marks and don’t know what they really are and why they form? Do not be worried anymore. We are going to discuss their meaning, ways to identify them, their causes as well as how to remove them fast.

Have a look at your knees. Do you see streaks or stripes running across them? These are stretch marks, also known as striae. You can also see them in other body parts such as thighs, arms, abdomen, shoulders, hips, and breasts among others.

Can they affect your knees?

On your knees, you may note white, red or purple streaks. Initially, these stripes are light-colored. However, they fade with time to become dark or grey streaks or marks.

How do you recognize them?

Don’t confuse stretch marks with other marks on your knees, such as birthmarks and healed wounds. Mayo Clinic notes that they will usually manifest in the form of:

• Indented lines that run across the knees, either on the back or front of knees
• Purple, pink, blue or even black streaks that crisscross your knees
• Bright lines that tend to fade with time

If you notice any of the following symptoms, they are having striae on knees, or you are likely to develop them in future. However, noting these symptoms shouldn’t get you worried.

Normally, these marks short-lived. You don’t have to bother yourself with stretch mark creams and lotions. Removal ways should only cross your mind in the following instances:

• If they keep recurring
• If stretch marks on knees won’t go away after a few weeks
• If they tend to appear on other body parts
• If they are excessively conspicuous and likely to affect your self-esteem

Who gets stretch marks on knees?

There has been a heated debate on who the main victims of striae on knees are. However, Pulse Light Clinic notes that they are more common in the following categories of people:

• Women, especially during pregnancy
• Boys and girls, especially during puberty
• Men, especially when they engage in rigorous feet activities such as running and jogging.
• Men and Women, especially when they rapidly gain weight.

However, women are more likely to get them than men. Why is this so? There are many body activities in women that tend to cause enormous hormonal imbalance.

What causes them and risk factor

While everyone is prone to having, certain risk factors have been known to increase the likelihood of one getting them. What are these risk factors? Medicinenet.com highlights that the following risk factors are hugely associated with these stripes or streaks.

• Being Female
• Rapid weight loss or gain
• Pregnancy, especially in young women
• Obesity
• Family history
• Use of certain medication such as corticosteroids
• Having certain medical conditions such as Marfan syndrome

Being female

By the virtue of being female, you are at a higher risk of having them. In women, hormonal variation is a norm. Certain body processes, such as menstrual periods, result in immense hormonal imbalances.

Also, many women use birth control medications. These also interfere with estrogen and progesterone production. The skin is the primary victim of these hormonal variations. As a result, striae in various body parts, including the knees, are inevitable.

Weight loss and weight gain

When weight gain or loss is rapid, the connective tissues in the dermis are immensely affected. Some of them will even tear as a result.

Weight gain and weight loss also interfere with the production of collagen. This is the protein that gives the skin its elasticity. When collagen is not adequately formed, the skin stretches abnormally, thus forming stretch marks.

Pregnancy in young women

Pregnancy period is closely related to weight gain and hormonal imbalance. During pregnancy, there is not only massive hormonal variation but also excessive weight gain.

A lot of fat is deposited in various body parts such as thighs, hips, and knees. Deposition of fats causes the skin to rapidly stretch. The stretching injures the connective tissues. The striae you are seeing on your knees are a symptom of damaged connective tissues.

Obesity

This is a common phenomenon during puberty. It affects both boys and girls. During this time, there is what we call growth spurts. What are growth spurts among the teens?

Growth spurt comes along with rapid weight gain, and times sudden weight loss. This directly affects our skin, especially the connective tissues. The outcome is the streaks you can see on your knees, alongside other body parts.

Family history

Stretch mark removal may not work for you if the ones you have are genetic. Various products might not be of much help.

What does it mean to have they that flow within the family line? Yes, at times you may note that every member of your family gets them on the knees or in other parts. No treatment and no home remedy can remove such cases. However, you can minimize their appearance

Prolonged use of corticosteroids

Do you know what corticosteroids are? There are wide ranges of corticosteroids that are in use. However, the ones that cause striae are in the form of lotions and creams. When taken for a long time, they tend to interfere with the skin’s elasticity.

The formation of collagen is also inhibited. This, in turn, directly affects the connective tissues. The outcome is obvious; numerous stretch marks.

Certain medical conditions

There are certain health conditions that immensely affect the connective tissues. One of such diseases is the Marfan syndrome.

Apart from the skin, the disease also affects the fingers, toes, and arms. The joints are extremely flexible and support and movement are inhibited. On top of that, your knees may develop these marks.

Stretch marks on knees treatment

Is it possible to treat these marks? Can you prevent them? You do not have to worry, there exist numerous remedies for stretch marks. You can get rid of stretch marks by adopting some of the following measures

1. Regular exercises. When they appear on your knees, regular exercises can help. Some exercises on your feet will enhance the tone of your skin while fading the stretch mark
2. Apply creams, lotions, and oils. You can use existing stretch mark removal creams, oils, and lotions. Some creams and lotions containing vitamin E and Aloe Vera are effective in fading away these streaks away.
3. Manage your weight. Like earlier noted, weight gain and obesity are the leading causes, especially in women. Therefore, consider managing your diet so that you don’t excessively gain weight. Moreover, do a lot of exercises to lose weight.
4. Keep hydrated. Dehydration also plays a major role in affecting your skin’s elasticity. Therefore, ensure you drink a lot of water to keep your skin hydrated. When elasticity is enhanced, the risk of getting these streaks on knees is reduced.
5. See a dermatologist. In extreme cases, you can visit a physician. A dermatologist may recommend laser therapy, chemical peeling or surgery. These procedures are effective in getting rid of stretch marks on knees fast and effectively.

References

1. Wikipedia.org Marfan syndrome
2. Wikipedia.org Corticosteroid
3. Draxe.com What is Collagen?