The short explanation
Stretch marks commonly appear with rapid weight gain, growth spurts or pregnancy, and they are usually harmless. But wide, dark purple stretch marks that appear without pregnancy or major weight gain, especially on the stomach, arms or thighs, should be checked by a doctor. One cause doctors consider is high levels of the hormone cortisol, either from long-term use of steroid medicines, including creams, injections or tablets taken for other conditions, or less commonly from the body making too much cortisol, known as Cushing's syndrome. Other signs that may go with it include a rounder face, fat on the upper back, easy bruising, muscle weakness, high blood pressure and high sugar. A doctor can decide whether tests are needed.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Tell the doctor about any medicines, including steroid creams, ayurvedic or unlabelled remedies, which sometimes contain hidden steroids.
- Stretch marks from ordinary causes usually fade to a paler colour over time.
- If tests are normal, the doctor can discuss options for making stretch marks less visible.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you what is causing your stretch marks. A doctor needs to examine you and may order blood or urine tests.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Do these stretch marks need any tests?
- Could any medicine I take be causing them?
- Are there other signs of hormone imbalance I should look for?
- What can be done about the stretch marks themselves?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days, especially if you also have easy bruising, muscle weakness, or a rounder face.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine follow-up after tests to discuss the results.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Steroids NHS
- Skin conditions MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Type 2 diabetes NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
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- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
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No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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