Why do breasts have stretch marks?

boobs have stretch marks

Breasts are a staple of femininity and come in so many beautiful shapes and sizes. They’re all completely different - even differing from one side to another on the same person. But because of their very nature, people often find they have stretch marks under, on, and around their breasts. It’s a regular part of your anatomy, and stretch marks are tiny scars that can be seen as reminders of how your unique body can adapt to anything. But that doesn’t change the fact that you might want to know more about why they’re there and what you can do about them if they bother you. No judgment here! We’re going to banish some taboos and talk about all things boob stretch marks, why they happen, and what you can do to look after the skin on your chest. 


Is it normal to have stretch marks around your nipples?

It’s normal to have stretch marks on your breasts and around your nipples in particular. Most people have stretch marks on one part of their body or another, and for many people, those stretch marks are on their breasts. It makes sense once you understand what stretch marks are and how they appear: stretch marks are small scars that happen when your skin has to stretch quickly to accommodate growth. They can happen for many different reasons, but one of the most common is when you go through a growth spurt during puberty or your body mass changes quickly. So it makes total sense that your breasts get stretch marks because of how their size fluctuates during puberty, pregnancy, weight gain, and other hormonal changes. 


Do stretch marks go away?

Stretch marks tend to fade with time and proper care, but they likely won’t disappear completely. You will generally notice that new stretch marks are red or purple, while older ones appear closer to your natural skin tone. When it comes to giving your stretch marks the best chance at fading, you’ll want to look to vitamin-rich skincare products that will give your skin the tools it needs to repair itself. You’ll want to look for products rich in vitamins C and E, both of which are proven to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Our Super Tightening Duo brings together the power of CBD and Ice wine (both of which are high in vitamin C) to give your skin a tighter, more nourished appearance.


If you’re self-conscious about your stretch marks (it’s ok to be - we’re all on our path when it comes to body acceptance), you can consider using a self-tanner. Tanning in the sun doesn’t change the shade of stretch marks, but self-tanner does. It can even out your skin tone to reduce the appearance of your stretch marks. And although it isn’t treated as such, if you’re dealing with new stretch marks you want to cover or just want to give yourself an easy confidence boost, then tanner can be the perfect quick fix. 


Do stretch marks mean you’re fat?

Nope. It’s literally that simple. Stretch marks are a completely natural way for your body to adapt to changes that naturally occur. For some people, gaining weight will lead to the development of new stretch marks - for other people losing weight will reveal stretch marks. Other people still, whose weight hasn’t fluctuated much since puberty, also have many stretch marks. The factors that determine whether or not someone will get stretch marks to go beyond weight. The Mayo Clinic lists that being female is a ‘risk factor’ for stretch marks, hormonal changes, genetics, and some rare medical conditions. If you’re asking yourself whether stretch marks mean you’re fat or not, chances are you’re insecure about them. And if you look at the way society has shaped us to feel about our bodies, it’s hardly a surprise. An investigative piece about stretch marks featured in The Cut found that gynecologists treated women’s stretch marks as an ‘issue’ from as early as 100 AD. So it’s not your fault if you’re feeling a bit down about them. We recommend taking some time to love your skin, massage it, look at it, learn to love it. It’s a significant part of you and helps you do all things you want to in life. And while you do that, we’ll be over here trying to change the messaging about stretch marks once and for all!


Can you get stretch marks from not wearing a bra?

Going braless can increase your chances of developing stretch marks, yes. We’ll forever remember 2020 as the year we worked from home and let the girls hang free more than ever before. But hanging up your bra can lead to changes in your breast tissue over the long run, including, in some cases, the appearance of new red stretch marks on breasts. We’re talking about not wearing a bra for weeks here, as opposed to just going braless for a night so you can wear a backless dress. Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, a biomechanics professor, told the Huffington Post, “a lot of people don’t realize that the breast doesn’t have any muscles in it. It’s a lump of glandular tissue and fat, but that proportion varies wildly from woman to woman.” She explains that your breast tissue can experience “microtraumas” when carrying out daily activities without wearing a bra. Depending on the amount of tissue you carry in your breasts, the level of exercise needed to start creating damage can be as minimal as walking around the house. Yikes. But she also stresses that creating new stretch marks simply from not wearing a bra remains pretty extreme. So, like most things in life, it’s all about balance. Wearing a bra most of the time sounds like a pretty sensible idea, though. 


The bottom line

Stretch marks on your boobs are entirely normal and natural. While it can be challenging to embrace a part of you that society has always taught you to dislike, there are steps you can take to embrace your skin. Using an effective nutrient-rich skincare routine on areas affected by stretch marks is the best way to help them fade quicker. That being said, they will never disappear completely. If you’re worried about developing new stretch marks, keeping your skin in good shape during periods when your body shape is changing is a great start. And don’t forget to wear a bra to give your skin the support it needs. If you want to camouflage your stretch marks, you can look into using a self-tanner as a sort of body foundation to even out your skin tone. We think your differences are beautiful, and spending time admiring them is the best way to get to know yourself better. Massage your skin, look at it in the mirror, and tell yourself how gorgeous and powerful your skin is for everything it does for you.