Yes, stretch marks can also affect men! It’s a common misconception that only women get them because of pregnancy. While pregnancy is one of the most common causes for stretch marks, over 25% of sufferers are men (HRA internal).
What are male stretch marks?
For men, stretch marks can be caused by growth spurts during puberty, sudden weight gain or a quick increase in muscle mass during sports. This happens because your skin is stretched too fast and the underlying connective tissue, the support structure which gives the skin its strength and elasticity has a difficult time keeping up. How prone you are to getting stretch marks seems to be influenced by genetics and hormones.[1,2]
Stretch marks appear as rippled streaks, medically also called striae, most commonly on the stomach, chest, buttocks, thighs, and upper arms. Their appearance depends on skin type and color. On pale skin, they usually appear as red or pink to purplish-blue streaks when fresh and become thinner, paler, and rather indented over time.