Love handle stretch marks: what to know

Stretch marks, also called striae, can develop on the sides of the waist after body growth, weight change, pregnancy, muscle gain, or hormonal shifts. Early marks may look pink, red, purple, or darker than nearby skin; older marks often become paler and slightly indented. They are not caused by poor hygiene and are not contagious. Their presence does not indicate that your body is unhealthy.

Keeping the area moisturised can reduce dryness and itch, although moisturiser does not rebuild stretched fibres. Avoid rapid unplanned weight changes where possible and use sun protection, because tanning can make the contrast more noticeable. A dermatologist can assess the mark's colour, age, and texture before discussing options such as Microneedling, Fractional Laser Treatment, RF Microneedling, or Carboxytherapy. These procedures require a personalised plan and may need more than one session; results vary and treated skin still needs protection.

Arrange a clinical review if marks appear suddenly without an obvious stretching change, spread quickly, become painful, bleed, or occur with easy bruising, marked weakness, or other new body changes. Seek advice before using steroid creams on your own, since prolonged or inappropriate use can thin skin and sometimes contribute to stretch-mark-like lines.

Ask whether the lines are typical stretch marks, which feature is most suitable to target, what downtime and pigment changes are possible for your skin tone, and how to protect the area between treatments.