National Stretch Mark Day Date in the current year: March 19, 2024

Stretch marks, also known as striae or tiger stripes, are a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks rapidly. They are caused by the tearing of the dermis (the layer of the skin beneath the epidermis that is responsible for the skin’s strength and elasticity). At first, stretch marks look like reddish or purple lesions; once the skin begins to heal, they tend to become white. Stretch marks may become less visible over time, but they don’t disappear completely.

The most common cause of stretch marks is pregnancy, but they can also appear due to growth spurts during puberty, and due to rapid gain or loss of weight and/or muscle. They are more likely to appear in places with significant amounts of subcutaneous fat, such as the belly, thighs, hips, buttocks, breasts, upper arms, and underarms.

Some people are more likely to develop stretch marks than others because there are many factors affecting skin elasticity. They include genetics, hormones, age, diet, and more. So it is often very hard to predict whether you will get stretch marks during puberty/pregnancy and how visible they will be.

Many people find stretch marks aesthetically unappealing and want to get rid of them, but there is no cure for stretch marks. Some treatments may lessen their appearance, but the scar tissue will always be there. And when you can’t change something, you should embrace it! It’s normal to feel self-consciousness about your body every now and then, but you shouldn’t let these feelings overwhelm you.

Take inspiration from celebrities who have embraced their stretch marks and shown them off on social media: Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, Halsey, Katie Holmes, Ashley Graham, Kylie Jenner, Jameela Jamil, Rihanna, Lexi Mendi, Lady Gaga, Chrissy Teigen, Lizzo, just to name a few! There is nothing about stretch marks that makes them inherently unattractive; it is all about perception, and the perception of stretch marks has been changing slowly but steadily thanks to people who are not afraid to speak out and love themselves.

National Stretch Mark Day was launched in 2019 by Anya Harris, who wanted to remind people that there is nothing to be ashamed of about stretch marks because they can impact people of all ages, genders, and body types. It is the day for you to embrace your stretch marks with pride and stop letting them affect your self-confidence.

There are many ways to get involved with National Stretch Mark Day. You can learn more about stretch marks to understand that they can occur in anyone, post a photo of yourself in a bathing suit to show off your stretch marks, give your skin some extra TLC, and spread the word on social media with the hashtags #NationalStretchMarkDay, #StretchMarkDay, #NationalStretchMarksDay, #StretchMarksDay, #StretchMarkAppreciationDay, #NationalStretchMarkAppreciationDay.