Why Are There Stretch Marks on My Legs Despite Not Being Pregnant?

Some women may find that they have stretch marks on their legs even though they are not pregnant. This is actually a case of obesity-related stretch marks. Let's understand more about the causes of stretch marks on the legs.

Strictly speaking, the marks on the thighs are not stretch marks but obesity-related stretch marks. Stretch marks are related to pregnancy and mainly appear on the abdomen due to the expansion of the skin caused by the growing fetus. The thighs are not affected by pregnancy. Stretch marks on the thighs are usually caused by excessive weight gain during pregnancy due to overeating. Therefore, it is essential to control your diet during pregnancy.

The marks that resemble stretch marks on the thighs are actually obesity-related stretch marks. They are not related to pregnancy but are caused by rapid weight gain during pregnancy due to excessive nutritional intake and lack of exercise. This can damage the skin tissue of the thighs. Besides the thighs, stretch marks can also appear on the buttocks and arms of women.

As pregnancy progresses, especially in the later stages, the abdomen expands, and stretch marks become more numerous. Many pregnant women may also experience itching and the urge to scratch the stretch marks. If there are red, raised, and itchy bumps on the stretch marks, it may be a case of pregnancy pruritic urticarial papules and plaques, also known as "pregnancy polymorphic eruption." This rash may spread from the areas with stretch marks to other parts of the body, such as the thighs, breasts, and arms. As this rash often occurs when women gain weight rapidly, it seems to be caused by skin stretching.