How to Deal With Stretch Marks on Your Neck

Stretch marks are essentially tears, or scars, on your skin. Understanding how they start is an important way to treat and prevent them in the future.

1. Your skin could have stretched too quickly

The skin on your neck can stretch when your body grows. This is especially common, explains dermatologist Janet Coleman, during puberty and growth spurts.

“The skin on your neck is much thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your body,” Coleman explains. “And since it’s close to the surface, it’s easy for it to get damaged and affected by various factors” — including those growth spurts.

2. You may have too much cortisol in your body

Cortisol is a natural steroid hormone. If this hormone increases too much, it can make your skin lose elasticity.

Certain medical conditions like Cushing syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Ehler-Danlos syndrome, or adrenal gland disorders can have this affect.

Cortisol, which comes from your adrenal gland, is a stress hormone. “Elastic fibers in the skin are weakened by cortisol,” explains plastic surgeon Michael Newman. This makes it harder for your skin to stretch without scarring.

3. There might be an underlying medical condition

Stretch marks on your neck can also be a symptom of an underlying condition.

“Stretch marks on the neck are generally caused by too much weight loss, not enough weight gain, or other factors like hormonal imbalances or thyroid problems,” Coleman says. That’s why, if you’re concerned [or develop them suddenly], it is a good idea to call your doctor just to be safe.

Stretch marks don’t harm you physically, but that doesn’t mean you have to like the sight of them. And a stretch mark on your neck can be pretty hard to cover with your clothes (unless you love turtlenecks).

What other options do you have? It’s possible to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, but you won’t be able to totally get rid of them.

It’s usually easier to treat young stretch marks (these will look red, purple, pink, or brownish, depending on your skin tone) because they’re more likely to fade. If you’re dealing with an older, lighter stretch mark, it might be more difficult to correct.

Either way, professional treatments tend to be the most effective ways to minimize them by reducing their color, texture, or overall appearance by blending them — but these treatments can be pricey.

Microneedling

Stretch marks form in the dermis, which is the middle layer of your skin. Microneedling is a procedure where your skin care professional will poke tiny needles in this layer to trigger the collagen product. This can promote skin regeneration and lessen the appearance of stretch marks.

Microneedling requires several treatments over the course of a few months before you’ll see results (and each session costs between $100 to $700). Is it worth the investment? Probably. A small 2011 study found microneedling’s an effective way to reduce stretch marks, especially on darker skin.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a mechanical exfoliation technique that scrubs and removes the outer layer of dead skin with the help of crystals. The procedure also stimulates your skin to tighten collagen and elastin fibers.

The procedure can be performed by an esthetician or dermatologist and it costs, on average, about $167.

Laser therapy

This procedure uses lasers to penetrate your skin. It helps trigger cell regeneration, melanin production, and wound healing. The increased melanin production can also help your stretch marks blend in more with the rest of your skin.

There are lots of different kinds of laser therapy treatments, but they all have to be done by a dermatologist. Most require multiple sessions before you see results, and the average price can range from $1,410 to $2,681 per treatment.

There are a bunch of over-the-counter topical creams and ointments available that could help lighten the tone of stretch marks.

Most of these skin care products have ingredients like:

• cocoa butter
• olive oil
• aloe vera
• coconut oil
• retinoids (or vitamin A)
• hyaluronic acid
• ascorbic acid
• silicone
• argan oil
• gotu kola

However, there’s no strong evidence that these topical treatments work. They’re generally safe and come with a much lower price tag than professional options, though, so they may be worth a try. Just keep in mind that the effects probably won’t be dramatic.

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent stretch marks, but there are a few things you can try:

• Protect your skin. Coleman recommends wearing sunscreen when you go outside — and yes, that includes on your neck. She also recommends using a moisturizer.
• Eat a balanced diet. This means making sure your meals are rich in skin-boosting vitamins and minerals, like zinc and vitamins A and C.
• Avoid yo-yo dieting. Gaining or losing weight too quickly, as is often the case with yo-yo-dieting, can lead to stretch marks.
• Stay hydrated. Try to make sure you drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day to keep your skin healthy and happy. (Your whole bod will also thank you.)

Stretch marks are caused when the skin stretches quickly — and they can show up anywhere on your body, including your neck. Once you have stretch marks, you won’t be able to completely get rid of them, but there are some professional treatments that may help lessen their appearance.

Just keep in mind, stretch marks are a normal part of having a body, so feel free to rock ’em if you got ’em.