I remember, during my early teens, I went from being under 5 feet tall to being 5’6” in less than a year. Puberty was rough, and I definitely had the scars to prove it: bright red ones going up and down my calves. They were eye-catching, and though they’ve faded a lot, I wish I had known how to deal with them when they were there!
Stretch marks on calves can happen for a number of different reasons, the most common being weight gain or genetics, and can be solved by hydrating the skin or by seeking medical or cosmetic treatments. Here, I’ll break down all of that and more (including how to hide them)!
Main Causes Of Stretch Marks On Calves
Generally, stretch marks happen when your body grows quicker than the average rate. Your legs are susceptible to changes with any kind of weight fluctuation, so getting stretch marks on your calves should be expected. Here are some body transformations that can lead to stretch marks on your calves:
Weight Gain
Any type of sudden weight gain can cause your skin to stretch faster than your body can keep up with. If you’re gaining weight quickly, you’ll have more scarring, and vice-versa. This typically happens during times of hormonal change (like pregnancy and puberty), but it can occur at any stage of life.
This rapid weight gain on your calves causes the middle layer of your skin, also known as the dermis, to tear. The tears show underneath the topmost layer of your calves, causing those bright red marks along your legs.
Puberty
Growing taller during puberty causes vertical stretch marks, as the body is growing longer than the skin on the calves can elongate. This is especially true for boys, who tend to have more noticeable growth spurts than women.
Because height is a trait under constant pressure during puberty, legs and arms are more likely to be affected- which is why calves often have stretch marks during this time of bodily transformation.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes hormonal changes and weight gain, and can weaken the skin’s elasticity, making it more prone to leaving stretch marks. Not only that, but the water retention in the legs can cause the legs to swell, making stretch marks on calves a fairly common occurrence for expecting moms.
Swelling in the legs typically happens during the second trimester of pregnancy, with a decrease in blood flow comes swelling of the calves– so expecting mommas shouldn’t be surprised if they see stretch marks on their legs during this time!
Muscle Gain
Just like with weight gain, muscle gains from working out can cause the skin to stretch as well. Men who have taken breaks from working out notice that getting back into the gym means these scars start to rear their heads- especially if they’re weightlifting.
If you’re going hard in the gym during leg day, you’ll likely see stretch marks on your calves as your body changes. This is especially true if you’re doing exercises like weighted calf raises, farmer’s walks, and box jumps.
Steroid Use
Prolonged use of corticosteroids, or steroids like prednisone, can cause skin atrophy (thinning of the skin) and stretch marks. These creams and pills aren’t meant to be used over an extended period of time due to the thinning of the skin on the area(s) of application.
If you use steroid creams on your calves, you may be more susceptible to stretch marks in that area. However, those who take steroid pills should be wary of stretch marks appearing everywhere (including the calves). If you’ve been prescribed these products, it’s important to follow your Doctor’s instructions carefully to avoid any harmful side effects!
Genetics
Stretch marks can also be hereditary, making more family lines prone to getting them than others. If the ladies in your family have them, it’s likely that you may get them too. However, it doesn’t mean they can’t be prevented with diligence and discipline.
That means if the people in your family have stretch marks on their calves, especially during weight gain and pregnancy, it’s likely you’ll get scars on your calves as you grow as well.
3 Types Of Stretch Marks
As your stretch marks age, they actually have different names! Knowing what stage your stretch marks are in will help you determine what methods you can use to remedy them:
- Striae Rubrae is the early stage of stretch marks. These marks are red or pink, and may be raised and itchy.
- Striae Albae is the later stage, where the scarring loses red pigmentation and turns white and wrinkled.
- For those with more melanated skin, you may be dealing with striae nigrae or striae caerulea which may be dark gray, black, or brown.
How To Remove Stretch Marks On Calves?
Stretch marks on your calves can be pesky to deal with, but not impossible. You can use at-home treatments for them if caught early enough, but you may need to make a switch to medical treatments if your calve marks have gone white or silver.
At-Home Treatments
Retinoid Creams
Retinoid creams are a favorite for removing stretch marks because they stimulate collagen production. I recommend these for stretch marks in all stages, but they work especially well for striae rubrae– this is when the scars on your calves are bright red or purple.
I personally really like this retinol lotion from Advanced Clinicals– it’s gentle enough for daily use and is non-irritating! If the scars on your calves are from water retention during pregnancy, please talk to your doctor before using any retinoids as it may not be safe for you to use.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a plant with natural healing properties and is full of nutrients and moisturizing agents that improve skin elasticity, allowing the skin to stretch without the chance of leaving marks.
You can pick up an aloe vera plant, or the gel pre-packaged, and spend some time during your day rubbing the substance onto your calves to improve circulation to the area and ensure the gel penetrates all layers of your skin.
I highly recommend this for pregnant women before, and at the start of their pregnancy as it’s all-natural and unlikely to cause any side effects.
Centella Asiatica
Centella Asiatica or cica is an herb popularly used in Asia and Africa, and has made its fame in Korean beauty for boosting circulation, moisturizing skin, and aiding in cellular repair.
If the stretch marks on your calves have gone white or silvery, this is my favorite treatment approach- and this lotion from Phade is my best recommendation, as it utilizes the power of Cica along with other moisturizing agents to reduce the look of striae albae!
Exfoliating
Exfoliating can also be an effective treatment, especially when you start while your scars are still in their early stages.
You can use an exfoliating loofah, body scrub, or even an exfoliating peel on your calves to reduce the look of stretch marks. To keep from drying out your legs, we recommend exfoliating no more than 3 times per week.
Medical Treatments
Microneedling/ Derma-rolling
Microneedling is an intense beauty treatment that involves pricking the skin with a concentrated amount of needles at a single time. It artificially wounds and “traumatizes” the skin, and actually ends up tricking the skin into producing more collagen and elastin!
It may take multiple sessions, but it’s definitely the most affordable medical procedure you can get done to rid your skin of stretch marks on your calves in all phases. Because the calves have a lot of fat and muscle, microneedling in this area shouldn’t hurt!
Laser Treatment
Laser Removal is a non-invasive treatment that uses highly-concentrated energy pulses on your stretch marks to trigger your body into stimulating collagen and using your body’s natural healing process to fade stretch marks.
Laser removal on your calves may hurt a bit more than average due to the thickness of the skin and how deep the laser needs to penetrate, so keep that in mind. Doctors say this treatment is best for striae rubrae, and it may not have any notable effects on older marks.
Camouflage Tattoos
Camouflage Tattoos are growing in popularity as a treatment for stretch marks. They don’t necessarily get rid of your marks, but if you’re looking for a cosmetic solution- this one is affordable and works for all skin types! Just like a regular tattoo, this option hides scarring with skin-colored ink.
Tattooing your calves depends entirely on your pain level, but it’s likely you’ll only experience a low to moderate amount of pain because your calves are more muscly!
How To Prevent Stretch Marks On Calves
Prevention is key to keeping your skin stretch mark free (though you should never be ashamed of the tiger stripes you earned!). It’s much easier to prevent getting them than trying to remove them.
Be wary of diets and exercise that cause you to lose weight or gain weight too quickly. It’s important to allow your skin the chance to catch up with your body changing, so ensure you’re following healthy ways to lose and gain weight. This is especially true if you know you carry weight in your calves!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Improving your skin’s elasticity and hydration ensures that your skin has enough stretch to prevent scarring, so make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day to keep the skin on your calves supple and malleable.
Moisturize your calves regularly (after every shower and whenever you’re feeling dry) to ensure your skin has the nourishment it needs to stretch and grow. Lotions with vitamin D are particularly effective because they improve skin cell turnover and rejuvenate the skin.
How To Hide Stretch Marks On Calves?
If the stretch marks on your calves are too difficult to get rid of, or if you’re in the middle of treating your stripes and don’t want to show them to the world quite yet, you can hide the stretch marks on your calves a number of different ways:
Makeup
Use A Concealer to cover up the scars on your calves. Apply using your fingers (the warmth can melt the product into your skin), or use a sponge or brush. I personally recommend finding a formula that’s sweatproof, matte, and highly pigmented, like this one.
Because your calves will rub against chairs, clothes, and other things throughout the day, it’s important to find a good quality product that’ll conceal your stretch marks until removal.
My personal rec? The TV Paint Stick from Kryolan. It’s professional-grade, so it’s used by makeup artists for the red carpet or television, and its shade range is unmatched. They’ll have your calves looking even and covered, and it won’t rub off on your clothes or if your legs bump into other things and people throughout the day.
Self-Tanner
Having toned and tanned legs is in style 24/7, so using self-tanner on your calves is not only a great way to conceal your marks, but also a perfect way to keep you on trend!
I have a lot of faith in using self-tanners to even out the stretch marks on your calves. They last a long time, keep your skin looking healthy, and you don’t need to worry about potential UV damage from staying out in the sun. These formulas act as a stain on your marks to blend them into your calves, and you can do them at home, or get them done at a tanning salon!
The easiest brand to use in my opinion is the Isle Of Paradise Self Tanning Drops. Simply add a couple of drops to any body moisturizer you own, and massage the product onto the entirety of your legs- focusing on your calves.
It doesn’t stain your bedding or your clothes, and they’re vegan and cruelty-free. They give you the perfect amount of color- and the stretch marks on your calves will be invisible!
