How to Handle Pregnancy Skin, According to Dermatologists

"Purple stretch marks can develop when the skin on the breasts and abdomen (and thighs, arms) is stretched quickly due to rapid weight gain due to normal puberty, pregnancy, bodybuilding/rapid muscle bulking, internal (cortisol, estrogen) or external hormones (hormone replacement therapy, birth control), over-eating, drug-induced (marijuana) or medication-induced weight gain," says Shainhouse. She further explains that stretch marks occur when collagen and elastin in the dermis layer of the skin breaks — which is why the appearance does not improve when you lose the weight, because the elastic fibers are already broken.

But while stretch marks may be difficult to treat, Shainhouse says that the purple-pink discoloration will generally fade into a less noticeable silvery-white. In the meantime, she recommends investing in laser treatments, as some laser procedures that target red color (such as pulsed dye lasers and KTP lasers) can also be used to fade them quicker.

Image via d3sign/Moment/Getty