You see them in the gym mirrors under that harsh overhead lighting. Those thin, silvery lines or deep purple streaks zig-zagging across a set of well-defined obliques. It’s a bit of a trip, honestly. We’re conditioned by airbrushed fitness magazines to think that "fitness" looks like a smooth, plastic mannequin, but the reality of abs with stretch marks is way more common than people like to admit.
Skin isn't a static wrapping paper. It’s a living organ. When your body changes size—whether you're bulking up, leaning out, or just growing up—the middle layer of your skin, the dermis, can basically get pushed past its limit. The result? Striae. Or, as most of us call them, stretch marks.
Why your six-pack has stripes
The science is pretty straightforward, but the emotions around it are messy. Stretch marks happen when the connective tissue is stretched beyond the power of its elasticity. This usually involves a mix of rapid growth and cortisol levels. When cortisol is high, it can actually weaken the elastic fibers in your skin. So, if you’re training like a beast and your midsection is expanding or contracting quickly, your skin might struggle to keep up.
It’s not just about "getting big." It’s about the speed of the change.
I’ve talked to guys who got their first set of marks during a teenage growth spurt long before they ever touched a dumbbell. Then there are the bodybuilders who lean down for a show, only to realize that the "abs with stretch marks" look was waiting for them under a layer of body fat they’ve finally shed. It's a weird paradox. You work your tail off to reveal the muscle, and you find a map of your body's history written across it.
Genetic predisposition plays a massive role here too. Some people can go from 300 pounds to 160 pounds with skin that snaps back like a rubber band. Others get marks just from a slight seasonal fluctuation. It’s kinda unfair, but that’s biology. The American Academy of Dermatology points out that there’s a heavy genetic link; if your parents have them, you likely will too.
The "Bodybuilder’s Stripe" vs. Weight Loss Marks
There’s a distinction in how these look. If you’ve gained significant muscle mass quickly, particularly in the core and "V-taper" area, the marks often run vertically. They follow the direction of the expansion.
On the flip side, if you’ve lost a lot of weight to reveal your abs, the marks might be more horizontal or concentrated around the lower stomach. This is often where the skin was under the most tension for the longest period. They start out as striae rubra—those angry red or purple lines—and eventually fade into striae alba, which are the white or silver scars that most people are more familiar with.
Can you actually "fix" them?
Let’s get real for a second. Most of the creams you see on TikTok or in late-night commercials are total garbage.
Cocoa butter smells great. It makes your skin soft. Does it remove stretch marks? No. Not really. The damage is in the dermis, and topical creams rarely penetrate deep enough to "knit" that tissue back together. However, keeping the skin hydrated can improve the overall texture, making the marks less obvious when you're under the gym lights.
If you’re serious about treatment, you have to look at things that actually induce collagen production.
- Retinoids: These are vitamin A derivatives. Tretinoin (Retin-A) has some actual clinical backing showing it can improve the appearance of new stretch marks (the red ones). If they’ve already turned white, it’s much harder to move the needle.
- Microneedling: This involves tiny needles creating micro-injuries in the skin. The body responds by sending collagen to the area. For abs with stretch marks, this can help "level out" the indented texture.
- Laser Therapy: Pulsed dye lasers can help take the redness out of new marks, while fractional CO2 lasers are sometimes used to blend the texture of older ones. It’s expensive. It hurts a little. It’s not a magic eraser.
Honestly, even the best dermatologists will tell you that you’re looking at improvement, not total disappearance. You’re trading a deep line for a faint one.
The psychology of the "Ripped and Marked" look
There’s this weird stigma in the fitness community, but it’s fading. Fast.
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Social media influencers like Joey Swoll or various "body-posi" fitness accounts have started showing the reality of what a human torso looks like. When you see a professional athlete or a high-level Crossfitter with abs with stretch marks, it’s a sign of a transformation. It’s evidence of a body that has been through something.
Think about it this way: a car with no miles on it is pristine, but it hasn't gone anywhere. A body with marks has a story. Maybe it’s the story of losing 100 pounds. Maybe it’s the story of a woman reclaiming her core strength after pregnancy. Maybe it’s just the story of a kid who grew six inches in a single summer.
It’s becoming a badge of honor for many. You’ve put in the work to get the body fat low enough to see the muscle; the marks are just part of the landscape.
Does tan hide them?
This is a common question in the bodybuilding world. A spray tan or a natural tan can actually be a double-edged sword.
Stretch marks don't tan like normal skin because they are scar tissue. If you get a deep tan, the white lines (striae alba) might actually stand out more because the surrounding skin gets darker while the marks stay pale. This is why many competitive bodybuilders use very specific, heavy bronzers designed to create a uniform matte finish across the skin, which helps "blur" the marks under the stage lights.
Training around the texture
Does having stretch marks change how you should train your abs?
Strictly speaking, no. Your muscle fibers (the rectus abdominis, the transversus abdominis, the obliques) are deep beneath the skin. They don't care about the dermis. However, if you have significant loose skin along with the stretch marks—which is common after major weight loss—you might find that "crunching" movements feel a bit weird because the skin folds.
Focusing on "statuesque" core work can help. I’m talking about:
- L-Sits
- Plank variations
- Hanging leg raises
- Ab wheel rollouts
These movements create a lot of internal tension and can help "fill out" the area with muscle, which provides a firmer base for the skin to sit on. It won’t make the marks go away, but a thicker, more developed muscle wall can make the skin appear tighter.
Realities of the "Influencer" look
We have to talk about lighting and filters. If you’re scrolling through Instagram feeling like a failure because your abs have marks and "FitBro69" has skin like silk, you’re being lied to.
Professional fitness photography uses "loop lighting" or side-lighting to emphasize muscle shadows, but they also use heavy post-production. Frequency separation is a Photoshop technique that allows editors to smooth out skin texture (including stretch marks) while keeping the muscle definition underneath.
I’ve been on sets where the model has clear abs with stretch marks, but in the final ad for a protein shake, they’re gone. It’s a digital lie. In the real world, under the sun at the beach, almost everyone has some kind of skin texture. Even the elites.
Actionable steps for managing your midsection
If you’re looking at your stomach and feeling frustrated, here is a pragmatic approach. Don't waste money on "miracle" oils. Do this instead.
Focus on skin elasticity from the inside out. Hydration isn't just a meme; it’s vital for skin turgor. If you’ve ever seen a dehydrated person’s skin, it looks like crepe paper. Drink your water. Eat your collagen-rich foods or take a supplement—some studies, like those published in the Journal of Medical Food, suggest oral collagen peptides can actually improve skin elasticity over time.
Get a prescription for Tretinoin if they’re still red. If your marks are in the early "angry" stage, talk to a dermatologist. A prescription-strength retinoid is the only topical that has a fighting chance of making a real difference. Use it consistently, but be prepared for some skin peeling.
Moisturize for texture, not "removal." Use a thick emollient like Eucerin or even plain old Vaseline at night. It won’t delete the marks, but it keeps the skin supple, which prevents the "dry" look that makes scars more prominent.
Stop the yo-yo dieting. Rapidly gaining 30 pounds on a "dirty bulk" and then trying to shred it in six weeks is a recipe for skin trauma. Slow, steady transitions allow the skin more time to adapt. Your skin is an elastic, but even an elastic has a snapping point if you yank it too hard.
Accept the "Battle Scars." This sounds like a cliché, but it’s the most effective "treatment" for the mental side of things. If you have visible abs, you’re already in the top 5% of physical fitness. Most people are looking at the muscle, not the lines. The more you own it, the less power the insecurity has.
The presence of abs with stretch marks is simply a physical record of change. It’s a sign that your body has adapted to a new reality. Whether that was growing up, getting strong, or getting healthy, the skin is just the witness. Train hard, eat well, and don't let a few lines on your stomach stop you from taking your shirt off.