DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 14-year-old son grew almost 4 inches in the last year. I noticed that he has a few pink and purple streaks on his legs and back. They look a bit like stretch marks, but I thought that happens only during pregnancy. Are stretch marks common during teen years? I've heard that putting cocoa butter on the skin will get rid of stretch marks, but are there other things we should try?
ANSWER: It is possible that your son developed stretch marks during his growth spurt. When rapid growth or weight gain occurs, especially during teenage years, it is common for stretch marks to appear in boys and girls alike.
There are many changes during the teen years. Some changes can be difficult for teens to accept, especially when it comes to their bodies and the way they view themselves. Stretch marks can be one of these changes.
