4 Reasons to Stop Concealing Breast Stretch Marks

When Barbie Imperial showed her breast stretch marks on her Instagram, the internet erupted in shock. Many applauded her unapologetic move, which was a total 180 from her incredibly curated feed. What struck people most was the revelation that those all-familiar stripes can appear anywhere. Not just on the stomach or thighs.

Despite being a very normal part of the body, stretch marks on boobs are still stigmatized. One in three women reported feeling embarrassed about theirs and would go to great lengths to conceal them, according to a Michigan Medicine survey.

True, you don’t have to love all your lines, bumps, and lumps. However, there are compelling reasons why accepting the tiger stripes on your décolleté can be worth your while.

Some causes of breast stretchmarks are puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight fluctuations. These events stretch your skin. It takes the strain but leaves you with long, thin scars etched across your chest. Thescribbly ribbons are evidence of your ability endure the changes that life brings.

Human bodies aren't supposed to look or stay the same. Your skin is going to sag and droop. You’ll shed or gain body fat. Your stretch marks will likely multiply as you age due to collagen loss. All these transformations are celebrations of maturity, not signs of defeat.

Have you ever seen your breast stretch marks up close? They come in different shapes, sizes, and shades. Some may turn out red. And for honesty’s sake, they look kind of funny. Not hideous, just odd.

Although many women have these marks, the intricate pattern is never quite the same from person to person. Each stroke adds depth to your form that no one else has. Simply put, they’re one in a million.

Look back at how many times your disdain for your breast stretch marks has kept you from experimenting with fashion. Perhaps it makes you shy away from rocking bandeau bikinis at the beach. Or maybe it turns you into a turtleneck hoarder who never dares to try anything low-cut. The more you hide your insecurity, the more power you give it.

By constantly avoiding certain outfits for fear of revealing your stretch-mark-covered cleavage, you inadvertently feed into the belief that you’re “below average.” All because you have some streaks zigzagging across your boobs, which, BTW, 90% of women have on various parts of their bodies.

Your style speaks volumes about your self-image. Filling your wardrobe with items you like, instead of garbs that distract from your scars, is a straightforward way to uplift your confidence. This is a plea to stop wearing sweaters and scarves when it’s forty degrees outside.

In an era that glorifies airbrushed perfection, likening stretch marks to a beautiful art piece seems forced and insincere. They’re just “meh.” And no matter how you slice it, everyone prefers having a clear complexion over stretch marks any day. Who wouldn’t want to be #flawless?

But the truth is, soft skin with nary a blemish is a misperception broadcasted and amplified by societal beauty standards. An unrealistic checklist no one can or should have to live up to. There’s no point in hating your breast stretch marks because of age-old assumptions. What you can do is either embrace or erase them, and we vote for the former.

Focus on what your skin needs rather than its appearance. When you have this mindset, skincare stops becoming a battle to get rid of your so-called “imperfections.” Start small with a good shower using Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash, which has NutriumMoisture™ technology to seal in hydration. It cleans like soap and moisturizes like lotion.

If your skin is prone to irritation, try Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash. This sulfate-free soap is also made with the same NutriumMoisture™ technology that goes deep into the skin to help renew moisture. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic and dermatologist-approved.

Don’t feel guilty for not loving the heck out of your breast stretch marks. Know that it’s okay to have mixed feelings about these imprints. Acceptance isn’t a linear process, after all.