Purple line dilation is commonly associated with pregnancy, where a purple or reddish line often appears in the crack of the buttocks towards the lower back and can vary in shade.
This condition, however, can occur even when a person is not pregnant. Understanding why this happens can help you address the underlying issues and find an appropriate remedy.
In this article, I will take you through the different causes of this line among non-pregnant women and provide remedies to help manage it perfectly.
Non-Pregnancy Reasons for a Purple Line
While we’ve often linked a purple line along the spine to labor progressing throughout the BIG three stages in pregnancy, there can be instances when someone who isn’t expecting might see this line.
Here are reasons why this could happen:
You physically overtrained your body
When you engage in intense activities like running, aerobics, or sports, your body pulls out all the stops. This hard work isn’t just about sweating and feeling your muscles burn; it’s also about what happens inside your body that you can’t see.
During vigorous exercise, your heart pumps faster to move blood — rich with oxygen and nutrients — all around your body to give your muscles energy.
To handle this extra flow, your blood vessels expand. For some non-pregnant women, this rush of blood and swelling of blood vessels close to the skin’s surface can cause a temporary purple line to appear.
It often shows in the lower back area because that’s one of the spots your skin and muscles work together during an exercise.
If you notice a purple line on your lower back after a gym session or a run, it’s likely nothing to have anxieties about. It’s just one of the quirky but normal ways your body responds to being active.
Of course, if it accompanies pain or the line stays for a long time, then it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor to ensure everything is fine.
Otherwise, make sure to cool down properly after exercising, take care of your body’s needs, and go about with your usual stuff. Also, eat well, drink more fluids, and rest more. These steps can help this mark get off over time.
Your Hormones are at play.
Imagine your body as a big city where hormones are the messengers darting around, delivering important news to different parts. These messengers help control everything from being hungry to skin looks.
Sometimes, just sometimes, they can change your body in ways that seem a bit strange, like a purple line showing up on your skin even when you aren’t pregnant.
In non-pregnant women, this line can be like an accidental art drawn by hormones. Hormone levels can go up and down during your monthlies especially.
This widens your veins and brings in more blood close to your skin’s surface. As a result, it might cause a purplish line where the skin is stretched a bit thinner.
If you notice this line appearing and disappearing, it might be tied to your monthly cycle or other hormonal changes. Usually, it’s nothing to worry about, but we’re all unique. It’s still okay if you’re disturbed.
This way, talking it over with your doctor can be helpful. Meanwhile, know that your body is still doing great and sometimes shows off a surprise purple line.
Skin issues
Sometimes, our skin, which usually does a great job protecting us and looking nice, can behave a bit unexpectedly. One such unexpected behavior is when a purple line appears on the skin of non-pregnant women.
This isn’t just random; it often has to do with certain skin conditions. Stretch marks can be the culprit here. These are the skin’s responses to having stretch quickly due to putting on extra weight, growing apace during adolescence or even muscle building.
When they first form, stretch marks can appear purple red especially if they are on areas like the lower back. Another skin condition that might cause a purple line is lichen planus.
This makes the skin purplish itch, and have flat-topped bumps. While it’s more likely to show up on wrists or ankles, it’s not too shocking to spot them anywhere else on your body, including the lower back, where these bumps might line up to form a purple streak.
Then, we can also talk about vascular issues. Our blood vessels are naturally supposed to be hidden way beneath our skin but just sometimes they get too close to the surface.
In such cases, if they malfunction or are under strain, they can show through the skin as purple lines or patches, marking where the vessels run.
Lastly, if blood vessels get damaged, the result can look a tad like a bruise. If there’s a specific injury in a narrow area, such as along the spine or back, these damaged vessels might appear as purple line. Interesting?
If you notice such changes on your skin, your safer bet is to discuss them with a dermatologist. They can help figure out exactly why these are occurring and suggest remedies to correct them and have your skin look healthy and refreshed.
Your spine might be affected, just maybe!
When it has to do with our spine, we usually think about its major role in keeping us upright and connecting the different parts of our body.
But sometimes, spinal injuries show up in unexpected ways, including putting up a purple line on the skin. This unusual marking can be traced to underlying spinal problems.
The spine, which we know as engorged in nerves and vessels can affect the skin directly above it if there is an issue. Let’s say it develops bulges in or around it, and then it might definitely push up the blood vessels closer to the surface.
When these swollen vessels are pressed, they can show up as a purple line. Ever heard what we herniated disc? It’s a spinal issue too.
Usually, this disc cushions the spine from our hard bones. It slips out and is sore and, in turn, affects the blood vessels.
In extreme cases, spinal deformities like scoliosis(spine curving abnormally) might stretch the skin in strange ways, which exerts too much strain on the vessels and cause it to discolor, including a purple line.
Seeing a purple line along your back when you know it’s not related to pregnancy could be confusing and a bit worrying. Although it might be something minor, it’s a signal from your body that something might not be right with your spine.
It’s always a good idea to listen to these signals. If you notice such a line along with other symptoms like back pain, numbness, or any other unusual signs, it’s wise to consult a healthcare provider.
They can help determine if it’s linked to a spinal issue or something else and guide you toward the appropriate treatment or management plan to keep your spine healthy and functioning well.
What to Do if You Notice a Purple Line (and Aren’t Pregnant)
Out of the blue, you noticed this line on any part of your body, and might even witness it stretch longer and more enormous. Don’t get scared anyway; these simple steps can be that quick fix you need:
First, take a look, a close one, of course, at where the line is and how it looks. Is it on your back, leg, or stomach? Somewhere else?
Does it seem like a mark from too-tight clothing? Or Does it look more like something under the skin? Having answers to these questions can help when you talk to a doctor.
Next, think about other changes you’ve noticed in your health. Do you feel more tired than usual? Have you put on weight or lost it? Writing these things down can be helpful, too.
If the line doesn’t go away in a few days(14 -28 days), seeing a dermatologist is a great idea. They can examine the line, and do a couple of tests to get to understand the cause very well.
Doctors might inquire about your health history, like what you’ve been up to, whether you’ve had injuries, or whether you started popping in some new pills or using a new skincare product.
Sometimes, they might perform a biopsy test on you or do some blood tests to look into more details. I hope you don’t get worried. There are several meanings to why you see this purple line drawn up on your body, and in eight out of ten cases, they are easily removed.
Purple Line Dilation But not Pregnant: Wrap
It’s clear that our bodies can communicate in the most surprising ways. A purple line could just be a sign that your skin, spine, or even blood vessels are saying, “Hey, something’s up!”
Whether it’s a sign of your skin stretching, a sneaky symptom of spinal issue, or just your body responding to some changes or a new product, it’s a clue worth following up.
The takeaway is not to get too scared and report to your doctor as soon as you can. Doctors would get to the roots and offer treatment options that would make it fade away.
