In my experience, scratches can definitely happen, especially if things get enthusiastic. My boys can get pretty excited, and their nails sometimes leave little red lines on my hips or sides. It’s usually light and fades within a day or two, kind of like a mild cat scratch. But permanent marks? That’s rarer for me. It depends a lot on how sharp their nails are and how careful you are about positioning. I keep my dogs’ nails trimmed and filed smooth, which helps a ton—fewer scratches overall. If they’re blunt, you might not even get a mark most times.
I’ve seen videos too where it looks rougher, and yeah, some women end up with more noticeable scratches—red welts or even little scabs if the skin breaks. Over time, if it happens a lot in the same spot and you’ve got sensitive skin, I suppose it could leave faint scars, like thin lines or slightly discolored patches. I’ve got a couple of tiny faded marks on my hips from years ago, but you’d have to look close to notice, and I don’t think anyone would guess what they’re from unless they knew. Nothing like stretch marks, which are deeper and wider from what I’ve seen.
As for recognizing it on someone else—honestly, it’s tough to tell unless you’re really in the know. Scratch marks from this could look like anything gardening mishaps, a run-in with a branch, or even just rough play with a pet. Context is everything. I’ve never had anyone clock me for it, and I don’t go around inspecting others for it either!