What should you know about goodbye stretch marks?

Stretch marks, also called striae, form when the deeper skin is stretched or changes quickly. They may begin as pink, red, purple, or darker lines and often fade to paler, less noticeable marks over time. They can occur during growth, pregnancy, weight change, or muscle gain, and they are not a sign that you have failed to care for your skin. Creams and oils may moisturise, but they do not reliably rebuild the deeper scar pattern.

A dermatologist can assess the colour, age, depth, and location of the marks, then discuss options such as microneedling, fractional laser treatment, RF microneedling, or carboxytherapy. These procedures work through controlled skin injury or energy to encourage remodelling, and they usually require a series of appointments with healing time between them. Results depend on the mark and your skin; darker skin needs careful selection of settings to reduce the risk of pigment changes. Do not treat an irritated or infected area until it has healed.

Seek medical advice if stretch-like lines appear suddenly without an obvious change, cover large areas, or occur alongside easy bruising, muscle weakness, or long-term steroid use. Prompt assessment is also sensible when a mark becomes painful, inflamed, or changes in a way that does not fit your usual pattern.

Ask which procedure fits your skin tone and the age of the marks, how many sessions may be considered, what downtime to expect, and how pigment risk will be managed.