What should you know about light stretch marks?

Stretch marks form when the deeper support tissue changes as the skin expands or contracts. New marks may look pink, red, purple, or darker; older marks commonly fade to lighter lines with a slightly indented or shiny texture. They can occur on the abdomen, hips, thighs, breasts, buttocks, arms, or back. Their colour and texture vary with skin tone, age of the marks, growth, pregnancy, weight change, muscle gain, and some medicines.

Moisturiser can reduce dryness and make the surface feel more comfortable, but it does not rebuild the altered deeper tissue. Protect exposed marks from sun so surrounding tanning does not increase contrast. If appearance is bothersome, a dermatologist may discuss Microneedling, RF Microneedling, Fractional Laser Treatment, or Carboxytherapy. These procedures target texture or colour in different ways and usually require a personalised plan, especially for darker skin tones or a tendency to form raised scars.

Arrange an assessment if marks appear suddenly without an obvious change in body size, become broad and numerous, or occur with easy bruising, muscle weakness, or other new symptoms. Seek advice before cosmetic treatment if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, using steroid medicines, have active infection, or have a history of unusual scarring. A clinician can confirm the diagnosis and separate stretch marks from other linear rashes.

Ask which feature is being treated—colour, indentation, or texture—and what improvement is realistic for your skin. Discuss the number of sessions, downtime, discomfort control, pigment-change risk, aftercare, sun avoidance, and whether a test area is appropriate.