Treatment for Old Stretch Marks

Stretch marks form when the deeper skin stretches and supporting fibres change. Mature marks are often pale, silvery, or slightly depressed, although colour varies with skin tone and inflammation. They can occur after growth, pregnancy, muscle gain, weight change, or corticosteroid exposure. Because the scar is already established, treatment focuses on making the surface and colour less noticeable rather than restoring untouched skin.

A dermatologist or qualified aesthetic clinician can match the procedure to the mark. Microneedling creates controlled tiny punctures to encourage remodelling; RF microneedling adds heat beneath the surface. Fractional laser treatment targets columns of skin and may help texture. Carboxytherapy uses injected carbon dioxide and is offered in some settings. Ask about sessions, healing time, pigment-change risk, infection prevention, and whether your medications or history of raised scars affect suitability. Protect treated skin from sun while it heals.

Seek an assessment if marks appear suddenly without a clear change in skin stretching, are widespread, or occur with easy bruising or long-term steroid use. After a procedure, contact the clinic for increasing pain, pus, spreading redness, fever, blistering, or unexpected darkening.

Which feature should we target: colour, width, or indentation? Which procedure suits my skin tone and scar history? How will you protect the area and judge improvement?