Treatments to get rid of stretch marks

Stretch marks, also called striae, form when skin stretches or changes volume faster than its supporting tissue adapts. They may begin pink, red, purple, or darker than surrounding skin and often become paler and slightly indented over time. Pregnancy, puberty, muscle gain, weight change, and some medicines can be associated with them. Their age, colour, depth, and location influence which treatment may be considered.

A dermatologist may discuss microneedling, RF microneedling, fractional laser treatment, or carboxytherapy. These procedures use different methods to stimulate remodelling or alter the appearance of the mark. Newer coloured marks and older pale marks may respond differently. Sessions are usually planned as a course with healing time between them. Sun protection helps reduce contrast while the skin settles. Do not use prescription creams, strong exfoliants, or procedures during pregnancy without medical advice.

Seek a clinical review if marks appear suddenly without an obvious skin-stretching trigger, cover a large area quickly, or occur alongside easy bruising, muscle weakness, or use of steroid medicine. A review is also sensible when itching, pain, scaling, or bleeding is present, because those features may need a different assessment.

Ask which features of your marks affect treatment choice, how healing may look on your skin tone, what preparation is needed, and when improvement should be judged. Discuss pregnancy, breastfeeding, medicines, a history of raised scars, and sun exposure before a procedure.