Stretch marks are incredibly common, but they can also be frustrating to treat. Whether they appeared after pregnancy, weight changes, a growth spurt, bodybuilding, or hormonal changes, stretch marks can persist long after the skin has otherwise adjusted.
If you’ve searched for how to get rid of stretch marks, you’ve probably encountered countless creams, oils, lasers, and at-home remedies promising dramatic results. The reality is more nuanced. Stretch marks are a form of dermal scarring, which means effective treatment often requires targeting changes beneath the surface of the skin.
While it may not always be possible to completely remove stretch marks, the right treatment plan can significantly improve their color, texture, depth, and overall appearance.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks, medically known as striae, develop when the skin stretches or changes more rapidly than its underlying support structure can accommodate. This can disrupt collagen and elastin within the dermis, leaving behind linear areas of altered skin.
Common causes of stretch marks include:
- Pregnancy
- Rapid weight gain or weight loss
- Growth spurts during puberty
- Muscle growth and bodybuilding
- Hormonal changes
- Certain medications or medical conditions
- Genetics
Stretch marks can occur almost anywhere on the body but are particularly common on the abdomen, breasts, thighs, hips, buttocks, upper arms, and back.
Red Stretch Marks vs. White Stretch Marks
One of the most important factors when choosing a stretch mark treatment is the age and color of the stretch marks.
Red or Purple Stretch Marks
Newer stretch marks often appear red, pink, or purple. These are known as striae rubrae.
The reddish appearance is related to vascular changes within the developing stretch mark. Because these stretch marks are relatively new, treatments targeting both redness and collagen remodeling may be considered.
White Stretch Marks
Over time, stretch marks typically fade and become lighter or white. These are called striae albae.
At this stage, the vascular component is less prominent, while changes in collagen, elastin, texture, and skin thickness become more noticeable. Treatment therefore tends to focus more heavily on remodeling the scar and improving texture.
This distinction matters because the best treatment for red stretch marks may not be the same as the best treatment for older white stretch marks.
Can You Completely Get Rid of Stretch Marks?
There is currently no treatment that can guarantee complete removal of every stretch mark.
However, stretch marks can often be improved.
The goal of treatment is generally to make stretch marks less noticeable by improving their texture, color, width, and contrast with the surrounding skin.
Results vary depending on several factors, including:
- How old the stretch marks are
- Whether they are red, purple, or white
- Their depth and width
- The area of the body being treated
- Skin type and pigmentation
- The treatment being performed
- Individual healing and collagen production
For many patients, the most effective approach involves a customized treatment plan rather than relying on a single procedure.
What Are the Best Treatments for Stretch Marks?
Because stretch marks involve structural changes within the skin, medical treatments generally focus on stimulating collagen remodeling, improving texture, or addressing discoloration.
1. Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks
Laser therapy can be an effective option for certain types of stretch marks.
Depending on the device and wavelength used, laser treatments can target different components of a stretch mark. Some treatments focus on stimulating collagen remodeling and improving texture, while others can address persistent redness or pigmentation.
This is why choosing a laser based solely on the name of the device may not be the best approach. Treatment should instead be selected according to the specific characteristics of the stretch mark and the patient’s skin type.
Multiple sessions may be necessary, and improvement typically develops gradually as the skin remodels.
2. Fractional Resurfacing
Fractional resurfacing creates controlled microscopic treatment zones within the skin while leaving surrounding tissue intact.
The healing response can stimulate new collagen formation and remodeling, potentially improving the texture and appearance of stretch marks over time.
Fractional treatments may be particularly useful when texture is a primary concern, including with older stretch marks.
However, treatment depth and intensity matter. More aggressive treatment does not automatically mean better results and can increase the risk of prolonged redness, irritation, or pigment changes.
3. Microneedling with PRF/Sculptra for Stretch Marks
Microneedling uses small needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating the body’s natural wound-healing response and encouraging new collagen production. To further support collagen remodeling, microneedling may be combined with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) or Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid).
PRF is derived from the patient’s own blood and contains platelets and growth factors that support the skin’s natural healing and regenerative processes. Sculptra is a biostimulator that encourages the body to gradually produce more of its own collagen, helping strengthen the skin’s underlying structure and improve the appearance of textural irregularities over time.
These combination treatments may help improve the texture and appearance of certain stretch marks, particularly when performed as a series. Results develop gradually as collagen remodels, and the degree of improvement depends on factors such as the age, depth, and severity of the stretch marks.
5. Treatments for Red Stretch Marks
When stretch marks remain red or purple, treatment may need to address their vascular component in addition to texture.
Certain vascular laser technologies can target excess redness by delivering energy to blood vessels within the skin.
As the redness decreases, the stretch marks may become less visually prominent. Additional treatment may then be considered to address residual texture.
Do Stretch Mark Creams and Oils Work?
Many products claim to prevent or eliminate stretch marks, including cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, hyaluronic acid products, and various “stretch mark removal” creams.
Moisturizers and oils can help keep the skin hydrated and may improve how the skin temporarily feels and looks. However, they generally cannot reconstruct significant collagen and elastin changes within an established stretch mark.
This doesn’t mean skincare is useless. Maintaining healthy, moisturized skin can be beneficial, but expectations should be realistic.
Once stretch marks have matured, procedural treatments are generally more capable of producing visible structural improvement than moisturizers alone.
Can Old White Stretch Marks Be Treated?
Yes. Older stretch marks can still be treated, although they may be more challenging than newer stretch marks.
White stretch marks have usually undergone more established scar remodeling, so treatment often focuses on stimulating collagen and improving the difference in texture between the stretch mark and surrounding skin.
Depending on the individual case, this may involve fractional resurfacing, microneedling, radiofrequency, or a combination approach.
Patients should expect improvement to occur gradually and understand that multiple treatment sessions may be necessary.
What Is the Best Laser for Stretch Marks?
There isn’t one laser that is universally “best” for every stretch mark.
The ideal technology depends on what needs to be treated.
For example, a patient with new red stretch marks may require a different approach than someone with older white, textured stretch marks. Skin tone also plays an important role because certain laser wavelengths and treatment settings carry a greater risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with more melanin-rich skin.
A scar specialist can evaluate the stretch marks and determine which treatment—or combination of treatments—is most appropriate.
How Many Stretch Mark Treatments Will I Need?
Stretch mark treatment is typically a process rather than a one-time procedure.
The number of sessions required depends on the severity and age of the stretch marks, treatment modality, treatment area, and individual response.
Because many treatments work by stimulating the body’s own collagen-remodeling process, results can continue developing for weeks or months after a procedure.
For this reason, treatments are often spaced apart to allow the skin sufficient time to heal and remodel before the results are reassessed.
Can Stretch Marks Come Back After Treatment?
Once a stretch mark has formed, treatment aims to remodel and improve the existing scar.
However, new stretch marks can develop if the skin undergoes additional rapid stretching or hormonal changes in the future. Pregnancy, significant weight fluctuations, rapid muscle growth, and growth spurts can all contribute to new stretch marks.
Maintaining a relatively stable weight may help reduce additional skin stretching, although genetics and hormonal factors mean stretch marks cannot always be prevented.
Is Stretch Mark Treatment Safe for Darker Skin Tones?
Stretch marks can be treated in patients with darker skin tones, but treatment selection is especially important.
Some energy-based procedures carry a risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. The safest treatment depends on the patient’s skin type, the technology being used, treatment settings, and the experience of the provider.
A conservative, individualized approach can help reduce these risks.
When Should You Start Treating Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks can be evaluated at almost any stage, but earlier treatment may offer certain advantages.
New red or purple stretch marks still have a vascular component that can potentially be targeted. Once they mature into white stretch marks, treatment tends to focus more on collagen remodeling and texture.
That doesn’t mean old stretch marks are untreatable. It simply means the treatment strategy may change as the stretch marks mature.
Why Combination Treatment May Work Better
One of the biggest misconceptions about stretch mark removal is that every component of the stretch mark can be addressed with a single device.
Stretch marks can involve several changes simultaneously:
- Redness
- Pigment differences
- Loss or alteration of collagen
- Changes in elastin
- Thinning of the skin
- Textural irregularities
A treatment that improves redness may not adequately improve texture, while a resurfacing treatment aimed at collagen may not address persistent vascular redness.
For appropriate patients, combining or sequencing treatments that address different components of the stretch mark may provide a more comprehensive approach.
How to Choose the Right Stretch Mark Treatment
If you’re considering treatment, the first step is determining exactly what type of stretch marks you have.
A scar-focused evaluation can assess the color, age, depth, texture, location, and surrounding skin before recommending treatment.
At the Scar Healing Institute, stretch mark treatment plans are individualized based on the characteristics of each patient’s skin and scars. Rather than treating every stretch mark the same way, the goal is to identify which components—such as redness, texture, or collagen loss—are contributing most to their appearance and select treatment accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stretch Mark Removal
Do stretch marks go away naturally?
Stretch marks often fade naturally over time, particularly from red or purple to a lighter color. However, the underlying textural changes may remain.
Can you get rid of stretch marks permanently?
Existing stretch marks can often be improved, but complete removal cannot be guaranteed. Treatment focuses on making them less visible and improving their texture and color.
What treatment is best for white stretch marks?
Older white stretch marks often require treatments focused on collagen remodeling and texture, such as fractional resurfacing, microneedling, or radiofrequency. The best option depends on the individual patient.
What treatment is best for red stretch marks?
Red stretch marks may benefit from treatments that address their vascular component, sometimes combined with collagen-remodeling treatments for texture.
Does laser treatment permanently remove stretch marks?
Laser treatment can improve stretch marks, but it cannot guarantee complete or permanent removal. The degree of improvement varies between patients.
Can stretch marks be treated years later?
Yes. Even stretch marks that have been present for many years may be candidates for treatment, although older white stretch marks can require a different approach than newer red ones.
The Bottom Line
If you’re wondering how to get rid of stretch marks, the most important thing to understand is that there is no universal stretch mark removal treatment.
New red stretch marks, mature white stretch marks, deep textured stretch marks, and stretch marks on different skin tones can all require different approaches.
Medical treatments such as laser therapy, fractional resurfacing, microneedling, radiofrequency, and carefully selected topical therapies may help improve their appearance. For some patients, combining treatments provides the most comprehensive approach.
The goal isn’t simply to choose the strongest treatment. It’s to determine what makes your stretch marks visible and treat those specific components while minimizing unnecessary risk.
If you’re interested in improving stretch marks, a consultation with a scar specialist can help determine which treatment options are most appropriate for your skin and individual concerns.
