Stretch Mark Treatments Compared: What Can Help

Why stretch marks form and why they do not wash away

Maybe they arrived with a pregnancy, a growth spurt, a change in weight or a stretch of serious weight training. Now you want to know what actually helps and what is a waste of money. The honest starting point: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says a stretch mark is a type of scar.

Stretch marks form when skin stretches or shrinks quickly and the collagen and elastin that support it tear. Hormones seem to play a role, and you may be more likely to get them if they run in your family. The AAD says using a corticosteroid on your skin for a long time can also cause them, as can conditions such as Cushing's disease and Marfan syndrome.

Like any scar, the AAD says, stretch marks are permanent. Treatment may make them less noticeable and can ease the itch. Keep that goal in mind as you compare options.

New or old: why the stage matters

When stretch marks first appear, the AAD says they tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown or dark brown, depending on your skin color. Early marks may feel slightly raised and itchy. Over time the color fades and the bands sink below the skin, so a mature mark often feels like a slight dip and looks white or silver.

The stage changes what is worth trying. The AAD says creams, lotions and gels seem to have little effect on mature stretch marks and are most likely to help early ones. A 2026 review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology likewise says tretinoin works better on early red marks than on white ones. For mature marks, the AAD says in-office procedures have proven more effective than creams.

Creams, oils and home remedies

Store shelves are full of stretch mark products, and the AAD says many do not seem to work at all. If you want to try a cream, the AAD suggests using it on early marks, massaging it in gently, and applying it every day for weeks, since any results take weeks to appear. Products containing centella, an herb, or hyaluronic acid may also help prevent new marks. Here is what studies have found:

• Hyaluronic acid. In two large studies, applying it to early stretch marks made them less noticeable.
• Tretinoin. This prescription retinoid may make early marks less noticeable. The AAD describes one study in which people applied it every night for 24 weeks. Redness and peeling of the skin are common side effects, according to a 2019 review.
• Retinol. This milder retinoid may also help fade early marks.
• Oils and butters. Almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil and vitamin E did not fade stretch marks in studies, and did not prevent them either.
• Self-tanner. It cannot remove stretch marks, but it can camouflage both early and mature ones. Real tanning does the opposite: stretch marks do not tan, so they stand out more.

Procedures: lasers, microneedling, radiofrequency and peels

The AAD lists chemical peels, laser therapy, microdermabrasion, radiofrequency and ultrasound as procedures dermatologists use, and it is clear that none of these can get rid of stretch marks. A dermatologist may combine two, such as radiofrequency with a pulsed-dye laser. Redness and swelling are common afterward and tend to fade within hours or days.

The research is promising but thin. A 2019 review found that no single treatment is fully satisfactory, that studies are small, and that there are no standard guidelines. Its authors suggested fractional lasers and microneedling with radiofrequency as first choices, with peels or microneedling plus platelet-rich plasma as lower-cost options. A 2020 analysis of 14 randomized trials ranked radiofrequency combined with tretinoin highest and fractional carbon dioxide laser as an alternative, while tretinoin used alone ranked lowest. In two studies cited by the 2019 review, microneedling did better than the treatments it was compared with, fractional carbon dioxide laser in one and microdermabrasion in the other. A 2026 review lists picosecond lasers among the options with reported benefit.

Two practical points follow. Most procedures take several sessions, and stretch marks often cover large areas, so ask how the plan scales to the size of the area. And skin tone matters for any laser, so ask how your provider adjusts settings for your skin.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: wait and plan

Stretch marks often show up during pregnancy, which is exactly when you should be most careful. The AAD says to check with your doctor before treating stretch marks if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, because some products contain ingredients, such as retinol, that can harm your baby. The AAD also says tretinoin is generally stopped during pregnancy.

Laser Eraser's candidacy screening notes that pregnancy means waiting. It often makes sense to reassess your marks after the baby arrives. The guide on pregnancy, breastfeeding and laser treatment covers this in more detail.

If stretch marks appear without a clear reason such as growth, pregnancy, weight change or muscle gain, or if you have used a strong steroid cream for a long time, mention it to your doctor before seeking cosmetic treatment.

What Laser Eraser offers for stretch marks

Laser Eraser treats stretch marks with the PicoWay picosecond laser, performed by a licensed medical provider, as described on the stretch mark treatment page. The site describes the goal as improvement in color, texture and visibility rather than complete erasure, and notes that newer red or pink marks often respond more readily than older white ones. That improvement relies on collagen remodeling, which happens gradually. Because change builds slowly between sessions, ask for photos of the area before you start so you can compare honestly later.

Creams, microneedling, radiofrequency, peels and microdermabrasion are general options described by the AAD and medical reviews, not services listed on the practice's site. To compare plans side by side, take the checklist in questions to ask before scar treatment to your consultation.