How long do stretch marks last?

What changes as stretch marks get older?

New stretch marks usually look pink, red or purple and can be slightly raised. Over time, they become paler, flatter or slightly sunken, with a wrinkled surface. A pale mark can therefore still have a different texture from the surrounding skin even after its original colour has faded.23

Stretch marks form when rapid stretching disrupts the supporting tissue in the dermis, the deeper layer of skin. Pregnancy, puberty, rapid weight changes and rapid muscle growth are common triggers. Stretch marks are scars rather than surface stains, so 'erase' is doing a lot of work on a cream label.2

Do pregnancy stretch marks fade after birth?

Pregnancy stretch marks fade after delivery and become less noticeable. They can develop on the belly as the baby grows, and on the breasts as they enlarge to prepare for breastfeeding. Marks also occur on the hips and buttocks. After birth, fading does not necessarily restore the skin's original texture.34

Lotions and oils can feel and smell pleasant without preventing pregnancy stretch marks. Buying a prevention product is not the same as buying a treatment for marks that have already formed, which is a distinction easily lost between the front label and the checkout.4

Can you make stretch marks fade faster?

Treatment can improve their appearance, especially while the marks are new. Older, pale marks generally respond less well. Creams have limited supporting evidence, while procedures such as laser treatment, microneedling and radiofrequency can improve texture. There is no standard treatment schedule or reliable timetable for the result.23

If you want to try a stretch mark cream:

1. 1Start while the marks are new rather than waiting until they are pale.
2. 2Massage the product gently into the marks.
3. 3Apply it every day for weeks. Any visible improvement takes weeks, not a few applications.

Hyaluronic acid and prescription tretinoin can make early marks less noticeable. Tretinoin is a retinoid, a type of vitamin A related medicine; one study used it nightly for 24 weeks. That is a study schedule, not a dose to copy without a prescription. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor before treating stretch marks, particularly with products containing retinol.1

A dermatologist can match a procedure to the age and colour of the marks and your skin tone. Some lasers target the redness of early marks rather than older white scars. Certain pulsed dye laser treatments carry a risk of permanent pigment changes in darker skin. Microneedling has improved both early and older marks in small studies.13

Can anything remove stretch marks completely?

Creams and cosmetic skin procedures do not remove stretch marks completely, which leaves 'erase' better suited to stationery advertising. Tanning makes them more noticeable because the marks do not tan. A self tanner can camouflage both new and mature marks, but changes their visibility rather than removing the scar, which makes camouflage a refreshingly modest cosmetic ambition.1

A tummy tuck can remove stretch marks within the excess abdominal skin that is removed during surgery. It is major surgery to reshape the abdomen, not a routine stretch mark treatment. It leaves a scar across the lower tummy, involves weeks of recovery and carries risks including infection, bleeding and problems with wound healing.5

When should you have stretch marks checked?

Contact a healthcare professional if stretch marks appear without a clear cause, such as pregnancy, a growth spurt or rapid weight change. Mention any cortisone creams or steroid medicines you use. A clinician will ask when the marks appeared, examine your skin and check for other symptoms; unexplained marks sometimes need investigation rather than cosmetic treatment.26