Stretch marks are incredibly common. They affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, often appearing during key life transitions like puberty, pregnancy, or rapid weight changes. These marks are not dangerous, but many people feel self-conscious about them and want to reduce their appearance. If you've ever searched for answers to what stretch marks are or wondered how to get rid of stretch marks, you're not alone. This guide takes a closer look at the causes, prevention tips, and proven treatment options that support smoother skin and healthier skin tone over time.
Stretch marks, or striae, are long, narrow lines that develop on the skin when it's stretched too quickly. They're technically a type of scar formed in the dermis, the middle layer of skin. When skin stretches beyond its natural limit, tiny tears appear in the dermis, disrupting the structure of the skin.
These marks often start out looking red, purple, or even dark brown, depending on your skin colour and skin tone. Over time, they fade into a lighter, silvery shade that differs from the surrounding normal skin. The early phase—called striae rubra—is when stretch marks are most visible and often easier to treat. As they mature into striae alba, they become less pigmented but more difficult to treat.
There’s no single cause of stretch marks, but they all boil down to one thing: rapid stretching of the skin. When the body grows faster than the skin can accommodate, the elastic fibres under the surface begin to break. This can happen over a surprisingly short period of time, and the damage becomes visible as streak-like marks on the surface.
People experience this during many life events. Pregnancy is a classic example, especially during the later trimesters, when the abdomen expands quickly. The same thing can happen with rapid weight gain, when the skin doesn’t have enough time to adapt. Teenagers often develop stretch marks during puberty due to rapid growth spurts, especially on the thighs, buttocks, arms, and back.
Other contributing factors include bodybuilding (due to fast muscle growth), corticosteroid medications, and certain medical conditions that affect skin elasticity. If you have a family history of stretch marks or a particular skin type, your risk may be higher. The thickness of your skin, your hydration levels, and your collagen production also play key roles. People with dry skin tend to have weaker skin barriers, making them more prone to damaged skin and scarring.
Collagen is one of the most essential proteins in the body. It keeps your skin firm, elastic, and resilient. When your body experiences changes that affect collagen production—whether hormonal, nutritional, or age-related—your skin loses strength and flexibility. This increases the risk of stretch marks forming during periods of stress.
Your skin is also made up of fibres that help it stretch and contract as needed. When these fibres snap, your skin doesn’t bounce back the same way. That’s why marks can appear as streaks—evidence that the protective barrier was pushed beyond its limits.
It’s worth noting that your skin’s ability to produce collagen can vary due to lifestyle factors. Smoking, poor diet, lack of sleep, and stress all reduce blood flow and slow down the natural healing process. These habits can make existing stretch marks worse and prevent effective recovery.
The appearance of stretch marks differs depending on skin type and skin colour. On fair skin, fresh stretch marks often look pink or red. On darker skin tones, they can appear dark brown or black. Over time, these colours fade and become more muted, leaving behind pale lines that still contrast with the surrounding skin.
While they become less noticeable as they fade, they rarely disappear on their own. For some, they may shrink and blend with the surrounding area. For others, they remain visible long-term as permanent scars. This difference in how stretch marks look on various skin tones also affects how they respond to treatment. Some procedures, like laser therapy, need to be carefully matched to the patient's skin colour to avoid unwanted side effects.
This is a common question: how to remove stretch marks completely? The truth is, you can’t erase them 100%. Once the skin has scarred, it’s very difficult to reverse completely. However, you can significantly reduce their appearance and improve your skin’s texture, evenness and colour uniformity. Treatments work by boosting collagen growth, hydrating the area, and improving the skin healing response. With time, effort, and the right approach, it’s possible to fade marks until they’re barely visible.
Stretch mark treatments fall into two general categories: topical solutions and in-office procedures. The most effective results often come from combining these methods over time.
Here’s a closer look at what works:
Topical Products:
Prevention is often better than cure. Stretch mark prevention in the form of managing weight gain during pregnancy, using moisturizers with both humectant and emollient effects can make a difference when used consistently. For example, ingredients like ceramides and shea butter can keep skin hydrated and support elasticity during pregnancy. For best absorption, apply your product after a warm shower, when the skin is soft and more absorbent.
Early stretch marks can be managed with a prescription-grade retinoid cream which can stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture if used consistently over a 4-6 week period. However, topical retinoids are contraindicated for use in pregnancy.
Professional Treatments:
In-office procedures like laser therapy, microneedling radiofreqeuncy, and injectable collagen stimulators can help improve the appearance of stretch marks by tightening the skin and increasing collagen formation. Results vary based on skin type, depth and severity of the stretch mark, and your medical history.
Lasers such as the Picosure Pro and pulsed dye laser can effectively target brown and red stretch marks respectively. Fractional CO2 laser and microneedling radiofrequency can improve scar texture and blend the appearance of the stretch marks with the surrounding skin better. Finally, injectable poly-L lactic acid (PLLA) and polynucleotides can help remodel early stretch marks and improve the thickness of the skin overlying the stretch marks, helping to improve the appearance in the process.
Many people ask how to get rid of stretch marks, but overlook the role of daily habits. Your skin reflects your internal health. Supporting it through smart choices can strengthen the protective barrier and improve results from other treatments.
Over time, these efforts help your body create new, healthy tissue and maintain smoother skin.
If you’re prone to stretch marks due to genetics or body changes, you might not be able to avoid them entirely. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Supporting your skin before and during stressful times—like pregnancy, weight training, or growth spurts—can make a huge difference. Use creams or oils daily to reinforce your skin’s elasticity. Keep your weight changes gradual, and diet healthy to boost your skin’s resilience. And importantly, don’t wait until marks appear to take action. Early prevention is more effective than trying to fix deep scars later.
If home remedies and over-the-counter products don’t work—or if you’re dealing with very old or stubborn marks—it’s best to consult a healthcare professional. A dermatologist can assess your skin type, treatment history, and goals, then recommend the right course of action. This is especially important for people with sensitive skin, darker skin tones, or medical conditions that affect the skin’s healing ability.
Getting professional guidance ensures you avoid treatments that might worsen pigmentation or irritate the skin, and instead use what’s proven to work for your specific needs.
Stretch marks maybe difficult to treat but you don’t have to ignore them if they bother you. From prevention, topical treatment, laser therapies to injectables, there’s a wide range of options to suit every skin type and budget. With the right approach and a little time, you can restore smoother skin and feel better in your body, stretch marks and all.
