How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks, According to Dermatologists in 2024

Resurfacing lasers are one of the best options to smooth textured stretch marks and discoloration, says Dr. Akhavan. There are two different types of laser treatments for stretch marks that your dermatologist may recommend: Ablative remodeling lasers and non-ablative lasers.

Ablative lasers

Ablative lasers, like Erbium YAG, fractional CO2 lasers, or nonfractionated lasers including Fraxel Re:Pair—use intense wavelengths of light to destroy the upper layers of your skin, triggering the formation of new skin that’s smoother and brighter. Ablative lasers are considered the most intense and painful of laser treatments, and they usually require five to seven days of downtime afterward, due to swelling, inflammation, and peeling. Treatments are on the longer end (around an hour to an hour and a half), but require fewer sessions to treat stretch marks (usually one to three) than non-ablative lasers, which usually require five to eight.

Non-ablative lasers

Non-ablative lasers (like Nd:YAG lasers, fractional and nonfractional lasers, and pulsed-dye lasers, —which target your blood vessels, i.e. reddish or purple stretch marks) use precise wavelengths of light that emit heat into the lower layers of your skin to damage the skin and trigger collagen production and repair. Dr. Akhavan uses the Icon 1540 Fractional Laser for stretch marks in his practice, a fractional laser that’s been shown to give a 50 to 75 percent improvement in stretch marks after a few sessions. Non-ablative lasers are known to be less painful, and they only have one to three days of downtime, generally. But you’ll need between five and eight treatments spaced a month apart to completely see results (smooth, faded scars).

Either way, if you’re considering a laser treatment, talk to your dermatologist to find out which laser will be best for your needs. If you’ve had your bumpy stretch marks since puberty, then you might benefit from one or two procedures with an ablative laser to resurface your skin. But if you’ve got newer, bright-red stretch marks, a non-ablative laser might be a better bit for you.

As a refresher, radiofrequency (RF) treatments use heat to penetrate the middle layers of your skin and trigger fresh collagen production. And when you pair RF with microneedling (which also triggers a wound-healing response by creating tiny punctures in your skin), you’ve got a gold-star, collagen-boosting treatment that can smooth textured stretch marks and fade discoloration over time.

The two most common types of microneedling with RF are Morpheus8 and Vivace, both of which involve “stamping” the top layers of the skin with tiny needles that emit radiofrequency. Each treatment will leave your skin inflamed for a few days to a week, but you’ll start to notice smoother, firmer skin over time. Just note that you’ll need three to six sessions depending on how textured and old your stretch marks are (newer stretch marks are easier to remove).

Dr. Akhavan also recommends laser skin-tightening treatments for getting rid of stretch marks. Why? Because these tightening treatments deliver pulses of light energy into your skin to trick your cells into thinking they're injured, he says, which causes your body's natural healing process to kick in. This “wound-healing process” triggers your cells to create new collagen in the area and firm skin, helping to lighten and smooth your stretch marks over time.

Intense-pulsed light (IPL) is a common treatment for stretch marks in fair-to-medium skin, because it uses short blasts of high-intensity light to help smooth texture, fade hyperpigmentation, and firm skin over time. It can take up to six treatments (at $150 to $500 per session) to see results, but there tends to be little downtime and discomfort. Just note that most IPL technologies are not yet safe for use on dark or deep skin, as the wavelength targets dark pigments and could potentially burn your skin, so talk to your doctor beforehand to make sure you’re a candidate.

Another option is ultrasound therapy, like Ultherapy (sometimes called Ulthera) or Sofwave, which uses ultrasound waves to heat deep layers under your skin to trigger collagen production. There’s no downtime with ultrasound, but you may experience some pain during your treatment (especially with Ultherapy, which reaches deeper layers of your skin than Sofwave), but most patients can simply ask for numbing cream ahead of time to help mitigate discomfort.

Note: Ultrasound therapy is safe for all skin types and tones, and most dermatologists will recommend two 30-minute treatments spaced four weeks apart to treat stretch marks. Just know they're not exactly cheap: Treatments can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 each, depending on where you’re located, your stretch marks’ size, and your provider.

If your stretch marks are raised, your doctor might recommend an injection that can stimulate collagen to thicken your skin and help smooth the bumpy texture. Two common injections include Radiesse and Sculptra which can soften crepiness and stretch marks, resulting in firmer skin. It’s important to note though that these injections aren’t permanent, though: Radiesse lasts about a year, while Sculptra can last up to two years.

You’ll also need multiple rounds of treatment, and you likely won’t see a major difference for three to four months while your skin builds up the new collagen. But these treatments can be combined with lasers, microneedling, or microdermabrasion to improve both the texture and discoloration of your scars in a shorter period of time than, say, retinoids or topical creams in general.

“The cause of stretch marks is your skin stretching and your elastin and collagen breaking, most commonly during periods of rapid weight fluctuations,” says Dr. Polla. This often occurs during growth spurts, pregnancy, puberty, weight gain, or increased muscle mass when your skin suddenly stretches and causes the collagen under your skin to tear away from each other, explains Dr. Arkhavan. So when your skin stops growing, "it can look wrinkled and lined because it’s not supported by the same collagen structure underneath,” says Dr. Akhavan.

There is no way to completely get rid of stretch marks permanently, says Dr. Akhavan. But dermatologists offer two types of treatments to help get rid of stretch marks: at-home treatments and in-office procedures. Your dermatologist will be able to decide which option is best for you, your goals, and your budget. But here’s a quick breakdown of what they might suggest:

At-home treatments to get rid of stretch marks:

• Prescription tretinoin
• Over-the-counter retinoids, like adapalene or 0.1 percent retinol-based body lotions
• At-home devices, like dermarolling or microdermabrasion

Professional in-office treatments to get rid of stretch marks:

• Lasers, like the Icon 1540 fractional laser, IPL, PDL, fractional CO2 lasers, Fraxel, and Excimer
• Microneedling with radiofrequency, including Morpheus8, Vivace, and Thermage
• Microdermabrasion
• Collagen-stimulating injections, such as Radiesse and Sculptra

Your doctor will also likely suggest a body skincare routine that includes moisturizing your skin twice a day with a rich body cream, as the more hydrated your skin is, the more elastic and resistant to stretching and scarring it’ll be.

Stretch marks can take anywhere from months to years to fade on their own, depending on their location, texture, and color. If your stretch marks appear dark-pink, red, or purple at first, they will “take 12 to 18 months to fade to the much lighter white-ish color of an ‘old’ stretch mark,” says Dr. Polla. All that to say, some stretch marks will remain red/purple/brown and never fade to white or silver.

Also, if you do try one of the above stretch mark removal treatments, you won’t see results immediately, says Dr. Akhavan. Everything from professional procedures to at-home lotions will take at least three months to notice fading, though you can often expect even longer.

There’s no way to prevent stretch marks from forming, because stretch marks can be genetic, and weight fluctuations are inevitable. But the best plan of action is to moisturize your body twice a day with a cream or oil to strengthen your skin, making it more elastic to avoid stretching and tearing. Look for creams that contain oils with a small enough molecular size to improve your moisture levels, like almond oil, shea butter, and argan oil. You can also incorporate a collagen-boosting product, like a retinol body lotion, collagen cream, or peptide-based body moisturizer.

Talk to your dermatologist.

Your dermatologist can help you determine whether you should opt for an in-office procedure, a prescription topical, or an at-home treatment, depending on what you’re hoping to achieve and the texture, color, and age of your stretch marks. Your doctor might also combine treatments, like a collagen-stimulator injection with a laser treatment, or topical products used in between your laser appointments.

Consider your budget.

Obviously, at-home stretch mark treatments will be a lot less expensive than three to six sessions of a professional laser or microneedling procedure. But when you’re choosing a stretch mark removal treatment, discuss with your doctor how much you’re willing to spend. An over-the-counter retinoid like adapalene or a retinol body lotion will cost less than a tretinoin prescription. If you’re looking for an in-office result without spending too much, you could try an at-home microdermabrasion tool or derma-roller.

In-office procedures will also vary in price, though. A microdermabrasion treatment averages $100 to $200 a session, while one microneedling with RF treatment can range from $250 to $1,000. And laser facials vary too, with ultrasound and ablative lasers costing the most and IPL generally costing the least.

Choose products with proven ingredients.

If you’re going the route of at-home treatments, skip the stretch mark-removal creams and opt for a retinol-based gel or lotion instead, which can help smooth your skin and fade stretch marks over time. And, unlike creams and oils that require twice daily application (to see minimal results over a long period of time), you only have to use a retinoid three times a week, which is a lot easier to maintain in the long run while you’re waiting for smoother, brighter skin.

• Luigi L. Polla, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of the Forever Institut in Geneva, SW. He is also the founder of the skincare brand Alchimie Forever, which he developed for patients to use post-procedures.
• Arash Akhavan, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at The Dermatology and Laser Group in New York, NY and a faculty member at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. He specializes in non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures as well as skin cancer prevention and treatment.
• Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY, specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology. She is also the clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She was previously interviewed about stretch mark creams.
• Morgan Rabach, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the co-founder of LM Medical in New York, NY. Dr. Rabach specializes in cosmetic dermatology and the elimination of acne scars. She was previously interviewed about microdermabrasion.
• Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at her own practice in Hamden, CT. She’s also the president of the Women's Dermatologic Society, and associate clinical professor at Yale. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology and skin of color. She was previously interviewed about retinol body lotions.
• John Kim, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. His specialty is cosmetic surgery of the breast and body. Cosmo interviewed him previously about stretch mark creams.