can you get rid of stretch marks

February 15, 2026

You generally can’t completely get rid of stretch marks, but you can often make them fade and look much less noticeable over time. How much they improve depends on how old they are, your skin tone, and the treatment you use.

Quick Scoop: What’s Actually Possible

Stretch marks are a type of scar from skin stretching faster than your collagen can keep up (growth spurts, pregnancy, weight changes, muscle gain).

They usually fade on their own from red/purple to pale or silvery over a few years, even without treatment.

No treatment erases them 100%, but some can smooth the texture and soften the color so they’re way less obvious.

The earlier you treat (while marks are still reddish or purplish), the better your odds of visible improvement.

At-Home Options (Realistic, Not “Miracle”)

These won’t make them vanish, but they can help the skin look smoother and healthier.

1. Prescription or Strong Topical Treatments

Retinoid / tretinoin creams (vitamin A–based) – Can stimulate collagen and help early, red or purple stretch marks fade and smooth out a bit.

Hyaluronic acid creams/serums – Hydrate and plump the skin; some evidence they may help newer marks look less obvious over time.

Important notes:

Retinoids are not safe in pregnancy or if you’re trying to conceive; they also can irritate sensitive skin, so you need medical guidance.

You need consistent daily use for weeks to months to see changes.

2. Moisturizers & Oils

Common picks: cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, bio‑oil, and “stretch mark” lotions.

They mainly help with itching, dryness, and general skin comfort , and support the skin barrier.

Evidence that they prevent or erase stretch marks is limited, but well-moisturized skin often looks better overall.

3. Gentle Exfoliation (e.g., sugar scrubs)

DIY sugar scrubs or mild exfoliants can help your skin look smoother by removing surface dead cells.

This does not remove the scar itself but can enhance radiance and texture slightly.

In-Clinic Treatments (Most Effective, But Not Perfect)

These are the closest you’ll get to “strong” improvement, usually done by dermatologists or qualified clinics.

1. Laser Therapies

Pulsed dye lasers, fractional lasers, other resurfacing lasers can help blend color differences and stimulate collagen and elastin.

Best results are usually seen with newer, red/purple marks , but some technologies can also help older white ones a bit.

Typically require multiple sessions and can be expensive; there’s a small risk of pigment changes, especially on darker skin tones.

2. Microneedling

Uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries, triggering collagen and elastin production.

Can improve texture and help older, silvery stretch marks look smoother and closer to surrounding skin.

Often done in a series (e.g., every 4–6 weeks) and sometimes combined with radiofrequency for deeper collagen stimulation.

There are also many anecdotal reports on beauty forums of people seeing good improvement with professional microneedling of stretch marks over several months.

3. Radiofrequency & Combination Treatments

Radiofrequency heats deeper layers of skin to tighten and encourage collagen remodeling, giving firmer, smoother appearance.

Combination microneedling + radiofrequency is a trending approach that may improve both texture and depth of stretch marks.

4. Other Procedures

Microdermabrasion or dermabrasion – Surface-level polishing to make texture slightly smoother.

Red light therapy – Low-level light that may support repair and regeneration; evidence is emerging, not definitive.

What Actually Helps vs. Hype

Here’s a quick overview of common methods and realistic expectations:

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Treatment	Best For	What It Really Does	Can It “Get Rid” of Them?
Prescription retinoid cream	New, red/purple marks	Boosts collagen, can fade and smooth early stretch marks with regular use.	No, but can noticeably reduce their appearance.
Hyaluronic acid cream	Early marks, all skin types	Hydrates and may help early marks look less visible over time.	No, mild to moderate cosmetic improvement.
Laser therapy	Red/purple or some older marks	Improves color and texture by stimulating collagen and blending pigment.	No, but often the most dramatic softening available.
Microneedling	Older white or textured marks	Improves texture and tone through collagen remodeling; visible smoothing over sessions.	No, but can significantly lessen how deep/obvious they look.
Radiofrequency (with or without microneedling)	Loose or crepey skin with stretch marks	Tightens and firms skin, improving overall look of the area.	No, but can make the area look firmer and more even.
Oils, butters, basic lotions	Dry, itchy skin, pregnancy	Moisturizes and improves comfort and glow; limited proof for scar removal.	No, mostly comfort/aesthetic support.
Self-tanner	Color contrast	Reduces contrast between stretch marks and surrounding skin temporarily.	No, only camouflage.

Forum & “Real People” Angle

On beauty and skincare forums, you’ll see a mix of experiences:

Some users swear by professional microneedling pens (done in a clinic) showing “crazy” improvement in long‑standing stretch marks after several months.

Others find over-the-counter creams like cocoa butter or branded “stretch mark creams” comforting but admit the marks themselves don’t change much.

You’ll also see a strong trend of people reframing stretch marks as “tiger stripes” or part of their story, blending self-acceptance with any treatments they choose.

“Personally, I appreciate my own stripes, and I enjoy seeing the stripes of others as well.” – a sentiment you’ll see often in recent forum threads, especially from 2024–2025 discussions.

This mindset doesn’t replace treatment if you want it, but it can make the whole process feel less stressful.

If You’re Thinking About Treating Yours

A simple game plan:

Figure out what stage they’re in
- Red or purple and recent: you’ll respond better to medical creams and some lasers.

 * Pale or silvery and older: microneedling, radiofrequency, or certain lasers may help texture more than color.

Decide your priority
- Color? Look into options like pulsed dye or fractional lasers, and self-tanning as camouflage.

 * Texture? Microneedling, radiofrequency, and possibly microdermabrasion are more relevant.

Talk to a professional
- A dermatologist or medical aesthetics clinic can review your skin type, medical history (including pregnancy/breastfeeding), and budget to suggest realistic options.

Support your skin overall
- Gentle cleansing, daily moisturizing, sun protection, and avoiding harsh DIY experiments all support better healing and results.

Key Takeaway

You usually can’t fully erase stretch marks, but you often can make them subtler so they blend more with your normal skin. Medical treatments like lasers and microneedling offer the biggest visible changes, while creams and good skincare help support the process and your comfort.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.