Minimizing Stretch Marks and Scars: Effective Treatment Options

Stretch marks and scars are common concerns for people of all ages and body types. While people tend to associate stretch marks with pregnancy or weight gain, they can occur after any rapid stretching of the body and in connection with some health concerns.¹ Other scars are the body’s natural way of healing an injury to the skin, whether from an accident or surgery.² If the light or dark ribbon scars along your skin are bringing down your confidence, there are multiple treatments that may help.

What Are Stretch Marks and Scars?

Stretch marks, formally known as striae distensae, most commonly occur along the abdomen, breasts, hips, thighs, upper arms and lower back. Although they are usually caused by the rapid stretching of a body part — such as what can happen with weight gain — they can also be related to hormonal fluctuations, such as puberty, as well as muscle hypertrophy, corticosteroid use and genetic disorders like Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.¹

Scars may develop after an injury to the skin, including burns, wounds, surgical cuts or infections.²

While stretch marks (a form of dermal scarring) are not dangerous to your health, they can affect your confidence and general self-esteem. Many topical and physical treatments exist to treat them, but their effectiveness can vary. Stretch marks may fade over time, but they can be persistent.¹

Treatment Options

Multiple cosmetic treatments are available to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks:¹

Laser therapy

Laser therapy can be a treatment for stretch marks. The laser stimulates the skin and encourages its natural production of collagen, which thickens the skin beneath the scar — this can help to make it look like the unscarred skin nearby. You may need a few treatments to achieve optimal results.³

The gold standard in laser therapy for stretch marks may be fractional lasers, which are used to stimulate new collagen growth and improve color and texture. This laser type can require fewer sessions and can be effective for a variety of skin tones and body areas. For those who want less downtime and/or have more sensitive or darker skin, non-ablative lasers may be the better option. However, non-ablative lasers can require more sessions to achieve desired results.⁴

A typical laser session lasts about 30 to 60 minutes. It might produce a mild warmth or a pinching sensation, and the skin may be red or swollen for a few days afterward. Usually, cool compresses and healing ointments can provide ease. While laser treatments can offer meaningful improvement, it’s important to manage expectations — most people see an improvement of about 50% to 70% in scar appearance.⁴

Microneedling

Microneedling is another treatment that can help improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks. During a microneedling appointment, a trained dermatology professional uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. These micro-injuries stimulate the skin’s natural healing response and support skin remodeling. Over time, this process can help improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.⁵

Recovery from the possible redness, swelling and sensitivity associated with microneedling varies, but typically averages two to seven days. Noticeable results may take between two to four weeks, and even several months to fully manifest.⁶

Additional treatments for stretch marks and scars

Additional treatments can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. Talk with your dermatology professional to determine which may be right for your skin and your goals. Some of these treatments include:

• Chemical peels. Chemical peels gently exfoliate the top layers of skin, helping to improve the appearance of scars.⁷ Chemical peels can also be used to treat stretch marks.¹ Talk with a dermatologist to discuss the types of chemical peels that are available. The severity and size of your stretch marks could determine whether you need a light, medium or deep peel.
• Hyaluronic acid. Injectable hyaluronic acid may help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. When delivered through intradermal injection, hyaluronic acid activates dermal fibroblasts, supporting collagen production. Studies have shown that a combination of hyaluronic acid injections and amino acids improves stretch mark appearance.⁸
• Microdermabrasion. People who are interested in non-invasive procedures to treat their stretch marks and scars may want to try microdermabrasion. The procedure uses microscopic crystals to remove the epidermis’ outermost layer (stratum corneum). After healing, the treated area may even have improved permeability, which can enhance the delivery of topical medications and treatments.⁹
• Platelet-rich plasma therapy. People who sign up for platelet-rich plasma therapy provide a small sample of their blood, which is processed in a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the rest of the blood material. Doctors then inject or apply that plasma to targeted areas to support tissue repair and stimulate collagen production.¹⁰
• Radiofrequency therapy. Dermatologists can use radiofrequency therapy to improve the appearance of stretch marks by delivering controlled energy to the skin. This energy promotes skin remodeling and has been shown to improve stretch mark color and texture. Clinical research indicates that nanofractional radiofrequency, particularly when used in a series of treatments, can reduce stretch mark width and improve skin elasticity and overall appearance.¹¹

Set Realistic Expectations

Despite the variety of treatments available to minimize the appearance of stretch marks and scars, it’s important to have realistic expectations for your results. Treatments may minimize but may not completely remove them.⁴ Additionally, the healing effects of each treatment may not be immediate, unfolding instead over the days and weeks following a treatment.⁶ It’s always a good idea to consult with a dermatology professional to decide on the right treatment for you.

Find the Right Treatment for You

Feeling comfortable in your own skin is important and may not require invasive or intensive treatments. The variety of treatments available for minimizing stretch marks and scars means that if one doesn’t work for you, there may be others for you to try. With professional help and realistic expectations, you can find a procedure that helps you achieve your skin care goals and restore your confidence.

Financing Stretch Mark Treatments With the CareCredit Credit Card

When getting stretch mark treatments or another cosmetic procedure, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Paypal, The Washington Post and more.