Stretch marks treatment: what helps, what does not
Stretch marks are a kind of scar that forms when skin stretches or shrinks fast, as in pregnancy, puberty or a quick weight change. No treatment erases them, but early red or purple marks respond better than old, pale ones. Four popular home remedies failed in studies. Karisma does not sell a stretch mark treatment; this page explains who does.
Published · Written by Kay Woodson · Results vary.
Why do stretch marks form?
When skin is stretched or shrinks faster than it can adapt, the collagen and elastin that hold it together are damaged. The AAD describes the result as a type of scar. Hormone levels and family history can raise the odds.
The usual moments are growth spurts in puberty, pregnancy, gaining or losing weight quickly, and fast muscle growth from weight training. Long-term use of corticosteroid creams can cause them too, and so can medical conditions such as Cushing's disease and Marfan syndrome.
Why does the age of a stretch mark matter?
Most treatments work better on the first kind than the second.
| Early marks | Mature marks | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Red, purple, pink, reddish brown or dark brown, depending on your skin tone | Faded, lighter than the skin around them. Cleveland Clinic says the color usually takes 6 to 12 months to fade |
| Feel | May be slightly raised and itchy | Sunk a little below the surface |
| Options with study support | Tretinoin and hyaluronic acid made them less noticeable in studies | Procedures at a dermatologist's office |
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; Cleveland Clinic for the fading time.
Which stretch mark treatments have evidence?
The AAD's summary of what has been tested. Rows marked "not offered" are not available at Karisma.
| Option | What the evidence says | Who provides it |
|---|---|---|
| Tretinoin | Made early marks less noticeable in studies. Check with your doctor first if pregnant or breastfeeding | A doctor, by prescription |
| Hyaluronic acid | Made early marks less noticeable in studies | At home |
| Retinol | May help early marks. Cleveland Clinic says it can take at least 6 months of regular use to see a difference | At home, with a doctor's advice if pregnant or nursing |
| Creams, lotions and gels sold over the counter | Results vary. May work better on early marks, massaged in daily for weeks | At home |
| Almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, vitamin E | Did not fade or prevent stretch marks in studies | No benefit shown for stretch marks |
| Chemical peels, laser, microdermabrasion, radiofrequency, ultrasound | Can make marks less noticeable. None removes them. Cleveland Clinic: microneedling usually takes 3 to 6 sessions, and laser results can keep improving for up to a year | A dermatologist. Not offered at Karisma for stretch marks |
| Self-tanner | Camouflages marks without removing them. Real tanning makes them more noticeable | At home |
Try at home first if
Your marks are new and still colored, and you are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Give hyaluronic acid or an over-the-counter cream steady daily use for months, not days, and keep the area out of tanning sun.
See a dermatologist if
The marks are old and pale and you want them less visible, or they bother you enough to consider laser or another procedure. Also book a doctor if stretch marks appear with no growth spurt, pregnancy or weight change to explain them.
Does Karisma treat stretch marks?
No. There is no stretch mark treatment on Karisma's menu today, and we would rather tell you that than rename another service. The studio's facials work on the face, and its body sessions are aimed at the look of cellulite and at muscle tone, not at scars.
If your stretch marks came with pregnancy and you are looking at your whole midsection, the postpartum body page sets out what Karisma does offer after your doctor clears you. For the marks themselves, a board-certified dermatologist is the right first call.
Check before you treat
The AAD advises checking with your doctor before treating stretch marks during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, because some products, including those with retinol, can harm a baby. On prevention, the AAD says the evidence is uncertain, though products with centella or hyaluronic acid may help.
Questions about stretch marks
Can stretch marks be removed completely?
No. The AAD treats stretch marks as scars: treatment can make them less noticeable, but none removes them. Anyone promising otherwise is overselling.
Do stretch mark creams work?
Some ingredients help early marks, mainly tretinoin and hyaluronic acid. Almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil and vitamin E did not fade or prevent them in studies.
Do stretch marks fade on their own?
Their color fades with time, from red or purple toward a paler shade, and they flatten into a slight dip. Cleveland Clinic puts that fading at 6 to 12 months, often faster with treatment. The mark itself stays.
Does Karisma offer a stretch mark treatment?
Not today. For procedures such as laser or radiofrequency on stretch marks, see a dermatologist. For questions about other body concerns, contact the studio.
- Stretch marks, Cleveland Clinic, last updated May 4, 2022, checked October 29, 2026
- Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them, American Academy of Dermatology, checked October 29, 2026