Authored by Dr. Ringpfeil

Stretch Marks

Treatment Options: Massage and exercise, pulsed dye laser (PDL) for redness, picosecond laser for dark color, 1540 nm laser or CO2 laser for texture.

Stretch marks develop due to rapid skin expansion, often caused by growth spurts or rapid weight gain. Long-term use of oral and topical steroids can also increase the likelihood of stretch marks.

Regularly massaging the affected area with moisturizer and incorporating toning exercises into your routine can help prevent stretch marks in most cases. If you’re pregnant, it’s advisable to consult your obstetrician to ensure the safety of toning exercises.

While various devices have been approved for treating stretch marks, results may not always be consistent. Pulsed dye laser treatments can effectively reduce redness in fair-skinned individuals. Picosecond laser toning might be beneficial for addressing the dark color of stretch marks, regardless of ethnicity. Texture improvement may be achieved through non-ablative fractional 1540 nm laser treatments (formerly known as Starlux 1540) and, in fair-skinned individuals, fractional CO2 laser tightening.