Not Medical Advice: While some stretch marks naturally fade to faint, silvery lines, others remain darker and more showy. The best time to treat the marks, Heidi Waldorf, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City says, is while they're still in that reddish stage.
Gels made with a mix of onion extract and hyaluronic acid may help. In one study, people using the gel said their marks faded after 12 weeks of daily use.
Another option is a retinoid, which your dermatologist can prescribe. “This speeds up cell turnover and can stimulate new collagen growth, leading to plumper, healthier skin,” Waldorf says. (You can’t use a retinoid if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, though.)
Other in-office treatments include lasers that heat the skin. That boosts collagen growth and shrinks dilated blood vessels. It may take a number of sessions to see results, says Jeanine B. Downie, MD, a dermatologist in Montclair, NJ.
Gentler processes such as dermabrasion can also help renew the skin, Downie says, but don't expect a big change.
Stretch marks are visible lines on the skin surface, with an off-color hue. Sometimes stretch marks can cover large areas of the body. While pregnancy is the main cause behind stretch marks, other reasons can be sudden gain or loss in weight, rapid growth, heredity factors, stress and changes in physical conditions.
Stretch marks can make you feel self-conscious and uncomfortable about your appearance. Fortunately, there are several natural ways to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.