Stretch Marks: What Actually Helps and What’s Safe in Pregnancy

No cream or oil makes stretch marks disappear, but some treatments can make them less noticeable, and they work best on new, red or purple marks rather than old, white ones. If you’re pregnant, the main rule is simple: avoid retinoid creams such as tretinoin, and treat everything else as “may help a little” rather than a fix.

Stretch marks are extremely common. They usually show up during puberty, pregnancy or after putting on or losing weight quickly. They’re harmless, and the NHS notes that they often become less visible over time on their own.

What causes stretch marks?

Stretch marks are a type of scar. When skin stretches or shrinks quickly, the collagen and elastin fibres that support it can tear, and the skin heals with thin lines. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), common triggers are:

• Pregnancy, especially on the tummy, breasts and hips.
• Growth spurts in puberty, which is why many teenagers notice lines on their thighs, hips, back or breasts.
• Rapid weight gain or weight loss. Steady changes give the skin more time to adapt. If you’re working on your weight, slow and sustainable usually beats crash dieting, as we explain in why diets often don’t work.
• Fast muscle growth from heavy weight training, often on the shoulders and upper arms.
• Steroid medicines, including corticosteroid creams used on the same patch of skin for a long time, and steroid tablets.
• Medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome and Marfan syndrome, which are rare.

Your genes and hormones matter too. If your mother or sister got stretch marks in pregnancy, you’re more likely to as well.

New marks vs old marks: why the colour matters

Stretch marks change over time, and that change decides which treatments are worth trying.

On brown skin, new marks often look dark brown rather than red, and old marks can look lighter than the rest of your skin. Tanning makes them stand out more, because the marks themselves don’t tan.

Creams with some evidence: tretinoin and hyaluronic acid

Tretinoin is a prescription retinoid (a vitamin A medicine). The AAD notes that in one study, applying it nightly for 24 weeks made early stretch marks less noticeable. That’s a long time for a modest result, and tretinoin often causes dryness, peeling and irritation, so it needs a doctor’s guidance. A 2020 network meta-analysis of 14 trials actually ranked tretinoin alone lowest of the options compared, while tretinoin combined with radiofrequency treatment did best. So it’s a modest helper, not a fix.

Tretinoin is not for pregnancy. The NHS says retinoid creams should be avoided in pregnancy because they may harm the baby. If you’re breastfeeding, the AAD advises checking with your doctor before using any stretch mark product, as some contain retinoids. The same caution applies to over-the-counter creams with retinol or “vitamin A” on the label.

Hyaluronic acid made early stretch marks less noticeable in two large studies, according to the AAD, and the NHS lists it as one of the options that may help new marks. It’s gentler than tretinoin. Like everything else on this list, it works best on new, coloured marks.

Centella, cocoa butter and oils: what the evidence says

Centella asiatica (gotu kola) appears in many stretch mark creams. The AAD says products containing centella may help prevent stretch marks, but the evidence is limited and mostly comes from creams that mix several ingredients. If you’re curious about the plant itself, our article on gotu kola’s uses and side effects covers it in more detail. A cream is not the same as a supplement: don’t take gotu kola tablets in pregnancy unless your doctor agrees.

Cocoa butter, olive oil, almond oil and vitamin E are the classic home remedies, and the evidence for them is weak. The AAD says these did not fade stretch marks or prevent them in studies. A Cochrane review of six trials involving 800 pregnant women found no high-quality evidence that any cream or oil, including olive oil and cocoa butter, prevented stretch marks or made them less severe.

That doesn’t mean oiling your belly is pointless. Moisturising can ease the itch of stretching skin, and a daily massage can feel good. Just don’t spend a lot on a jar that promises prevention. Any plain, fragrance-free moisturiser does the same comfort job.

Is it safe to treat stretch marks in pregnancy?

Here’s a practical checklist if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding:

• Avoid tretinoin, retinol, adapalene or any product labelled “retinoid” or “vitamin A”.
• Plain moisturisers, cocoa butter and oils are fine for comfort, as long as they don’t irritate your skin.
• Check the ingredient list of any “stretch mark cream” with your doctor or pharmacist, especially imported or multi-ingredient products.
• Keep your weight gain within the range your doctor suggests. The NHS says maintaining a healthy weight is the best way to lower your chances of getting stretch marks.
• Leave procedures such as lasers and peels until after pregnancy unless your dermatologist advises otherwise.

Stretch marks often become less visible over time without any treatment, so it’s worth waiting a few months after delivery before spending money on procedures.

Professional treatments: lasers, microneedling and more

Dermatologists can offer chemical peels, laser therapy, microdermabrasion, radiofrequency and microneedling. The AAD says these can make stretch marks less noticeable but none of them removes them completely. They usually need several sessions and are paid for privately.

In the 2020 meta-analysis, fractional CO2 laser was the best-performing laser, and microneedling, platelet-rich plasma and carboxytherapy scored better on patient satisfaction than microdermabrasion or tretinoin alone. The overall evidence is still described as moderate, with small trials.

A warning for brown skin

On brown skin, the main risk of a procedure is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, meaning dark patches that appear after the skin is injured or irritated. A 2026 review in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology notes that ablative lasers carry a higher risk of this, particularly in darker skin, and that non-ablative lasers are a better option for darker skin types. The same review reports mixed findings for microneedling: one study saw no hyperpigmentation, while another linked it to higher rates of darkening and redness.

If you’re considering a procedure:

• Choose a qualified dermatologist who regularly treats brown skin, not a salon.
• Ask for a test patch first.
• Follow the aftercare you’re given, including keeping treated skin out of the sun while it heals.
• Ask exactly how many sessions they expect, and what improvement looks like in their own patients.

What to realistically expect

Stretch marks are permanent in the way any scar is permanent. Good treatment can make them flatter, thinner and closer to your skin colour. It can’t make them vanish. Old white marks are the hardest to change.

For many people, the most useful steps are cheap ones: give new marks time to fade, keep your weight steady, moisturise for comfort, and skip tanning. A self-tanner can camouflage marks if you’d like them less visible for an event. Daily sun protection is a good habit anyway, as we cover in our daily skin habits guide; if you’re pregnant, skip the retinol serums that article mentions.

When to see a doctor

Most stretch marks don’t need medical attention. See a doctor if:

• You have large stretch marks along with extra fat on your chest and tummy but thin arms and legs.
• Fat is building up on the back of your neck and shoulders.
• Your face has become red, puffy and rounded.
• You also bruise easily, have new muscle weakness in your upper arms or thighs, or your periods have become irregular.
• Stretch marks appear suddenly without pregnancy, a growth spurt or weight change.
• You’ve been using a steroid cream or steroid tablets for weeks, especially without a prescription.

The NHS lists these features as possible signs of Cushing’s syndrome, where the body has too much cortisol. The most common cause is long-term use of high-dose steroid medicines. Don’t stop steroid tablets suddenly on your own; speak to your doctor first.

Also see a dermatologist if stretch marks are causing you real distress. That’s a valid reason to get advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can stretch marks be removed completely?

No. Treatments can make them less noticeable, especially when started on new red or purple marks, but no cream, oil or procedure removes them entirely.

Does coconut oil or cocoa butter prevent stretch marks in pregnancy?

Studies haven’t shown that cocoa butter or olive oil prevents them, and there’s no good evidence for coconut oil either. They can still soothe dry, itchy skin.

Can I use tretinoin while breastfeeding?

Check with your doctor first. Tretinoin should be avoided in pregnancy, and the AAD advises asking your doctor before using stretch mark products while breastfeeding.

Do stretch marks go away after losing weight?

They usually fade and become paler over months, but they don’t disappear. Losing weight slowly reduces the chance of new ones.

Are stretch marks in teenagers normal?

Yes, growth spurts are a common cause. See a doctor only if they come with the warning signs listed above, or if your teen has been using steroid creams.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor. If you have symptoms or a health condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.