Best Ways To Treat Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

Nine months of growing another life inside of you, carrying the weight of a growing child; feeling sick, nauseous, tired and having more than a little pressure put on your bladder…

Your body adapts. You adapt. But not without consequences.

Most women report pregnancy as a time when their body does all kinds of unusual, unpredictable things. Yet the one thing we can predict, the growing, changing shape of a woman’s body… we can do very little to recover from.

After pregnancy, many women find their bodies simply don’t return to their previous shape and size. And even for the lucky women who adapt well, stretch marks are a commonality.

Whether you had stretch marks before that now seem even more visible, or have new marks in new colours on different parts of your skin, most mothers will notice a difference. But if they’re making you unhappy or you think they’re unsightly, there are steps you can take.

 

Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Many women make it through to the beginning of their third trimester free of stretch marks, and let’s face it, it’s hard not to be optimistic at that point!

The media often tells pregnant women to massage cocoa butter or oils into the skin and convinces us that they can be avoided. However, most stretch marks form during the third trimester of pregnancy, right as your belly gets to its largest point. These sorts of stretch marks are called striae gravidarum.

Occurring in the dermis (the tough middle layer of tissue that forms the shape of your skin), these stretch marks are the ones that you’ll find are most noticeable. Immediately after pregnancy, they appear dark and stark on your skin, and can be quite red on pale skin tones.

In the first year following your pregnancy, many of these marks will fade and blend into your skin tone. But there are ways to speed up the process and help reduce the appearance of those that remain visible.

 

Do Pregnancy Stretch Marks ever go away?

In the first year after pregnancy, many stretch marks naturally fade and begin to blend into your skin tone. Their colour typically changes from red or purple to a softer pink, and eventually to a lighter, silvery shade.

While they may never completely disappear, there are ways to accelerate the fading process and improve their appearance. Regular use of creams, oils, and moisturisers can help keep the skin hydrated and support its elasticity. Professional treatments, such as microneedling or laser therapy, can also stimulate collagen production, smooth the skin, and make stretch marks less noticeable.

Do Creams Work For Pregnancy Stretch Marks?

Recommended creams and oils for stretch marks during and after pregnancy provide moisture that softens and smoothes the skin. Coconut, argan oil, almond and bio oil are all popular, but these take time and effort to apply.

And, more often than not, they don’t have the desired effect.

The serums that have the best effect on stretch marks are usually vitamin C and hyaluronic serums, both of which can be bought over the counter. However, they won’t completely erase your stretch marks.

 

Can Exercise Improve Stretch Marks?

Exercise for women after pregnancy can help to tone the areas prone to stretch marks. This can sometimes make them less obvious. Similarly, eating a healthy, balanced diet ensures your skin has the right nutrients to repair itself, and improve your overall mindset when it comes to body positivity.

 

How To Treat Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

If creams, serums, a healthy diet, and exercise aren’t giving you the results you hoped for, there are professional treatments that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

First, it’s important to remember that stretch marks are completely normal. There is no need to feel ashamed of them. However, if they bother you and you want to improve their appearance, several effective options exist. These are:

 

Microneedling

Microneedling might sound scary, but it can be incredibly effective for reducing visible stretch marks and scarring in general. It works by using an oscillating handpiece of microscopic needles that make tiny punctures in your skin.

This is basically a minor trauma or injury. And your body responds to this by flooding the area with new, healthy collagen. This, combined with topical nutrients applied to the skin, prevents dermal tearing and provides excellent results on stretch marks.

 

Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment

For pregnancy stretch marks that are red and purple in colour, pulsed dye lasers have been shown to make significant improvements to their visibility. The laser emits energy that is absorbed into the blood beneath the stretch mark.

The veins there collapse and are absorbed, which can cause the red and purple colouration to fade and even disappear. Since the lasers are selective and target particular areas, they don’t cause damage to the surrounding skin, either.

 

Fractional Laser Treatment

For older pregnancy stretch marks that are white or silvery in colour, fractional lasers are very effective.

This works using microscopic laser beams that “drill” into the stretch mark while leaving the surrounding skin undisturbed. These undamaged cells can then rapidly migrate into the treated area, to promote (fast) healing.

This occurs due to the production of new collagen in the skin that supports the stretch mark, effectively smoothing it out and tightening the mark so that it appears less visible.

 

 

If your stretch marks are a lingering reminder of pregnancy or simply something you’d like to improve, modern treatments offer real ways to reduce their appearance. Alongside a healthy lifestyle, proper skincare, and hydration, professional treatments can encourage your skin to regenerate and look smoother and more even.

At our laser clinic in Cambridge, we take the time to explain exactly how each treatment works and what results you can expect, so you can make informed choices with confidence. Reach out to our friendly team today, and let us help you feel more comfortable and confident in your skin again.

 

Author Bio

Dr. Nathan Holt (MBBS, MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP) is the Founder and Medical Director of Cambridge Laser Clinic. A renowned Medical Laser Specialist with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Holt has personally performed over 150,000 successful procedures. He is a full member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) and the British Medical Laser Association (BMLA), specialising in advanced laser skin resurfacing, tattoo removal, and vascular treatments.