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Stretch marks
Red and white stretch marks: how the two differ and what can realistically be achieved.
Stretch marks are not a surface blemish: they are dermal lesions. They form when skin is stretched faster than its fibres can adapt — during pregnancy, in adolescent growth spurts, with rapid weight changes, with a marked increase in muscle mass — and hormonal factors and individual predisposition also play a part. This is why they appear in people who have had no great weight change, and why no cream applied from outside can rebuild a structure that has broken deep down.
The distinction that matters most is not where they are, but how long they have been there. Recent stretch marks look red or purple: this is the phase in which the tissue is still active and responds to stimulation. Over time they turn white, shiny, sometimes slightly depressed: the tissue has stabilised and responds less. That is why the moment of intervention weighs on the result more than the technique chosen, and why it is worth having them assessed when they have recently appeared, not years later.
The available treatments all work on the same principle: stimulating the dermis to produce new collagen where the structure has broken. Fractional and CO₂ lasers act by creating micro-zones of controlled regeneration; microneedling stimulates renewal mechanically; injectable biostimulation works on the quality of the surrounding tissue. The choice and combination depend on the colour of the marks, the area, their extent and the skin phototype, and are decided at the visit.
A great deal of dishonest advertising surrounds this subject, so it is worth saying plainly: stretch marks can be reduced, not erased. A well-planned course can improve their colour, texture and visibility, and the margins are wider on recent ones. Anyone promising to make them disappear is describing a result the biology of the tissue does not allow.
Red or white: why timing matters more than technique
A red stretch mark is recent and the tissue is still reactive: this is the window in which regenerative stimuli achieve most. A white one is mature and stabilised, and responds more slowly and partially. Neither is untreatable, but the margin for improvement is not the same — which is why, if they have appeared recently, it is worth having them assessed now rather than waiting for them to "fade on their own".
How it shows
- Red or purple striae in recent forms
- White, shiny and sometimes depressed striae in mature forms
- Most frequent sites: abdomen, flanks, thighs, buttocks, breasts, arms
- Onset after pregnancy, adolescent growth or rapid weight change
- Skin in the area appearing thinner and less elastic
- Itching or skin tightness while they are forming
How we proceed
- 1Visit: assessment of colour, extent, area and skin phototype
- 2Distinction between recent and mature marks, which guides the choice of treatment
- 3Definition of the course: fractional laser, CO₂ laser, microneedling or combined therapies
- 4A cycle of scheduled sessions, with results reviewed as the course progresses
- 5Maintenance guidance and skin care for the treated area
Available treatments
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Frequently asked questions
Can stretch marks be removed completely?+
No, and be wary of anyone who promises it. Stretch marks are dermal lesions: treatments improve their colour, texture and visibility, but do not rebuild the tissue as it was. The improvement is real and often significant, particularly on recent marks, but the correct goal is to reduce them, not erase them.
Can white stretch marks still be treated?+
Yes, but the course is longer and results more gradual than with red ones. In white stretch marks the tissue has stabilised and responds less to regenerative stimuli: more sessions are generally needed, and expectations must be calibrated. They are not untreatable, but it is right to know from the outset that the margin is different.
Are creams of any use?+
Good hydration keeps the skin more elastic and makes sense as a supporting measure, particularly during phases when the skin is being stretched — in pregnancy, for example. It cannot, however, rebuild the dermis where the structure has already broken: that requires treatments which stimulate the production of new collagen at depth.
Can they be treated in summer?+
It depends on the treatment and the area. Laser treatments generally require untanned skin and the avoidance of direct sun exposure on the treated area in the following weeks, so they are preferably scheduled in the less sunny months. The best timing is assessed at the visit, based on the area and your habits.
How many sessions are needed?+
It varies with the colour of the marks, their extent, the area and the type of treatment chosen. Recent forms generally require a shorter course than white ones. The indicative number of sessions is defined at the visit, after assessing the situation: it is not something that can be established in advance without seeing the skin.
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