Opening treatment guide...

Stretch Mark Treatment | My Beauty Protocol

Correction

Stretch Mark Treatment

Striae Distensae Treatment

Plain-English name: Striae Reduction

Also known asMicroneedlingFractional Lasers (e.g., Fraxel)Topical Tretinoin

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Striae form when dermal collagen and elastin rupture.

Downtime: 1 week
Sessions: 3–6
Pain: Medium to high
Cost per visit: Price level 3 of 5
Full course: 3–6 sessions over 3–9 monthsAsk the total price for all of them.
Results start: In 2–3 months
Results last: Long-lasting

Lasers, microneedling or creams used to fade stretch marks.

Check first: Pregnancy or breastfeeding (especially for topical tretinoin).

Will it work for me?

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

How do the types differ?

In no special order. Ask your provider which one fits you, and why.

3 types

4 products or tools

Ask your provider

Which one do you use, and why that one for me?
What is the total price, and what does it include?
What side effects do you see most with it, and what do you do about them?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 30–60 minutes
Total course: 3–9 months
Session interval: 4–6 weeks

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

1–7 days of redness

May look swollen

1 week

Avoid sun

2 weeks

No makeup

24 hours

No sweat or heat

24-48 hours

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- Come with clean skin: no makeup or lotion
- Tell your provider about your medicines, allergies and health
2 weeks before
No tanning or strong sun for 2 weeks before
5–7 days before
Stop retinoids, acids and scrubs for 5–7 days before
1 week before
Stop fish oil and vitamin E for 1 week before
Right after your visit
Avoid hard exercise, heat and heavy sweating for 24–48 hours
After your visit
- No direct sun for 2 weeks
- Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer
- Wear sunscreen every day
- Don't pick, peel or scratch
- Don't touch, rub or press the area
- Expect redness and a sunburn-like sensation for 1-3 days, with some swelling. Skin may feel dry and rough for up to a week as microscopic treatment zones heal. Keep skin hydrated and protected from sun. Results start to show in 2–3 months.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Pregnancy or breastfeeding (especially for topical tretinoin)
Active skin infections or cold sores in the treatment area
History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
Recent sun exposure or use of self-tanners
Use of photosensitizing medications
Use of oral isotretinoin within the last 6-12 months

Possible side effects

Common

Redness (Erythema)
Swelling (Edema)
Dryness or a sandpaper-like skin texture
Mild itching or burning sensation

Less common

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), especially in darker skin tones
Infection
Scarring
Blistering or crusting
Changes in skin color (lighter or darker)

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Treatments induce controlled micro-injuries, prompting the skin's natural healing response to synthesize new collagen and elastin.

A little more technical

It triggers the body's wound-healing response to generate new collagen and elastin, which rebuilds the damaged dermal tissue of the stretch mark.

Modalities such as fractional photothermolysis or percutaneous collagen induction create controlled micro-injuries in the dermis. This initiates a wound healing cascade, stimulating fibroblasts to synthesize new collagen (neocollagenesis) and elastin fibers, thereby remodeling the atrophic scar tissue characteristic of striae distensae.

Common device / product names: Microneedling · Fractional Lasers (e.g., Fraxel) · Topical Tretinoin · SkinPen Precision · Fraxel DUAL 1550/1927 · Candela Vbeam (Prima, Perfecta)
Clinical descriptor: Striae Distensae Treatment