The short explanation
Stretch marks are very common after pregnancy and are a normal result of the skin stretching quickly. They are not harmful. At first they are often pink, red or purple, and over months they usually fade to a lighter, silvery or slightly darker shade than the surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone. No cream or oil has been shown to remove stretch marks completely. Moisturisers and oils can help with dryness and itching and may make the skin feel softer. Some prescription treatments and procedures, such as certain topical treatments, lasers or microneedling, may make newer, red stretch marks less noticeable, but results vary, they can be costly, and some are not suitable while breastfeeding. Older, faded marks are harder to change.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Genetics, how quickly the skin stretched, and skin type all affect how prominent stretch marks become.
- Many products are marketed with strong promises. Be cautious of anything claiming to erase marks completely.
- Body changes after delivery can affect confidence. If this is weighing on you, it is worth talking about with your doctor.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you which treatment, if any, will help your stretch marks. A dermatologist can assess them and discuss realistic options.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Are any treatments suitable while I am breastfeeding?
- Which options might help newer stretch marks?
- What results can I realistically expect?
- What would treatments cost?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if the skin on your stomach becomes red, hot, painful or you develop fever after delivery.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine dermatology appointment if you would like to discuss treatment options for stretch marks.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Skin conditions MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Steroids NHS
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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