Stretch Mark Laser Therapy

by Maggie Staszcuk

Did you know 80 percent of the American population has stretch marks?¹ While there are many blogs, websites, and articles that support accepting stretch marks as a part of life, there are also many discussions focused on camouflage and removal. In esthetic practices, clients may present with very different goals: some to embrace their skin and others seeking visible improvement.  

What Are Stretch Marks (Striae)? 

Stretch marks, or striae, are small tears in the dermis that develop from rapid growth or overstretching of the skin.² 

Common contributing factors include:

• Growth spurts
• Pregnancy
• Rapid muscle gain
• weight fluctuations

While not medically harmful, stretch marks are a form of dermal injury and scar tissue, composed of densely packed collagen fibers. They vary in: 

• Color 
• Depth
• Size

In early stages, stretch marks appear pink, red, or purple due to vascular and inflammatory activity. Over time, this resolves and they become white, silvery or flesh toned as pigment and vascular components fade.³

Laser and Light-Based Treatments for Stretch Marks

There are many laser and light-based modalities used in esthetics for stretch mark improvement.  

Treatment outcomes are typically best when stretch marks are newly formed. These modalities include: Pulsed dye laser, broad band light, and fractional laser resurfacing.  

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL)

Pulsed dye laser targets vascular components by absorbing red chromophores in the skin.  

In early-stage stretch marks, PDL may: 

• Decrease contrast between stretch marks and surrounding tissue 
• Improve overall visual appearance 
• Reduce erythema 

BroadBand Light (BBL)

BBL targets red chromophores in the skin and shrinks the size of the stretch mark.⁴  

BBL may help: 

• Reduce redness 
• Improve uniformity of tone 
• Support early intervention outcomes 

Fractional Laser Resurfacing (CO2/Erbium YAG)  

Factional laser resurfacing is often used for more mature or deeper stretch marks.  

These devices deliver a pixelated laser beam, or dot of light, deep into the dermis5 while leaving the surrounding tissue intact.  

Within each treatment column creates a controlled injury that allows for: 

• Collagen remodeling 
• Epidermal cell turnover 
• Structural dermal repair response— Since the surrounding tissue is left intact, this treatment results in faster healing.⁶ 

Clinical Considerations for Estheticians 

When evaluating stretch mark treatment options, consider: 

• Depth and dermal involvement 
• Device selection and wavelength depth 
• Stage of striae (new vs. mature) 
• Skin type and pigmentation risk 
• Realistic treatment expectations (improvement vs. removal) 

Stretch marks can be improved in appearance, but they are not fully eliminated through laser or light-based treatment. 

FAQs 

What are stretch marks clinically classified as? 

Stretch marks (striae) are dermal scars caused by rapid stretching and disruption of collagen modeling.  

Which lasers are best for early stage stretch marks? 

Pulsed dye laser and broad band laser (technically IPL) are commonly used for erythematous (red/purple) stretch marks. 

Which lasers are used for mature stretch marks? 

Fractional CO2 and Erbium YAG lasers are typically used for older, white, or silvery striae.  

Do laser treatments eliminate stretch marks? 

No. Treatments improve appearance but do not fully remove stretch marks. 

Notes

1. Nina Bahadur, “ ‘Love Your Lines’ Instagram Account Celebrates Stretch Marks as Beautiful, not ‘Flaws,’ ” HuffPost, updated August 14, 2014, www.huffpost.com/entry/love-your-lines-instagram-stretch-marks_n_5675106.
2. Vanessa Ngan, “Stretch Marks,” DermNet NZ, 2003, www.dermnetnz.org/topics/stretch-marks-striae.
3. Bardia Amirlak, “Laser Treatment of Scars and Stria Distensae,” Medscape, updated July 17, 2017, https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1120673-overview#a5.

4. Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery, “Reduce Stretch Marks with Fractionated CO2 Laser Therapy,” March 14, 2016, www.drchernoff.com/reduce-stretch-marksfractionated-co2-laser-therapy.
5. Vanessa Ngan, “Fractional Laser Treatment,” DermNet NZ, updated July 2015,
www.dermnetnz.org/topics/fractional-laser-treatment.
6. Vanessa Ngan, “Fractional Laser Treatment.”
7. EstheticianEDU.org, “Everything You Need to Know About Offering Laser Skin Treatments,” accessed March 2021, www.estheticianedu.org/laser-skin-treatment.