Can a Good Cream for Stretch Marks Enhance Results After Laser for Stretch Marks? A Dermatologist’s Guide to Synergy

Perfect B, Doral Fl. | 12.02.25 | 5 min read.

It happens to the best of us. You stand in the aisle of a pharmacy, staring at rows of bottles promising miracles, asking yourself: Is there actually a good cream for stretch marks, or am I just moisturizing a scar?

In the world of stretch marks dermatology, the answer is nuanced. While glossy magazines often push topicals as the ultimate cure, clinical data tells a different story. Topicals affect the surface (epidermis), while striae are tears in the foundation (dermis). However, this doesn’t mean you should toss your lotions. In fact, using a good cream for stretch marks is often the “secret sauce” that enhances the efficacy of energy devices.

The reality, and the philosophy at Perfect B,is that finding a good cream for stretch marks is only Step 1; Step 2 is pairing it with the right laser for stretch marks protocol to achieve the clearance you’ve been looking for.

➔ If you are also interested learn more about the bond between collagen induction and Regenerative medicine.

Identify Your Striae: Why Diagnosis Matters

Before we discuss treatment, we must understand the physiology. Stretch marks are permanent structural changes in the deep dermis, essentially, a scar where the collagen ruptured due to rapid expansion or shrinking. Because the tear happens deep within the skin, simple moisturization rarely bridges the gap without the help of a laser for stretch marks.

Patients often ask, “Are stretch marks genetics?” The answer is a resounding yes. If your parents had them, your skin likely has less elasticity, making you prone to white stretch marks earlier in life. We classify these marks into two categories for treatment:

1. Striae Rubra (New): These are pink, red, or purple. They are actively inflamed and typically respond faster to a laser for stretch marks than older scars.
2. Striae Alba (Old): These are white stretch marks that have healed into silvery lines.

Treating white stretch marks is notoriously difficult with just lotions because the blood vessels have receded. To remodel white stretch marks, we must induce “controlled injury” to wake up the collagen. This is why the hunt for a good cream for stretch marks often ends in frustration for patients with older scars, creams can’t rebuild the texture of white stretch marks alone.

(…) Different sources talk how NAD intravenous therapy is not one-size-fits-all; similarly, stretch mark protocols must be customized. While fresh red marks need vascular lasers, white stretch marks often require fractional ablative energy to physically remove the scar tissue.

Surprisingly, this isn’t just an issue for pregnancy. We see a massive influx of men with stretch marks, particularly bodybuilders and those undergoing rapid weight changes. Stretch marks in male patients often appear in different zones than women, requiring specialized protocols.

The Perfect B Approach: How Creams Boost Lasers

The “Vogue” approach suggests buying a good cream for stretch marks and hoping for the best. At Perfect B, we’ve seen that stretch-mark results dramatically improve when patients combine laser therapy with the right topical care.

This combined approach is especially important because stretch marks involve both surface irregularities and deeper collagen disruption, meaning no single method can fully address them on its own. While the laser for stretch marks stimulates collagen remodeling deep in the dermis, medical-grade creams nourish the skin barrier, support elasticity, and help the tissue repair itself more efficiently.

Our “Synergy” Protocol

Using a good cream for stretch marks before and after treatment isn’t just optional; it prepares the skin, reduces irritation, and enhances collagen remodeling as the laser for stretch marks activates healing pathways.

• Pre-Treatment: We guide patients to use gentle, fragrance-free formulas for a few days before the session to hydrate the skin.
• The Sensitive Phase: Right after the laser for stretch marks procedure, we emphasize safety: avoid heat, sun exposure, harsh exfoliation, or any active ingredients until the skin calms. These steps protect the treated area and allow the collagen-building process to work without interruption.
• Post-Treatment Reintroduction: Once calm, we reintroduce the good cream for stretch marks to hydrate the new tissue.

Over time, we consistently see that patients who pair creams with the laser for stretch marks achieve smoother texture, better color blending, and faster improvement compared to the laser alone.

➔ Visit our Treatment site to learn more about our consultation services and methods for prepping your skin.

Target the “Gym Zones”: Shoulders, Armpits, and Knees

One of the most overlooked groups in skincare media is the fitness community. Rapid muscle growth leads to distinct patterns, specifically the stretch marks shoulder issue, which is difficult to hide in tank tops.

The Shoulder Complex

The stretch marks shoulder area is distinct because the skin here is thick and under constant tension. Types of stretch marks here usually present as horizontal tear lines connecting the chest to the deltoid.
Because this area is high-movement, using a silicon-based gel (a good cream for stretch marks) can prevent the scars from widening while you continue lifting.

However, treating a deep stretch marks shoulder scar usually requires RF Microneedling.
The prevalence of stretch marks shoulder issues in weightlifters is high because the deltoid grows faster than the skin can stretch. If you have stretch marks shoulder scars, avoid excessive sun exposure, as UV rays makes them harder to fade.
When treating stretch marks shoulder areas, we often combine laser for stretch marks sessions with PRP to speed up healing so you can get back to the gym.

➔ Read this to learn more about the non-invasive options available to avoid the side effects of downtime for active athletes.

The Friction Zones: Armpits and Knees

Stretch marks armpit and stretch marks in underarms are technically difficult to treat because the skin is thin. Exercise stretch marks here are often caused by overhead presses expanding the skin rapidly.
Similarly, the stretch mark knee pattern is often seen in runners.

• The “Work” vs. “Working Out”: There is a difference between working out stretch marks (caused by the muscle pump) and exercise for stretch marks (exercises claimed to remove them). To be clear: You cannot exercise a scar away. Stretch marks workout strain is simply a byproduct of gaining mass.

The Weight Loss Dilemma: Shrinking Skin vs. Stretch Marks

Perhaps the most confusing topic is the relationship between losing fat and gaining marks. The topic of stretch marks losing weight is complex.
Can you get stretch marks losing weight directly? Not usually. But stretch marks losing weight patients often report that their scars look worse after dieting.

Here is why stretch marks losing weight situations happen: When you deflate rapidly, the skin becomes lax. Marks that were previously stretched tight (and less visible) suddenly bunch up. So, regarding stretch marks losing weight, the issue is actually skin laxity making old white stretch marks wrinkle.

Do you get stretch marks losing weight if you don’t hydrate? Yes, dehydration exacerbates the texture. Stretch marks losing weight appear more silvery and textured.
Can you get stretch marks from weight loss alone? It is rare, but structural integrity loss can cause rippling.
Can you get stretch marks from losing weight simply due to age? Older skin doesn’t snap back, making stretch marks losing weight visible as “crepey” skin.

➔ See if our skin tightening + laser therapy are right for you if you are experiencing post-weight loss laxity.

The Friction Zones: Armpits and Knees

We frequently treat stretch mark inner thigh issues in patients who have lost significant weight. If you are experiencing stretch marks losing weight effects, we recommend laser for stretch marks combined with Radiofrequency to tighten the surrounding tissue.

Common Myths: Scrubbing, Zits, and “Lumps”

When patients try to treat marks at home, they often encounter side effects.

• “I have a lump on stretch marks…”
  Striae are depressions. If you feel a lump on stretch marks, you may be experiencing keloid formation or a cyst. Do not use a laser for stretch marks on a lump; see a dermatologist.
• “Why do I have a stretch mark zit?”
  Overusing thick oils (like Cocoa Butter) can clog pores within the scar tissue, leading to stretch mark zits. If you notice a stretch mark zit forming, switch to a medical-grade lotion.
• “Is scrubbing stretch marks effective?”
  Mechanical exfoliation (scrubbing stretch marks) makes the skin feel smoother but does nothing for the dermal tear. Aggressive scrubbing stretch marks can irritate itchy stretch marks further.

FAQ: Weight Loss, Timelines, and Realism

Q1: When you lose weight does stretch marks go away?

No. When you lose weight does stretch marks go away is a common myth. The fat cells shrink, but the scar tissue remains. In fact, stretch marks losing weight can sometimes make them look deeper due to loose skin.

Q2: But wait, when you lose weight do stretch marks go away naturally over time?

They fade in color. White stretch marks are the final stage. But regarding texture? When you lose weight do stretch marks go away completely? The answer is no. You need a laser for stretch marks to resurface them.

Q3: How long do stretch marks take to fade?

Without treatment, redness can take 6 to 12 months to turn into white stretch marks.

Q4:  When you lose weight will stretch marks go away if I take collagen?

When you lose weight will stretch marks go away via pills? Unlikely. You need targeted energy.

Q5: Do stretch marks go away when you lose weight if I am young?

Do stretch marks go away when you lose weight fully? No, they just become less visible white stretch marks.

Q6: Will stretch marks go away when you lose weight if I exercise?

Will stretch marks go away when you lose weight plus exercise? Toning the muscle beneath stretch marks shoulder or hips helps, but the scar remains.

Q7: Does stretch marks go away when you lose weight slowly?

Does stretch marks go away when you lose weight slower vs faster? Slow weight loss prevents extreme skin sagging, which helps disguise the marks.

Q8: When u lose weight do stretch marks go away?

For the final time: when u lose weight do stretch marks go away? They evolve, but they do not vanish. To make white stretch marks or postpartum stretch mark scars truly “go away,” clinical resurfacing is required.

(…) American Journal of Clinical Dermatology suggests that while no single method is 100% effective, the combination of fractional lasers and topical therapy offers the highest patient satisfaction for white stretch marks.

The Perfect B Verdict

Can a cream enhance your results? Absolutely.
Our team provides tailored product guidance during every visit to make sure patients aren’t mixing incompatible ingredients. This combination of technology, targeted topicals (like a good cream for stretch marks), and clear education is what helps Perfect B patients get the most natural, confident, and long-lasting transformation.

Whether you are dealing with stretch marks shoulder pain from the gym, the stretch marks losing weight phenomenon, or old white stretch marks from puberty, come in for a consultation. Stop hoping a jar will fix a structural tear, and start treating your skin with the medical science it deserves.

Ready to optimize your health?
Visit our Strecht Mark Treatment Plan page to review pricing and request your consultation.