Sorry, stretch marks, when you pop up, no one is thrilled to see you. This common skin condition is usually unwelcome, and while we believe all skin is beautiful, we want you to have the power to diminish your stretch marks if you so choose. With so many myths out there about stretch marks—from causes to cures—we’re here to break down the facts and answer the most frequently asked questions, including:

• Do stretch marks go away when you lose weight?
• Can you get rid of stretch marks?
• What is the best stretch mark cream to use at home?

Do stretch marks go away when you lose weight?

No, stretch marks don’t necessarily go away when you lose weight. In fact, many people get stretch marks from weight loss or weight gain. When your body goes through weight loss or gain, your skin responds by quickly shrinking or stretching. When this happens, the elastin and collagen in your skin can rupture, resulting in stretch marks.

Can you get rid of stretch marks?

This might be the most-asked question from people who have stretch marks after weight loss or gain: Can you get rid of stretch marks? And, how long does it take for stretch marks to fade? There is no immediate cure-all to remove stretch marks, says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. Like scars, they do fade with time, and some treatments, such as in-office procedures at your dermatologist’s office or topical treatments at home, can help make them appear less noticeable.

You can visit your dermatologist to see if they would recommend in-office procedures such as intense pulsed light (IPL), chemical peels, laser treatments or injectables to improve the appearance of your stretch marks or other scarring.

“In-office treatments clearly work somewhat better than topical treatments, as would be expected, but they aren't a miracle either,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “No one treatment is perfect, but they can build together to allow for the best resolution possible. In general, though, stretch marks aren't going to disappear completely, and it will take quite a bit of time to get them to improve. I do recommend starting with topicals as soon as possible, however, in order to gain the edge of time against these challenging problems.”

As for topical treatments, hyaluronic acid and retinoids, such as tretinoin, have been shown to improve the appearance of stretch marks in past studies. Moisturizing oils or brightening creams may also help stretch marks look less obvious, or you can try body makeup that’s formulated specifically to cover stretch marks.

What is the best stretch mark cream to use at home?

Do you have stretch marks from losing weight or gaining weight? Here are eight dermatologist-recommended products you can try at home to help improve the appearance of skin with stretch marks after weight loss or weight gain.

Phytomer Seatonic Stretch Mark and Firming Oil

Looking for a luxurious body oil to use on stretch marks after weight loss or gain? In a two-month trial, participants who used this body oil reported they noticed 23% fewer stretch marks, and 97% said their skin looked firmer. Active ingredients include perilla oil to help repair damaged skin and chlorella oil to strengthen the skin’s structure. It also contains glasswort oil, which helps boost circulation and the storage of water in skin cells, making skin appear plumper.

StriVectin SD Advanced PLUS Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate

Powered by hyaluronic acid and proprietary ingredient blends (Collagex-CE complex and NIA-114, a form of vitamin B3), this concentrated treatment was created to treat wrinkles as well as stretch marks. That means you can apply it to your face as an anti-aging skin care treatment or massage it onto your body in places where stretch marks appear. After four weeks of use, dermal evaluations showed that stretch marks had faded in appearance, making it a great option to use on stretch marks after weight loss or gain

Replenix Retinol Smooth + Tighten Body Lotion

This smoothing lotion contains retinol to encourage cell renewal and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, resulting in smoother, plumper skin that can also help your stretch marks look less noticeable. It also contains a blend of caffeine, resveratrol and polyphenols from green tea, which team up to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion

Because glycolic acid works to stimulate collagen production, you might see improvement in your stretch marks after weight loss or gain with regular use of this exfoliating body lotion. A 17.5% concentration of glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin cells, making skin appear smoother and softer. It also works well to heal dry patches such as elbows and knees, keratosis pilaris and body acne.

The Organic Pharmacy Stretch Mark Oil

This body oil was created to help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy and can also help improve the appearance of stretch marks from losing weight or weight gain. A blend of rose hip, sunflower seed, jojoba, orange peel oils, and vitamin E come together in this formula to help hydrate skin. The addition of lavender extract provides a soothing scent, making this oil a great bedtime ritual.

Guinot Creme Specifique Vergetures Stretch Mark Cream

From French brand Guinot, this body cream is formulated specifically to improve the appearance of stretch marks with nourishing babassu oil and evening primrose oil as a Hydrocyte Complex helps provide moisture to support your skin’s elasticity. It also features mango butter, which helps leave skin feeling softer and smoother.

Makari Velvet Rose Smoothing Body Lotion

This rich body lotion was created to provide a one-two punch to stretch marks and cellulite. By improving the appearance of skin, it can help both of these skin issues look less prominent. Starring ingredients include green tea extract, an antioxidant-rich substance that helps prevent collagen breakdown in the skin, as well as rosehip and pomegranate oils to nourish skin, leaving it looking smoother and more radiant.

Dermablend Leg and Body Makeup

Coverage superhero Dermablend can help you cover even the most colorful tattoos, so it can definitely do the job to conceal stretch marks from losing weight or gaining weight. Available in a variety of shades to match a range of skin tones, this buildable body makeup also protects with SPF 25 from chemical sun protection ingredients, octisalate and octocrylene. For tips on application, check out Dermablend’s secrets for flawless body makeup.

If reducing the appearance of cellulite is one of your skin care goals, you can learn more about skin-smoothing cellulite treatments on the LovelySkin Blog.