ElastiK° Skin | Skin in Evolution™
STRETCH MARKS ON GLP-1: WHY THEY APPEAR AND WHAT ACTUALLY HELPS
By Marc McKee, Founder of ElastiK° Skin
TL;DR: THE ESSENTIAL POINTS
- Stretch marks are scars in the dermis, not a surface problem. They form where the collagen and elastic fibres in the deeper layer of skin are damaged, which is why creams on their own have a limited effect.1
- They can appear during weight loss, not just weight gain. Dermatology reviews list rapid weight change in either direction as a trigger.1
- Red or purple marks generally respond better than white ones. Early marks are still inflamed and full of small blood vessels. Mature white marks are settled scar tissue.1
- Timing matters more than any product. If you have new red marks, that is when treatment has the most to work with.
- Be sceptical of before-and-after claims. No cream removes a mature stretch mark. What is realistic is better texture, a softer colour and healthier-looking skin around it.
I lost nine stone and got new stretch marks doing it.
That surprised me. I had assumed stretch marks were something that happened on the way up, and that losing weight would only ever fade the ones I already had. It does not work like that.
Almost everything written about stretch marks is aimed at pregnancy. Very little is written honestly for people losing weight quickly, which is why I wrote this.
Why this catches people out.
Stretch marks are not caused by stretching alone. The speed of change in the tissue underneath matters, and rapid loss changes that tissue too.
This article covers what stretch marks are, why GLP-1 weight loss can produce new ones, why the colour of yours matters, and what the evidence supports. Including where it does not.
01. WHAT A STRETCH MARK ACTUALLY IS
The medical term is striae distensae. Understanding the structure explains why so much of the advice about them is unhelpful.
IT IS A SCAR IN THE DERMIS
A stretch mark is a linear scar in the dermis, the layer beneath the surface. A treatment review in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal describes how the collagen bundles in that layer thin out and change direction, and how the elastic fibres break down.1 That is why the area looks and feels different from the skin around it.
It is the most important fact in this article. Anything that only works on the surface is several layers above the problem.
THE TWO STAGES
- Striae rubrae: the red or purple stage. New, inflamed, with visible small blood vessels. Often slightly raised, sometimes itchy.1
- Striae albae: the white stage. Mature, paler than the surrounding skin, often slightly sunken, with a fine wrinkled surface. Usually permanent.1
Red marks are a process still happening. White marks are a process that has finished. That difference decides what you can realistically expect.
02. WHY GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS CAN CAUSE NEW ONES
Several things are going on at once.
ONE: THE SKIN IS REMODELLING FAST
The dermis does not simply shrink. It has to reorganise its collagen and elastic fibres to fit a changing frame. Dermatology reviews list both obesity and weight loss among the causes of striae, and advise avoiding sudden weight gain or loss.1 It is the speed of change that puts the tissue under strain.
TWO: THE FAT INSIDE THE SKIN MAY MATTER
There is a layer of fat within the skin itself. A review in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum notes that a hormone released by these fat cells, adiponectin, has been reported to boost hyaluronic acid and collagen production and to reduce MMP-1, an enzyme that breaks collagen down.2
The same review suggests that rapid fat loss on GLP-1 medicines could change this layer, though it is clear that this has not yet been proven.2 It is a plausible part of the picture, not a settled fact.
THREE: THE RESEARCH ON GLP-1 AND SKIN IS STILL EARLY
A 2025 review in Endocrine discusses possible ways GLP-1 medicines might affect skin ageing, including changes to fat and stem cells in the skin and reduced collagen support, but says the mechanisms still need to be worked out.3 Another 2025 review notes proposals that collagen breakdown and changes in elasticity may contribute to facial changes during GLP-1 weight loss, while saying the exact mechanism remains unclear.4 No study has yet looked at stretch marks in people taking GLP-1 medicines specifically.
Where they most commonly appear.
Stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, upper arms, breasts and lower back. Broadly the same places as weight gain, because these are the areas where the most fat changes.1
THE FACTORS YOU CANNOT CONTROL
Family history is one of the most consistent risk factors. A large genetic study linked stretch marks to variants near the gene for elastin, one of the skin's main structural proteins.5 If a parent had them, your odds are higher. That is not a failing, and it is not something a cream was ever going to override.
WHY THIS IS RARELY DISCUSSED
Most stretch mark research and products are built around pregnancy. People losing weight on GLP-1 medicines are reading advice written for a different situation.
The mechanism overlaps, but the timescale does not. Pregnancy has a known end point. GLP-1 weight loss can run for a year or more. You are not dealing with this once. You are looking after your skin across the whole of your weight loss, and consistency over months matters far more than what is in any single bottle.
03. WHAT ACTUALLY HELPS, AND WHAT DOES NOT
I am going to be blunt, because this category is full of overpromising.
| Approach | Red / early marks | White / mature marks |
|---|---|---|
| Moisturising and barrier care | Helps comfort and itch, and improves the look of the skin around them | Improves texture and how they catch the light |
| Prescription tretinoin | The best-studied cream for early marks6. Prescription only, and not for use in pregnancy | Little effect on settled scars |
| Bakuchiol | Gentler alternative to retinoids. No studies on stretch marks yet | No studies on stretch marks yet |
| Cocoa butter, olive oil, vitamin E | Moisturising only. No good evidence they prevent stretch marks7 | Moisturising only |
| Clinical procedures (laser, microneedling) | The strongest results for mature marks so far, though most studies are small1. A conversation for a dermatologist, not a skincare brand | |
THE HONEST SUMMARY
Skincare can improve how early red marks look and the condition of the skin around all stretch marks. It does not remove mature white ones. Anyone showing you a before-and-after where white stretch marks vanish is showing you lighting.
I still have mine. They are less noticeable than they were, and the skin around them is in much better condition. That is the realistic outcome, and it is worth having.
IF YOURS ARE STILL RED, START NOW
Early marks are still active tissue. Once they mature to white, the options narrow. If you have new marks appearing during your weight loss, this is the time to act, and it is worth asking your GP about them.
04. INGREDIENTS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT
HYALURONIC ACID
Hyaluronic acid is among the topical ingredients discussed for stretch marks.1 An industry-funded review in Dermatologic Therapy concluded that hyaluronic acid products improve skin hydration and signs of ageing, while calling for more well-controlled trials.8 It is a hydrator, not a scar treatment, but well-hydrated skin looks smoother. It is the base of Hydration Continuum Gel.
PEPTIDES
You cannot rub collagen into your skin and have it become your collagen. The molecule is far too large. Peptides are small chains of amino acids used in skincare to support the look of firmer skin. Regenesis Complex contains a peptide (hexapeptide-11) and dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline, and is made for the body, which is where stretch marks actually are.
This is where most skincare routines fall short. Stretch marks are on your stomach, thighs and arms. A small bottle of face serum was never going to cover that.
BAKUCHIOL
Prescription tretinoin is the best-studied cream for early stretch marks.6 It is not available over the counter and cannot be used in pregnancy. Bakuchiol is a plant ingredient often used as a gentler alternative to retinoids. In a 12-week randomised trial on the face, bakuchiol and retinol both improved wrinkles and pigmentation, with no significant difference between them, and retinol caused significantly more stinging and scaling.9 There are no studies of bakuchiol on stretch marks. Its value here is that it is gentle enough to keep using for months. It is the active in Evolve Serum.
BARRIER LIPIDS
Products containing ceramides and similar lipids help the skin hold on to water and support the barrier.10 They will not change a scar, but they improve how the skin around it looks and may help ease the itch that new marks often bring. Resilience Matrix Night Cream uses shea and cocoa butter with plant glycosphingolipids.
The application detail that matters most.
Apply body products to clean skin straight after a shower, while it is still slightly damp. It is the easiest habit to keep, and it costs nothing.
05. THE SKIN IN EVOLUTION™ SYSTEM
Stretch marks are a body issue, so the body steps matter most here. The face steps are included so you can see the whole routine.
HYDRATION CONTINUUM GEL
Two forms of hyaluronic acid with sodium PCA and aloe. Straight after your morning shower on the face, neck, chest and arms, so skin starts the day hydrated.
COLLAGEN ARCHITECT SERUM
A silky serum with multi-weight hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA that supports the look of firmer, more hydrated skin. Use on the face, neck and chest, and on the stomach or arms if those are your focus.
ELASTIK° SKIN LED FACE + NECK MASK
234 LEDs across the face and neck. It is for overall skin quality on the face and neck, not for stretch marks on the body. Not suitable during pregnancy. In a controlled trial, red and near-infrared light from lamp-based units (not an LED mask) improved fine lines and roughness, with an increase in collagen density measured by ultrasound.11
REGENESIS COMPLEX
The step that matters most for stretch marks. A peptide serum with hexapeptide-11, dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline and phytosterols, for the stomach, thighs, arms, chest and neck. A small amount is enough each time.
EVOLVE SERUM
Bakuchiol with rosehip, evening primrose and jojoba oils, straight after Regenesis Complex. Made for skin that looks uneven or textured, including areas with stretch marks. Start on a few evenings a week and build up.
RESILIENCE MATRIX NIGHT CREAM
A rich overnight cream for the face, neck and chest with shea and cocoa butter and plant barrier lipids. It will not change a scar, but it keeps the surrounding skin comfortable.
06. FAQ
CAN STRETCH MARKS BE REMOVED COMPLETELY?
No cream removes them. They are scars in the dermis.1 What is realistic is a better-looking colour and texture, especially for early red marks, and healthier skin around them. For mature marks, clinical procedures have the strongest results, which is a conversation for a dermatologist.1
WHY AM I GETTING NEW ONES WHILE LOSING WEIGHT?
Rapid weight change in either direction puts the dermis under strain while it reorganises.1 It is the speed of change that matters, not whether the number on the scale is going up or down.
DOES DRINKING MORE WATER PREVENT THEM?
No. Drinking enough is good for you, but stretch marks form in the structure of the dermis. It is not a way to prevent them.
ARE MINE STILL RED OR ARE THEY WHITE?
Look at them in daylight. Red, pink or purple, perhaps slightly raised or itchy, means early. Pale, silvery, slightly sunken with a fine wrinkled surface means mature. If you have a mix, treat them as early. You have more to gain.
SHOULD I SLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS TO AVOID THEM?
How fast you lose weight is a medical decision for your GP or prescriber. It is a reasonable thing to raise at a review.
MY STRETCH MARKS ARE ITCHY. IS THAT NORMAL?
Itching is common with new marks and usually settles as they mature. A good moisturiser can help. If the itching is severe, spreading, or comes with a rash, see your GP. Other skin conditions can look similar at first.
RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SKIN JOURNAL
SOURCES
All sources checked in October 2026.
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Lokhande AJ, Mysore V. Striae Distensae Treatment Review and Update. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2019;10(4):380–395.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Widgerow AD. Adipose Tissue, Regeneration, and Skin Health: The Next Regenerative Frontier. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2024;6:ojae117.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Paschou IA, Sali E, Paschou SA, et al. GLP-1RA and the possible skin aging. Endocrine, 2025;89(3):680–685.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Persson C, Eaton A, Mayrovitz HN. A Closer Look at the Dermatological Profile of GLP-1 Agonists. Diseases, 2025;13(5):127.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Tung JY, Kiefer AK, Mullins M, Francke U, Eriksson N. Genome-wide association analysis implicates elastic microfibrils in the development of nonsyndromic striae distensae. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013;133(11):2628–2631.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Kang S, Kim KJ, Griffiths CEM, et al. Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) improves early stretch marks. Archives of Dermatology, 1996;132(5):519–526.
Read the source on PubMed -
Brennan M, Young G, Devane D. Topical preparations for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012;(11):CD000066.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Bravo B, Correia P, Gonçalves Junior JE, et al. Benefits of topical hyaluronic acid for skin quality and signs of skin aging: From literature review to clinical evidence. Dermatologic Therapy, 2022;35(12):e15903.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Dhaliwal S, Rybak I, Ellis SR, et al. Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. British Journal of Dermatology, 2019;180(2):289–296.
Read the source -
Kono T, Miyachi Y, Kawashima M. Clinical significance of the water retention and barrier function-improving capabilities of ceramide-containing formulations: A qualitative review. The Journal of Dermatology, 2021;48(12):1807–1816.
Read the source on PubMed Central -
Wunsch A, Matuschka K. A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 2014;32(2):93–100.
Read the source on PubMed Central
This article is general information, not medical advice. ElastiK° products are cosmetics and support the appearance of skin; they do not treat medical conditions.
