[caladin]

fitgirl,

The answer, I’m sorry to say, is no. Since stretch marks represent a permanent change in the dermis (the deeper layer of skin beneath the surface layer known as the epidermis), there is no amount of resurfacing that can erase them. However, studies have shown that laser treatments can lessen the depth of stretch marks in some patients, with an improvement rate of between 20 and 50%. The improvement is believed to be largely due to the laser’s stimulation of increased production of collagen and elastin in the dermal (deeper) layer of the skin, where stretch marks are formed.

Lasers are most effective on immature stretch marks (those that are still red in color), and many doctors say that they are nearly useless on more mature (white) stretch marks. Furthermore, for darker skin types, laser treatment of stretch marks is generally considered unadvisable, largely due to the risks of causing hyperpigmentation changes in the skin.