My Real Stretch Marks Treatment After Pregnancy

Medical Disclaimer: I’m not a medical or skincare professional. Everything I share here is based on my personal experience treating postpartum stretch marks. Always consult a dermatologist or other licensed professional before starting any new skincare treatments to ensure they’re right for your skin type and situation.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

When I got pregnant, I did everything right to avoid stretch marks, or so I thought. I used every popular cream, butter, and oil I could find. But by week 32, my son had a sudden growth spurt, and my stomach stretched fast. That’s when reality hit. Sometimes, stretch marks are just inevitable.

My umbilical cord wasn’t attached to the center of the placenta, which slowed his growth earlier on. Once he caught up, my skin had to stretch quickly, and there was no stopping those tiger stripes. I also developed hyperpigmentation; my belly got much darker than the rest of my skin. But I didn’t panic. I’d had stretch marks before (thanks, puberty), so I knew they’d fade with time and consistency.

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Pregnancy Prevention Routine That Actually Helped

Every night during pregnancy, I religiously applied a mix of products, not because I thought I’d completely beat stretch marks, but because I wanted to keep my skin strong, moisturized, and comfortable.

Here’s what I used daily:

• Palmer’s Stretch Mark Lotion – Amazon | Target | Walmart
• Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Tummy Butter – Amazon | Target | Walmart
• Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Gel Oil – Amazon | Target | Walmart
• Bio-Oil Skincare Oil – Amazon | Target | Walmart

As my belly grew, I noticed redness and itchiness around the areas that stretched the most. That’s when I started layering extra moisture over those spots. The Vaseline gel oil helped a lot; it made it easier to massage the area without causing friction or irritation.

Years before I was pregnant, my late mother-in-law gave me advice I never forgot: “Don’t scratch, it only makes the marks deeper.” She was right. Keeping my skin deeply hydrated helped me resist that itchy urge and prevented any scarring or raised texture from forming.

I didn’t microneedle the area behind my legs with hyperpigmentation — I just used the same oils and creams from my routine, and it faded on its own after birth

If you’re currently pregnant, think “prevent damage, not perfection.” Consistent moisture helps your skin stay elastic and heal without tearing.

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Postpartum Stretch Marks: My Healing Routine After Birth

After giving birth, my focus shifted from preventing stretch marks to healing and brightening the skin I already had. My stretch marks weren’t red; they were dark and black, especially across my lower stomach and sides. I wanted to address both the discoloration and the texture, so I started researching every product and technique that could help safely fade stretch marks after pregnancy.

Here’s what became part of my weekly postpartum skincare routine:

• Naturium The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash – gently exfoliates and smooths out rough texture. – Amazon | Target | Ulta
• Naturium The Brightener Vitamin C Body Wash – helped brighten my stomach and fade the darker areas. – Amazon | Target | Ulta
• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% – evened my skin tone and helped firm the skin over time. – Amazon | Target| Ulta
• Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Brightening Cream – faded the hyperpigmentation and gave my skin a glow. – Amazon | iHerb
• Advanced Clinicals Hyaluronic Acid Cream – deeply hydrated my skin after microneedling sessions. – Amazon | iHerb
• Cococare Vitamin E Cream – sealed in moisture and calmed irritation. – Amazon | iHerb
  

I alternated these products depending on how my skin felt that week. Hydration always came first, then brightening.

I was still breastfeeding at the time, so I made sure everything I used was nursing-safe. Everything listed here — including the Naturium body washes, The Ordinary Niacinamide, and Advanced Clinicals creams — was cleared through my research and dermatologist.

Note: All the products you listed are generally considered safe for topical use while breastfeeding, since they’re not absorbed systemically in high amounts. The only thing to be cautious about is salicylic acid, which is fine at low topical concentrations like those in the Naturium wash but shouldn’t be overused or applied to large body areas daily.

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Microneedling Stretch Marks Before and After: What Actually Worked

A few months after giving birth in April 2023, I started microneedling to target the dark stretch marks and hyperpigmentation across my stomach. At that stage, my skin was still healing, sensitive, darker, and covered in fresh postpartum lines that looked black instead of red. (The photos below are from about two weeks postpartum.)

As my skin began to strengthen, I wanted to even out my tone and smooth the texture without causing more trauma. I started with a microneedling roller to be gentle while my skin adjusted. This helped stimulate collagen slowly and allowed the discoloration to fade evenly.

By December 2024, I switched to a microneedling pen paired with numbing cream, which gave me deeper, more controlled results. That’s when I started seeing faster improvement, not just in color but in texture. My stretch marks went from raised and uneven to soft and flat, blending more naturally into my skin tone.

My focus shifted from lightening to smoothing, and with each 3–4 week session, the results became more visible. By September 2025, my stomach had completely transformed. The marks are still there, but they’re faint, smooth, and far less noticeable.

I use a 2mm microneedling pen, moving in horizontal and vertical passes to avoid overlap and irritation. After each session, I apply a hyaluronic acid moisturizer to calm my skin and lock in hydration, then introduce vitamin C cream around day 3 to support brightening.

Real Results Timeline (No Filter): 2 Weeks Postpartum – 1 Year – 2 Years

Curious about my full recovery process? Check out my post on Weight Loss After Having a Baby — I share how my skin and body changed together during my postpartum journey.

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My Full Microneedling + Castor Oil Routine

As my results improved, I paired microneedling with occasional castor oil wraps to help with bloating, support detox, and keep my abdomen soft and hydrated between sessions.

Microneedling Routine (Sunday PM)

Before switching to a microneedling pen, I always recommend starting with a 1.5mm microneedling roller to get comfortable with the sensation and healing process.
Once you tolerate rolling well, you can transition to a 2mm microneedling pen for deeper, more targeted results.

Tools I use:

• Microneedling Roller (1.5mm – for beginners before switching to a pen) – Amazon
• Microneedling Pen (KoraBeauticals V2 Pro) – Not sponsored — this is the exact pen I bought myself and use for every session.
• Replacement Needle Cartridges (KoraBeauticals) – Single-use; I swap to a fresh cartridge for every session.
• Topical Numbing Cream (Lidocaine 5%) – Amazon
• 70% Isopropyl Alcohol – Target | Walmart | Amazon
• Cotton Rounds – Target | Walmart | Amazon
• The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Hyaluronic Acid Serum  – Target | Ulta | Amazon
• Vanicream Moisturizing Cream (tub with pump) – Target | Walmart | Amazon
• Gold Bond Bright Vitamin C Body Lotion – Target | Walmart | Amazon
• Vanicream Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 – Target | Ulta | Amazon
• Paula’s Choice Retinol Body Treatment – Dermstore | Paula’s Choice | Amazon

Note: Microneedling cartridges are manufactured for single use. I personally soak mine in alcohol and reuse until I see visible residue, but the safest practice is to use a fresh cartridge every session.

Frequency: Every 3–4 weeks

Steps:

Step 1 — Cleanse
Wash the area with mild soap, then wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol to fully disinfect.

Step 2 — Numb
Apply numbing cream for 25–30 minutes, wipe clean, and disinfect again with alcohol.

Step 3 — Microneedle
Use the 2mm microneedling pen or 1.5–2mm dermaroller in:

• Horizontal passes
• Vertical passes
  (No overlapping — focus only on the stretch marks.)

Step 4 — Apply HA Serum
Apply The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum generously over the treated area.

Hyaluronic acid helps pull water into the skin, which is crucial after microneedling when the skin barrier is temporarily open.

Step 5 — Moisturize (Optional)
If the skin feels tight, apply a thin layer of Vanicream Moisturizing Cream.

Avoid for 48 hours

Retinol, Vitamin C, SPF (unless area is exposed to sunlight), Sweating/workouts, Exfoliants, Castor oil wraps, & Tight clothing

Post-Microneedling Healing Phase (Mon–Tues)

AM & PM Routine:

• Clean gently if needed
• Apply HA serum
• Follow with Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
• Apply Vanicream SPF only if the area is exposed to the sun

Day 3+ (Wed Onward)

If there is no irritation, resume:

• Gold Bond Vitamin C Lotion (1× per day)
• HA serum daily
• Retinol (resume next Sunday PM)

Weekly Body Routine (Non-Microneedling Days)

After Shower (PM):

• Monday: HA Serum + Gold Bond Vitamin C Lotion
• Tuesday: Paula’s Choice Retinol
• Wednesday: HA Serum + Vanicream Moisture Cream
• Thursday: HA Serum + Gold Bond Vitamin C Lotion
• Friday: Paula’s Choice Retinol
• Saturday: HA Serum + Vanicream
• Sunday (Microneedling Day): Full microneedling routine

No high-intensity workouts for 5 days.

Want to save this routine for later? Follow my Postpartum Skincare + Stretch Mark Routine board on Pinterest to pin this post and reference it anytime you do your treatment.

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FAQs About Stretch Marks Treatment and Aftercare

My Final Thoughts

I can’t erase my stretch marks, but I’ve softened, brightened, and evened them out, and that’s a win. As I continue my weight loss journey, I’ve noticed that as my skin becomes less stretched, my stretch marks appear even less visible.

I’m not as strict with my routine now because I’m happy with where my skin is, and my focus has shifted more toward fitness. Still, I plan to maintain my microneedling and moisture routine until I reach my goal.

If you’re treating your stretch marks, be patient with yourself. Progress takes time, but you’ll see results when you stay consistent; even small improvements add up.

Subscribe below for more real skincare routines and share your own stretch mark journey in the comments — I’d love to hear what’s worked for you.

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Related Reads:

• My Skincare Routine for Oily Skin:
• How I Cleared My Back Acne During Pregnancy (Safely)
• HydraFacials for Acne: My Before & After Results