Compare · Conditions

Red Stretch Marks vs White Stretch Marks

Early stretch marks, also called striae rubrae. Mature stretch marks, also called striae albae.

Research updated 2026-10-23
Red Stretch Marks, representative educational image.White Stretch Marks.
Key differencesWhat is it?What it looks likeDiagramsWhen it startsTriggersDaily CareTreatmentOutlookComplicationsWhen to get helpQuestions

Key differences

The same eight facts on every condition comparison.

Usual age
Teens and pregnancy
Adults
Where
Belly, thighs, hips, breasts
Belly, thighs, hips, breasts
Main sign
Red or purple streaks
Pale, slightly sunken streaks
Itch or pain
Sometimes itchy
Neither
Contagious
No
No
Long term
Fades to white
Permanent
Scars
Yes, a form of scar
Yes, a form of scar
Who gets it
Growth spurts, pregnancy, weight change
Anyone with old stretch marks

What is it?

Red Stretch Marks
White Stretch Marks
What is it?
  • What it is
    Early stretch marks, also called striae rubrae.
  • What it is
    Mature stretch marks, also called striae albae.

What it looks like

Red Stretch Marks

A cutaway skin model with several long red-purple streaks across its surface.

Red Stretch Marks Parallel reddish bands are shown across the skin surface and in cross-section.

White Stretch Marks

A cutaway skin model with several pale slightly indented parallel streaks.

White Stretch Marks Long whitish bands create shallow-looking lines across the model's surface.

Skin tones
Red Stretch Marks, representative educational image.
Red Stretch Marks, representative educational image.
Red Stretch Marks, representative educational image.
Red Stretch Marks, representative educational image.
White Stretch Marks.
White Stretch Marks.
White Stretch Marks.
White Stretch Marks.
In the skin

Rapid tissue changes alter the collagen and elastic support in the dermis. Early vascular and inflammatory changes contribute to the red or purple color.

Earlier stretch marks mature into thinner, scar-like tissue with altered dermal support. Reduced vascular color makes the older streaks look pale or white.

When it usually starts

010203040506070+

Red Stretch Marks. Develops after relevant injury, inflammation or tissue change; age depends on the cause.

White Stretch Marks. Develops after relevant injury, inflammation or tissue change; age depends on the cause.

Causes and triggers

Causes

Rapid tissue change disrupts dermal support; early inflammation affects colour.

Earlier stretch marks mature into thinner scar-like tissue with less vascular colour.

Risk factors
Growth spurts, Pregnancy, Rapid body-size change, Corticosteroid exposure
Previous stretch marks, Growth or body-size change
Trigger
● Red Stretch Marks
● White Stretch Marks
No established short-term flare trigger
Not a typical trigger
Not a typical trigger

Daily Care

Red Stretch Marks
White Stretch Marks
Daily care

Habits that help

  • Moisturize if the marks feel dry or itchy
    A plain cream can improve comfort without reliably removing stretch marks.
  • Protect exposed skin with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher
    Tanning can increase contrast between stretch marks and surrounding skin.
  • Choose gradual, sustainable weight or muscle changes where possible
    Genetics, growth and pregnancy also contribute; stretch marks are not a failure of skin care.
  • Allow time for natural fading
    New red marks often become paler; mature white marks may remain visible.
  • Discuss early-striae treatment assessment
    Selected prescription or laser approaches may help appearance; results vary and retinoids are avoided during pregnancy.

Avoid

  • Avoid: Harsh scrubs, home needling and strong home peels
    Injury can cause further irritation, pigment changes or scars.
  • Avoid: Unprescribed potent steroid creams on the marks
    These can thin skin and cause additional stretch marks.

Habits that help

  • Moisturize if the marks feel dry or itchy
    A plain cream can improve comfort without reliably removing stretch marks.
  • Protect exposed skin with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher
    Tanning can increase contrast between stretch marks and surrounding skin.
  • Choose gradual, sustainable weight or muscle changes where possible
    Genetics, growth and pregnancy also contribute; stretch marks are not a failure of skin care.
  • Allow time for natural fading
    New red marks often become paler; mature white marks may remain visible.

Avoid

  • Avoid: Harsh scrubs, home needling and strong home peels
    Injury can cause further irritation, pigment changes or scars.
  • Avoid: Unprescribed potent steroid creams on the marks
    These can thin skin and cause additional stretch marks.

Treatment differences

Evidence labels come from each condition’s own treatment list.

Treatment
● Red Stretch Marks
● White Stretch Marks
Treatment approach

Early stretch marks may be assessed for selected prescription or laser treatments, but results vary. Retinoids are avoided during pregnancy, and no treatment reliably erases the marks completely.

—
Early-striae treatment assessment
Assessment
Listed
Not listed
Resurfacing assessment
Assessment
Not listed
Listed

Outlook

Long term

New stretch marks usually become paler and less noticeable over time. They may remain as mature white marks; treatment can improve appearance but does not reliably erase them.

Mature white stretch marks generally remain, although their visibility can change. Procedures may offer partial improvement, but no treatment reliably restores completely unmarked skin.

Complications

Possible complications

Scars can affect confidence; symptoms and treatment options depend on scar type.

Scars can affect confidence; symptoms and treatment options depend on scar type.

When to get help

When to get help

Discuss unexplained widespread marks or prolonged steroid exposure with a clinician.

Have a new growing, bleeding or ulcerated scar-like lesion examined before cosmetic treatment.

Common questions

Red Stretch Marks:What is Red Stretch Marks?

Early stretch marks, also called striae rubrae.

Red Stretch Marks:What can I do day to day?

Protect from sun, avoid picking and control active inflammation before elective scar procedures.

Red Stretch Marks:When should I get medical advice?

Discuss unexplained widespread marks or prolonged steroid exposure with a clinician.

White Stretch Marks:What is White Stretch Marks?

Mature stretch marks, also called striae albae.

White Stretch Marks:What can I do day to day?

Protect from sun, avoid picking and control active inflammation before elective scar procedures.

White Stretch Marks:When should I get medical advice?

Have a new growing, bleeding or ulcerated scar-like lesion examined before cosmetic treatment.

Sources

Sources and further reading

  1. Stretch marks
  2. Stretch marks
Dermapedia on YouTube