Can You Use Microdermabrasion for Stretch Marks?

Microdermabrasion is a simple procedure to remove the dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin. It can lead to improvement in hyperpigmentation and texture over time, but is really used to refresh and add a "glow" to your skin. Stretch marks are due to elastic fiber and collagen loss in the second, deeper layer of the skin. This area will not be affected by microdermabrasion at all. Microdermabrasion is therefore not a good choice to improve the appearance of stretch... more

Microdermabrasion will only remove the top layer of the skin. Stretch marks are caused by disruption of the elastic fibers in the deeper part of the dermis, far beyond even the strongest microdermabrasion machine. In fact, surgical removal, in a procedure like the tummy tuck, is the only means of truly ridding yourself of stretch marks. There have been a few papers showing Fraxel works to an extent. However, I would only invest in this treatment, or you are looking for a mild... more

Nothing can "get rid of" stretch marks other than excision as in a tummy tuck for example. Lasers can lighten them but dermabrasion and microdermabasion only remove the outer skin cells. A stretch mark is a split in the deeper elastic layers of the skin and thus isn't altered by any skin surface treatment.

 There is no non-surgical treatment for the stretch marks. We have tried lasers,creams,wraps, and messages and nothing works. The main reason is that stretch marks are scar in the skin from inside and not a aging process or skin damage from sun exposure.

Microdermabrasion is a method of mechanical exfoliation and rarely penetrates the epidermis of the skin. Stretch marks are caused by a tearing of the dermis and will not benefit from microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion may, however, improve the quality of the skin overlying the stretch marks.