Stretch marks are extremely common, but that doesn't necessarily mean people don't want to reduce their appearance.
From pregnancy and puberty to changes in body size and muscle growth, stretch marks can develop when the skin is stretched over a relatively short period of time. Once they appear, they can be difficult to treat, which has led to interest in everything from topical products and microneedling to laser treatments and light therapy.
So, can red light therapy help stretch marks?
The short answer is: there is some promising research, but there isn't currently enough evidence to say that red light therapy can remove stretch marks or that it is a proven treatment for everyone.
Research into photobiomodulation — the scientific term for red and near-infrared light therapy — suggests that certain wavelengths may influence processes involved in skin repair and collagen production. There is also some direct research investigating low-level light therapy for stretch marks.
However, stretch marks are complex, and the current evidence does not establish one universally effective treatment.
Here's what we currently know.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are also known as striae distensae.
They are a type of skin change that can develop when the skin is subjected to stretching and changes within the underlying dermal tissue. They commonly appear on areas such as the:
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Abdomen
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Hips
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Thighs
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Buttocks
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Breasts
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Upper arms
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Lower back
Stretch marks can develop during periods of rapid growth, including puberty, pregnancy or significant changes in body size.
They can also occur alongside hormonal changes and certain medications or medical conditions.
Stretch marks aren't simply a surface-level change in the skin. They involve alterations within the dermis, including changes to collagen and elastic fibres. This is one reason why completely reversing established stretch marks can be difficult.
A 2026 systematic review of stretch-mark treatments evaluated 69 studies published through 2024 and found that a wide range of treatments have been investigated, including topical treatments, lasers and other energy-based devices. The authors concluded that current evidence does not support one single treatment as the definitive option for everyone.
What Does Red Light Therapy Do for Skin?
Red light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation (PBM).
It uses specific wavelengths of red and/or near-infrared light to interact with cells and biological processes in the body.
Research into photobiomodulation has investigated its potential effects on several aspects of skin biology, including:
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Cellular energy production
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Collagen-related processes
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Tissue repair
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Skin inflammation
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Wound healing
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Skin appearance
A 2024 review of photobiomodulation research in dermatology and skin biology described a range of potential effects involving cellular signalling, inflammation, tissue repair and collagen-related processes. However, the effects depend on factors such as wavelength, dose and treatment parameters.
This is important when talking about stretch marks.
Red light therapy may support processes involved in healthy skin function, but that doesn't automatically mean it can erase an established stretch mark.
Can Red Light Therapy Help Stretch Marks?
There is some evidence suggesting that low-level light therapy may improve the appearance of stretch marks, but the research is still limited.
One particularly relevant randomised controlled study compared low-level light therapy (LLLT) using an 808 nm diode with fractional CO₂ laser treatment in people with striae alba, the lighter, more established type of stretch mark.
The study included 30 participants who were divided into three groups: LLLT, fractional CO₂ laser, or a combination of both.
The researchers reported that LLLT produced an improvement in striae alba that was statistically comparable to fractional CO₂ laser treatment, although the CO₂ laser showed numerically greater improvement. The LLLT group also experienced no downtime.
That is interesting evidence.
But it is also important to put the study into context.
It was a small study involving only 30 people, and it investigated a specific wavelength, treatment schedule and type of stretch mark.
That means we can't automatically assume that every red light therapy device will produce the same results.
How Could Red Light Therapy Potentially Affect Stretch Marks?
Researchers have proposed several mechanisms that may explain why photobiomodulation could influence the appearance of stretch marks.
1. It may influence collagen-related processes
Collagen is an important structural protein in the skin.
Because stretch marks involve changes to the structure and organisation of collagen and elastic fibres, treatments that influence collagen-related processes have attracted interest in stretch-mark research.
Photobiomodulation research has investigated its effects on fibroblasts and other cellular processes involved in tissue repair and collagen production.
However, evidence that red light therapy influences collagen does not mean it has been proven to restore a particular stretch mark to its original appearance.
2. It may support skin repair processes
Photobiomodulation has been studied in the context of wound healing and tissue repair.
A 2025 international expert consensus on photobiomodulation concluded that PBM is a safe treatment modality for adults when appropriately applied and identified several areas where evidence supports clinical use. Stretch marks, however, were not established by that consensus as a proven indication in the same way as some of the conditions it evaluated.
This distinction matters.
Research into skin repair provides a scientific reason for investigating red light therapy for stretch marks, but it is not the same as having large-scale clinical evidence specifically demonstrating stretch-mark removal.
Red Light Therapy for New vs Old Stretch Marks
You may have heard that newer stretch marks are easier to treat than older ones.
Stretch marks can generally be described according to their appearance and stage.
Striae rubra are often newer and may appear red, pink or purplish.
Striae alba are typically older and appear lighter or white.
Treatment response can vary depending on the type and stage of the stretch mark.
Current research suggests that some treatments may work differently depending on whether the stretch marks are newer or more established. A 2026 systematic review found that several treatments showed greater clinical improvement in more recent stretch marks, while different energy-based treatments have been investigated for established striae alba.
The small LLLT study mentioned above specifically investigated striae alba, so there is at least some direct research into low-level light therapy and established stretch marks.
However, there isn't enough evidence to say that red light therapy is definitively more effective for either new or old stretch marks.
Can Red Light Therapy Remove Stretch Marks?
This is where it's important to manage expectations.
There is currently no strong evidence that red light therapy can completely remove stretch marks.
The more appropriate way to describe the potential benefit is improving the appearance of the skin or stretch marks, rather than eliminating them.
Even treatments with stronger evidence, including certain lasers and energy-based procedures, generally aim to reduce the visibility or texture of stretch marks rather than guarantee complete removal.
A 2024 network meta-analysis of 18 randomised controlled trials found that several types of energy-based devices — including radiofrequency, ablative lasers, non-ablative lasers and intense pulsed light — could reduce the width of stretch marks. However, no single category was statistically superior across the comparison.
This highlights an important point:
Stretch-mark treatment is about improvement, not necessarily complete removal.
Red Light Therapy vs Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks
Red light therapy is sometimes compared with cosmetic laser treatments because both use light-based technology.
However, they are not the same thing.
Some lasers intentionally create controlled thermal or ablative effects within the skin. Red light therapy uses non-ionising red or near-infrared light at lower energy levels and does not work by intentionally ablating the skin.
That means the treatments can have very different levels of intensity, downtime and risk.
The research also shouldn't be interpreted as saying that red light therapy is a direct replacement for professional laser treatment.
In fact, a 2024 systematic review and network meta-analysis found that radiofrequency, ablative lasers, non-ablative lasers and intense pulsed light all showed potential for improving stretch marks, with radiofrequency and ablative lasers potentially having the highest probability of improving appearance.
A separate 2025 meta-analysis also found evidence supporting fractional CO₂ laser and microneedling approaches for stretch marks.
These treatments are generally performed by qualified professionals, while red light therapy can also be available in home-use devices.
Is Red Light Therapy Worth Trying for Stretch Marks?
There isn't enough evidence to give everyone the same answer.
If you're considering red light therapy specifically because you have stretch marks, it's worth understanding the current evidence:
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There is some direct clinical research involving low-level light therapy and stretch marks.
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A small randomised study found improvement in striae alba following 808 nm LLLT.
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Broader photobiomodulation research provides potential biological explanations for how light therapy could influence skin processes.
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However, there are not yet enough large, high-quality studies to establish red light therapy as a definitive stretch-mark treatment.
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Results can vary depending on the type of stretch marks, wavelength, dose and treatment protocol.
In other words, red light therapy is an area of interest, but the research is still developing.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. If you have concerns about your skin or are considering treatment for stretch marks, speak with a qualified healthcare professional or dermatologist.