Dermatologists know it: the two things that work best for stretch marks are lasers and retinoids. And they share one thing in common: they work much better when the mark is still red.
The problem is that you can't use them during pregnancy. And it's not a whim.
Retinoids contain vitamin A, and vitamin A can reach the baby. That's why they are also prohibited during breastfeeding.
The laser works by intentionally injuring the skin to make it repair itself. On a belly that grows every day, no doctor does it during pregnancy.
So they tell you to wait. But by the time you can finally use them, the red has already turned white. The window has closed.
Stretch marks appear exactly in the months when the most effective treatments are prohibited.