According to the American Academy of Dermatology, stretch mark creams are primarily effective on new marks, rather than older, more mature ones. So, you need to be proactive about putting the cream on during pregnancy rather than waiting until after you’ve had the baby and your marks are more visible.  Also, note that results are not immediate and can take weeks or more to appear. "Creams for stretch marks target skin laxity, color abnormalities, and tissue brilliance," explains Dr. Allenby. Stretch mark creams address this thinned skin and abnormal coloring by “normalizing and signaling skin cell turnover [as well as] surface smoothness and radiance.” However, stretch mark creams may not produce the desired final effects. According to Dr. Allenby, stretch marks are difficult to treat to a “100% resolution” in a medical office, let alone with just a cream by itself. In her opinion, office procedures—such as lasers and radio frequency treatments—combined with topical creams are the best way to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.