Embarrassing Stretch Marks

M

milagrosepul

Cathlete
Ladies, I don't know if this has been mentioned or asked about before, but I'll take a shot.

I've been noticing lately, since my body has been changing and I've been getting smaller I've been developing stretch marks (the white ones) Especially in my legs. They are not a pretty sight, and they make me feel a little insecure.

I thought this was only supposed to happen if your body got stretched not the opposite...
any advice?

:-(
 
It also happens after your body was stretched and then returns to its prior staet (ie after weight loss). I have then in many places from being overweight and to be honest, I just got used to them! But if anyone has a solution, I'd love to hear it.

I know that there are creams out there for this issue and that there are some other methods but I haven't yet tried anything.

Christine
 
In muscle growth, stretch marks are common. I am willing to bet as you are toning down, your muscles are growing and pulling in other directions than they have ever before, causing stretch marks. I don't know how to stop it, but I would rather have stretch marks than flab! This comes from a gal who's belly is riddled with stretch marks. You can try creams but they don't work to rid of the marks - so I wouldn't waste your money. I have learned that body acceptance is sometimes mind over matter. I have cellulite on my thighs that even at my thinnest and strongest, didn't go completely away. I decided to stop hiding, that my body was in great shape and I worked out way more than almost anyone I know, and to be proud of myself. It's hard when society says you **shouldn't** look a certain way and that it's not "pretty", but in a world where models get altered on magazine covers I say screw it, I'm embracing myself! I'm sorry you are feeling a little insecure, I wish I had a cure, but I say keep working on becoming as strong as you can and be proud of your accomplishments and forget society - and know you are beautiful!
 
Self tanning lotion, a tanning bed, or lying in the sun helps. They don't totally disappear, but it reduces the appearance significantly.
 
Julie-Well put.

I have them on the front of my upper legs, just below my bathing suit and they are worse now after weight loss than after my pregnancies. I can't hide them, and I refuse to wear a bathing suit with a 'skirt' type thing just to cover them up. My tan this year is darker than in past years, since I'm a SAHM again and spend almost everyday at the pool with the boys, but even the tan made them look worse. BUT...they are mine and I can't get rid of them, so I just suck it up.

Sorry I can't offer any solution to lighten (or darken) them, but just know you are not alone!

Gayle
 
I remember reading a magazine article that mentioned a laser procedure from a dermatologist ~ if you wanted to go that route. I thought once you've got stretch marks, there aren't any creams that make them disappear completely.
Susan C.M.
 
I've had stretch marks for YEARS from yo-yo weight gain AND loss. I am used to them. They aren't real noticable and they just don't bother me anymore...Now, the nasty lookin' red stretch marks on my chest from being pregnant!? THAT is another story! No one sees it but me and DH but I still want to throw up every time I take my bra off! x(

I refuse to spend all kinds of $$$ on some super expensive stretch mark cream that either won't work at all or will work until you miss just ONE application and then you have to start all over again! What a waste...not for me. I'll deal w/them.
 
Fit Mom, I felt the same way about my breasts. They went from heroe to zero. I had mastitis and those breasts got HUGE, then after a few weeks they shrinked, and the skin looked -and could be grabbed- like a lose, wrinkly fabric over the breast tissue, not to mention the thousands of stretchmarks. That was four years ago. Today I can say they have improved quite a lot. Not at all like they were before... but they improve, believe me, they will.
 
Mariela,

And you didn't do anything to make it happen? WOW that's great news! Thanks! You made me feel better! I don't expect miracles but if the stretch marks will atleast do a little fading over time I'll be happy! :)

Thanks for the post!
 
I second what Julie said!

When I was 12, I had this freakish growth spurt and I was the only one in my 6th grade class who was 5'9. Well, I got stretch marks along the small of my back from growing so quickly. At 12!

My mother had a full head of white hair at 30. Well, guess what? I found my first gray hair when I was 13. I laugh when my friends lament over their first gray hairs at 40.

I fell into the corner of a table when I was 2 and have a scar above my lip to remind me. I suppose I could have it filled in but I like it now. I always joke that it keeps me from being perfect.

So I have my now faded but still there stretch marks, my hair that I need to color monthly, a scar on my face and wait...there's more....my abundant varicose veins. (no kids...I first had surgery on them at 20)

If I paid attention to societal standards, I shouldn't even leave the house in the morning! And certainly not in shorts and a halter top. But, you know what Millie? No one notices nearly as much as we do. We magnify our flaws a hundred times. I'm sorry I don't have a cosmetic solution for you.

Just realize that you're beautiful, flaws and all!

Christine
 
Also the laser treatment that you can get done on stretch marks just turns the red ones to white ones. All it does is like a fast fade, nothing more. So it's really a waste of money, as they'll do that over time anyway. I got stretch marks from a medicine, it was used for kids who had asthma, but they gave it to me to gain weight as a child as I was too skinny and they thought that's why I was always having dizzy spells. They just hadn't figure out my head wasn't on straight back then. The medicine made me gain 30 pounds on one month, my mother about freaked, as she ended up buying clothes two weeks after I started taking it and then more clothes the third and yet still another set the 4th week. And I got a ton of stretch marks from it, they even go down my arms across my biceps. I wanted those ones to go away, so check into the laser treatment and found out it was worthless and just learned to deal with them.

Kit
 
Kit,
What happened to you and has doing cathe helped? I notice that you talk about your back and stuff in other posts. Just wondered. Feel free to tell me it's none of my business.

As for my stretch marks. I don't care if I look like a road map after losing the weight I have to lose. As long as I am healthy and am here for my kids and to watch them grow. I always think: If you don't like it, don't look.:)
 
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