Stretch marks! Get out of here!

[dlock13]

So I used to be overweight when I was younger which led to me having stretch marks on me belly when I lost some weight. Now, they've been here for years. By younger, I mean for about 10-15 years they have probably been here.

What is the best approach at getting rid of them? The reason I ask is because we have a Planet Fitness where I live, and they have one of those red light therapy booths. I was just reading up on them and noticed that they can "help with skin regen, etc.." I'm a huge skeptical when it comes to anything that claims something as bold as what I've read about it. It sounds like one of those too good to be true infomercials.

I was looking into some lotion as well, but from what I've read, that's usually a good approach if you've just started getting stretch marks and not after you've had them for a while such as I have.

The last thing I've read was tanning, and from what I've seen, it only helps to fade them and not actually get rid of them. So yes, the appearance will be gone, but when it's winter and I'm a pasty white guy again, I'll have my stretch marks back (not that it'll matter then anyway).

Pretty much I just want suggestions. I'm not looking for an instantaneous cure. I'm looking for something that will actually work, and if not get rid of them, at least make them less noticeable.

 

[jaedaliu]

You could try Mederma. It works best with new scars/wounds, and it's not cheap.

My stretch marks are from my growth spurt, and are fairly wide (3 - 4 mm) and I have assumed that I couldn't get rid of them (I haven't really bothered to try)

Let us know if you find something that works.

 

[dlock13]

Hmm.. You're right. Mederma is quite expensive for the amount you get. It sucks because I have it on the sides of me stomach as well as the inside of my arms/near my shoulder area which would mean I need a lot of it!

I'm part time right now so it seems expensive, but if I ever get a full time job, I'll probably purchase that regularly and see how it works.

 

[KidNiki1]

old stretch marks are going to be super tough to get rid of most likely, and probably fairly expensive.

but, there are a few things you can try.

Now we'll look at some of the ways you can treat stretch marks.

Relatively new stretch marks can be treated with tretinoin cream, which helps rebuild collagen and can help your skin heal, but only in the first six weeks of developing stretch marks. If you're a pregnant woman considering this option, don't -- the effects of topical tretinoin on a fetus aren't yet fully understood.

Pulsed laser therapy promotes growth of collagen and elastin and can help retexture stretch marks when they're still relatively new. These treatments of high-intensity light pulses don't affect the outermost layers of skin, but instead cause intentional and controlled damage to chromophores -- colored chemical compounds within molecules -- located in the dermis.

Both these treatments work best on new stretch marks. These are your options for old stretch marks:

Microdermabrasion resurfaces your skin by gently blasting it with tiny crystals while simultaneously vacuuming them back up. This only affects the outermost layer of skin, and promotes new surface skin growth.
Excimer lasers promote new melanin development in stretch marks and help to even out the color.
A therapy that works on both old and new stretch marks is a chemical peel with glycolic acid. Doctors will first cleanse the area to be treated, and then apply the chemical solution to intentionally wound the skin, prompting skin regeneration.

There are also number of creams -- such as cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin E -- that you can use at home that may (or, frankly, may not) help. The creams will keep the skin lubricated and may speed the fading of the color. Some people claim to get results with these applications, while others see little or no change. Other common topical treatments include castor oil, olive oil, fruit acids, seaweed wraps and other "holistic" or herbal remedies. (The jury is still out on these products.)

You can diminish stretch marks with creams, and depending on a number of factors, you may be able to come pretty close to getting rid of them through surgery. Unfortunately, nothing will completely eradicate all signs of stretch marks.

from here: http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/beauty/get-rid-of-stretch-marks1.htm

 

[yuku]

Many mothers will have stretch marks on their belly and many of them did not care very much about it.

 

[kushy26]

I too have nothing worked for me I tried many new products also no use.