Stretch Marks

The_Morrigan

All, I've recently taken up exercise and I've started to slim down and tone up...however, my very "blunt" OH pointed out that I now have some very unsightly stretch marks on my stomach area.

Has anyone got any tips on how to reduce them?

LadyMayBelle

Give Bio-Oil a shot, you can get it in Boots and most pharmacies. Reduces stretch marks and scar marks..and don't be do upset we all have them

spiralbound

Bio oil is supposed to be good, our you could try a vitamin e cream. They won't go away, but they do fade. Congrats on your weight loss

cowhands

Bio oil is quite good but you have to get it when the marks are red and fresh and use it every day, Palmers co-co butter is good too, I used them when I was pregnant but I didnt escape unmarked unfortunately

The_Morrigan

Thanks!

I've never noticed them before cos my boobs are in the way!! but on closer inspection some of them are purple-ish/redish in colour and it was only when he mentioned it I got a bit embarrassed about them .
I know I'll never get rid, but would like them to not stand out as much.

foodaholic

Bio oil may help for the reddish marks but unfortunatly nothing you can do with the silvery ones (the red fade to silver colour) would love to get rid of mine:(

There is a laser treatment now, that is supposedly effective at removing them. When the scars are still fresh and red.

Esoteric_

Oh God, I feel your pain! I lost a few stone recently and developed them on my ARMS. Like no joke, I have stretch marks all over the tops of my arms and inside my elbow area, as well as my stomach.

Best thing I've noticed that helps fade mine is exercise. I do a lot of weights focusing on my arms because my arms are hugely fat in comparison to the rest of my body, so out of proportion! So I started doing weights and they started to fade. I don't bother with Bio Oil. I never found it effective with scarring or stretch marks in the past, even after 6 months of regular use, so now I just use cocoa butter or a vitamin e cream and rub it in CIRCULAR motions on the marks. The circular motions apparently help skin cell regeneration or some sh!t like that.

xzanti

Well done on the weightloss.. My OH would get a slipper in the head if he said that to me btw..

Have you tried pure vitamin E oil? You get it in the Health shops, about €7.50 for a little bottle but it's great for healing and smoothing the skin..

doctor evil

Stretchmarks are normal, both sexes get them.

I hope your OH apologised!

Asphyxia

LadyMayBelle wrote: »

Give Bio-Oil a shot, you can get it in Boots and most pharmacies. Reduces stretch marks and scar marks..and don't be do upset we all have them

+1 for Bio-oil I had a few scars from when I was small and I can barely make them out now from using this oil.

Storminateacup

I'd suggest bio-oil too. I used it thruout my pregnancy and didn't get one stretchmark.

The_Morrigan

Thanks All

He didn't really apologise, he did get a durty look though and there was a massive gap between us in the bed that night. The way he said it upset me more than the fact I have them.

I have palmers cocoa butter here that I've never used so might use that up, see if it makes any difference before I splash out on anything more expensive.

Dudess

Wonder why the hell he felt the need to point them out... I'm sure you'd have spotted them yourself eventually. Praise for your weight-loss effort would have been nicer.

To firm up the area and thus reduce the appearance of the stretchmarks, the best advice here (IMO) is: weights in the gym and a good healing cream.

I've heard bio-oil is more of a preventative measure than cure.

Stretchmarks won't completely vanish though, and so what? Nothing to be ashamed of - they affect many women, even those who have never been overweight or pregnant. Monthly bloating is a cause also. I can understand the very darkly coloured ones causing a person to feel self conscious though, but the skin-coloured ones are hardly noticeable.

Well done on your weight-loss achievements!

Erikka

Ive heard that Stri Vectin is good for stretch marks. You can buy it on Strawberrynet.com. Is pricy enough though

legslove

Yip Bio-oil - twice a day for 3 months - plus its on offer at the mo in Boots:)

Lia_lia

I wish you could get something for old silvery stretch marks. All mine are from when I hit puberty and then suddenly lost that weight again. They are horrible. All over my hips and thighs...none on my tummy though! Some people just have them and some don't. Like my Mother has 0 stretchmarks after having 2 kids and not using any type of lotion. I do hear people say bio oil is good though

Dotcomdolly

I tell you I'd some Bio-oil in his dinner and see how that effects him

The problem with all these lotions and oils as they only effect the top layers of skin, the tearing in the skin fibres happen deep down...you either have skin elastic enough ot cope with change (weight gain/loss, pregnancy) or you don't....

But in saying that I am big into using nice lotions (I like nivea q10 firming) on my tummy, hips, breasts, etc because it is pampering and a good (non-food!) way of treating yourself with love.