Will the stretch marks fade a bit?

I'm wondering if my stretchmarks will fade once I become more fit? I have a lot of them on my thighs, and they are bad enough now. I can't even imagine wearing a bathing suit or shorts with really bad stretchmarks. So I guess my question goes out to those of you who have gotten down to near your goal weight--will I really firm up enough that those lines will be somewhat eliminated?

I am sorry to tell you that mine have not... at all....

I gained 75lbs my first pregnancy and I have stretch marks from here to kingdom come... and everywhere in between..belly ,arms, legs, boobs, butt.

That was 8 years ago and they are still haunting me.. Hopefully you have better skin than me..

I have really crappy skin. sooo good luck

For the most part, I think stretch marks don't fade away completely. After a while, they tend to turn white-ish or more skin-toned color. My boyfriend actually bought some stretch mark cream for his stretch marks. When he was actually applying it on, it helped some. But, since his stretch marks were still sort of new (pink-ish instead of white), it wasn't all the way gone. They say those creams really work better for the older marks, but it also depends on a person's body and how their skin is. But for him, it was pretty noticeable regardless. I haven't tried it, because I don't care enough to just yet...but maybe some time.

Natural sun tanning (read: not tanning salon) helped mine fade--and stay faded after the tan started going away.  You can still see them, but they are much less noticble now then in the spring.

Mine have definitely faded over time, but can still be seen.  They used to be a source of constant worry for me and I used to never go out in anything vaguely revealing, but as I've got older I've realised that, like cellulite, pretty much all women have them, just to varying degrees (was delighted to find out my UK size 8 friend had them...how shallow am I?!). I had never noticed her stretch marks and you'll probably find that people won't be noticing yours either (they're too preoccupied with whether you have spotted theirs!!) ;-)

I agree with deaglesfan too...a little natural sunlight  can help reduce there visibility...so throw on those shorts :o)

Have you tried cocoa butter?  When I was 14 I had a bad case of bug bites (about 20) on my ankles and... well, I've never been the best with not scratching.  They ended up scarring something AWFUL, and I didn't know WHAT I was going to do, they looked so ugly.  Well, I put some cocoa butter on them for about 2 or 3 months - a real thick layer, rub it in right before bed and sleep with it on, then sometimes again in the morning (but a thinner layer) and by the end of the summer they were SO much less noticeable.  You couldn't really tell I had them unless you looked.  Now they are completely gone with time and treatment.  I definitely recommend cocoa butter - it worked for my scars and I've heard it works wonders on stretch marks.

yeah, they don't go away, just fade.  i think the only thing to do, if you don't like them, is not to wear clothes than show them off.  i still wear a bikini when i'm on vacation though (and i have stretch marks AND cellulite) and no one stares at me (at least, not that i can see...) and anyway i don't care.  you sort of have to accept it, or else cover up--my friend wears a one piece with soccer shots on vacation (to hide the stretchies and cellulite)

I had stretch marks on my arm. About three years ago, they were dark, but now, they are much lighter (but my arms are still a bit big).

I think using olive oil will help, & as kizzichan said, cocoa butter may also work.

Just think of your stretch marks as battle scars.

That is what I am doing and I am slowly learning to love them because it reminds me of all my hard work (whether weight loss or babies(for those of you who have them)) and I am almost proud of them because they are part of my journey and even though they are there, they are me.

Stretch marks are essentially scars, so they won't completely go away. Some people say that the sun can make them fade, but I was told to avoid the sun because it can cause them to darken significantly. I have them all over my stomach, legs and breasts, so super revealing swimsuits are out. I just wear the boy shorts and a tankini. Not too bad, and I don't feel like an ol granny!

Original Post by deaglesfan:

Natural sun tanning (read: not tanning salon) helped mine fade--and stay faded after the tan started going away.  You can still see them, but they are much less noticble now then in the spring.

 I think its depending on the skin type but I had a terrible case of ring worm from a kitten my brother brought home (love the cat but hate her for this) and I guess im really allergic to ring worm so I got it the worst. It took at least 2 months to get the right diagnosis on this. I think after the 2nd Diagnosis they gave me a cortizone shot to help with the rash that was all over my face. but anyway because I had it for so long I got scars all over my body. Lucky for me my face didnt get it too bad since the shot took care of it. But the rest of my body was another story. I got this about this time of year and the next summer after the first 2 or 3 times out in the sun the scars were gone . To this day I dont have any scars on me. So yea I would wait till their a little old before going in the sun but I believe it would help.

I have plenty of stretch marks everywhere and a little sun or tanning makes them far less noticeable. If you are anti-tanning or sunning - the spray tan had the same effect on me, and even one of the newer gradual tanning lotions. It just seemed to make all the skin the same color and make them "less" noticeable....but they are still there, I don't think they ever go away.