Stretch Marks!!! Make them go awayyy!

I have lost 23 pounds so far & I look pretty good in a bikini. BUT one thing is keeping me from wearing them: Stretch Marks.

I have them ALL over. Lower Stomach. Sides of my stomach. And Back.

What can I do to make them look invisible.

Spray tans??? Foundation???

What about a mystic tan???

Take it from me - I lost 30 pounds when I was 17, looked GREAT in a bikini, but DIDN'T wear one because of stretch marks.

Fast foreward almost 4 years where I am now losing the same 30 (more like 20) pounds again, and I have no idea in hell why I didn't just wear the damn bikini when I could.
Look at things in perspective. Stretch marks are inevitable, but look at them with pride. They remind you of the hard work you put in, and the place that you don't want to go back to. If anyone notices them you just have a good excuse to say "well I didn't always look this hot!" and maybe tell them your story, or what healthy changes you've made.

And by the way, fake tanner does help conceal them.

i think using a (facial) scrub makes then seem less prominent. btw the best homemade one is salt and milk. moisturize well and then try and be proud and convidencet about who your are and all your achievements in life. convidence and a smile are attractive

kyko:

Have you used fake tanner before???

Yeah I know what you mean. I am just sooo self conscious ya know??? I just dont want people to be staring at them the whole time. I am really disappointed because I am so proud of myself for losing the weight, but I look in the mirror and see all the stretch marks. And I think of all the ways I could have prevented them. But thank you sooo much! (:

Sidd1981:

I have never heard of that before! But I will def try it. I will let you know how it goes!

Thanks a lott! (:

oh BOY have I used fake tanner! I'm white as a ghost. I mostly use it during the summer, and I never even look "tan" when I use it, just more tan than my normal. The trick is to use the gradual tanners. YES it's a pain to have to do that 1-3 times every day, but it's the most sure-fire way to get a streak-less and even (and thus natural) look. If you're brave you can try reeeally exfoliating first, and using the regular strength, but I always advise using the gradual and being patient.

But that being said...try not to be so self-conscious. It will ruin your life. I spent so much time in my teens worrying, instead of embracing my hotness and enjoying life. I say let it all hang out!


(I think part of the reason I gained weight back was because of all the worrying and self-conscious issues. It's worth it to try to fight it.)

There are creams you can get, but fake tanner is going to give you the effect much quicker. Mystic tan is at a tanning salon where you stand and it is a spray tan, it goes away after a little while so it is good if you want something just for a few days. I would say go for the gradual as they say and use tons of cocoa butter and massage and exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. They will look better, I heard that sephora.com had some good creams for it as well.

You might want to try an over the counter scar treatment. Stretch marks are scars where the skin stretch beyond it natural capacity to do so and created little tiny tears. Maderma is one that you can find at a local drugstore or pharmacy. Silicone based scar sheets manufactured by companies like Neosporin can help fade scars as well. Good luck!

Fake tans work, since the skin gets stained the same color as the skin around it.  Caffine has been known to help (lotions or scrubs), but very temporary.  Exfoliation helps.  Cocoa butter can help (from what I've heard, but I haven't tried it myself).  Just remember that stretch marks are below the surface, and there is nothing short of surgery that will get rid of them for good.  Some scar treatments have been known to help shallow stretchmarks, but deeper ones are too deep for them to penetrate.

The best thing that helps?  Just do it.  People usually are too worried about how they look to look at others.  And if they give you crap about it, they're jerks anyway (hehe, self motivation talk here).

Have you ever noticed someone else's stretch marks?

Other than when I was working on Labour Ward, I can't say I have!

here is another receipe: Take 2 - 3 teaspoons raw oats (not the pre-cooked type) and crush into smaller bits, Mix with pure honey and 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar add basil or tea tree oil. After washing, drying gently by patting with a towel, apply this sticky mixture in gentle circular movements. Avoid the eye area and simialar . Leave the mixture on for about 15 minutes and wash off with lots of tepid water.

...and if you dont use the oil, you can eat it after. talk about recycling, hahah.....

pamper yourself if you like that kinda stuff and then enjoy youself on the beach.

i second bairn's comment too

so what. im only 110 punds and i have strech marks not bc of weightloss but i just have then on my thighs. dont be embarassed, im sure u have a rockin body anyway

Um...I have stretch marks and even as I drop the weight I have no urge to take my shirt off.

I notice stretch marks on other people. Because I HAVE stretch marks I'm very forgiving and I don't judge, but it can be unpleasant to look at. I'm black and I totally plan to try out some fake tanners or SOMETHING.

Losing weight is awesome because you look better and are healthier. But looks are apart of what alot of people care about when they drop weight.  I want to take of my shirt and be comfortable. If a tanner will do it, durn it, im in.

hi i dont know how well it works but i heard of strivectin sd try googling it it is 100 dollars or something like that  good luck

I've used Bio-Oil, and it works very well on all sorts of scars and stretch marks.  It takes a few weeks before you see a difference.

All I can tell you is that when I was at my goal weight (it seems so very far away now!) and I was in really good shape, my scars really bothered me, still. I have a nice, long, purple gash on the front of my left leg, a couple of puckered looking spots on my chest, some thin lines on my shoulder from a core decompression, another longer line on my other shoulder from a replacement, and more stretch marks than I can count on my thighs, stomach, back, ass, arms, and even a big one on my shoulder.

Here's my long-awaited point: I felt sexy anyway. And not because the scars didn't bother me, but because of what I was, and still am, really and understandably after: I was sought after. Boys flirted with me, my friends were jealous, and people complimented me in a bathing suit.

Yes, it's shallow, and there are deeper reasons for why I want to be thin, too, but those don't really help in this post. I just want to tell you that, yes, some people will flinch at the stretch marks. But some people will also call you a b*tch because you're thinner than them, and some people will respect your dedication to taking care of yourself.

Good Lord, I hope I didn't sound preachy. Best of luck, and if you find something that works well for you, let us know. :-)

Ya know, I think everyone can get them, its just a genetic thing. I dont think it even matters if you have gained/lost weight. I think some people get them if they just have a big growth spurt when they are young. I saw the most lovely young girl at the gym the other day, in perfect shape who had them.

I hate how the media jumps on every starlet who dares to show up at the beach with a slight tummy. It makes too many people overly critical of way they look

I agree with all the comments about just feeling great about yourself:let your happiness at your achievements(all of them, not just weight loss) show through~and use a bit of fake tan!

I swear by cocoa butter in pure oil form, btw. I think it is the reason my older skin looks pretty good in spite of years of yo yo dieting