A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Hi there!Well last August I had an accident, in which I fell off my horse at full gallop and landed on my back. I didn't break anything, but my lower back and hips, and upper thighs were all scraped and bruised, and all swelled up.Almost a year on, and everything seems back to normal (except one hip, which is still painful and a bit swollen), but its left me with what I can only assume is stretch marks all on my hips and thighs from the swelling! It's awful as i'm only 18 and now I can't wear a bikini or short tops or basically anything I used to love wearing! I have to cover all up, which wasn't a problem in the winter... but now... I just don't want to feel so self concious for the rest of my life! I've been putting bio-oil on them for about 8 months now, and I havn't noticed much of a difference. So does anybody have some good products or home remedys I could try? I can't afford lazer surgery and all the lotions everyone swears by are horredously expensive. Thanks :)
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female
reader, maverick494  +, writes (11 June 2011):
I've tried everything. Bio Oil, cocoa butter, body butter, putting liquid vitamin E on my skin, special skin treatments, you name it I did it. The scars will fade anyway, regardless of what you put on it. So save yourself some money and don't buy those things that advertise helping you getting rid of stretch marks. Laser treatment doesn't help either.
That said, it's always important to keep your skin moisturized, regardless of whether you have stretch marks or not.
I have Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which means that my skin (among other things) is more prone to damage than other people's. I've done my share of jojo-ing but I know lots of people who have been/are heavier than me who have a lot less stretch marks than I do.
Mine have faded over time (got my first when I was about 15) and I used to be crazy about covering up, wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms, and if I wore a bikini bottom I would use a pareo to cover up.
Today I don't care anymore. What helps the most to gain confidence is to get in good shape. I am very fit right now, but the stretch marks show that I've had to work for it and didn't get it for free. I don't think that's such a bad thing. Also, if everything about you is tight, the stretch marks will be much less noticeable. No guy has rejected me for my stretch marks-- so they must be not that important
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (10 June 2011): All you can do is keep it moisturized and cover it up with cosmetics. I use Sally Hansen airbrush leg spray, it's leg makeup that's supposed to be used to cover up flaws instead of pantyhose. I love it and use it for stretch marks I have on my boobs & butt, it's not perfect but it definitely makes them way less noticeable!
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (10 June 2011): The best advice you can seek about anything got to do with your body is from your doctor. So go ask them about it. There are a lot of expensive creams and crap that people swear by but I've tried them all including bio-oil and none of them work. I have stretchmarks on my butt, biceps, groin area, love handle area and all down my back from rapid weight gain in my 20's.
While I used to think they were an issue (hence why I tried all those products) they're really not. As person12345 stated I really don't know that many women that don't have any. My current girlfriend does but it doesn't bother her at all.
They fade in time and honestly no one except the most bitter of assholes would think negatively about you for having them, they don't look bad, they don't take away from your beauty, they simply do not matter at all. We all have blemishes on our bodies, scars, moles, etc. They really don't matter. You get used to them and they fade to pretty much just a thin line after a few years.
No guy is going to find them ugly. Seriously none so you don't have to worry about it from that point of view. If you want to wear bikinis then go ahead, having stretch marks is not in any way going to make your body ugly looking to anyone else.
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A
female
reader, person12345 +, writes (10 June 2011):
 My guess is that rather than from an injury this is just part of physically maturing. I don't know a single woman in her twenties who doesn't have stretch marks. In fact even many of the men I've seen have stretch marks on their butt and thighs and hips. It's normal and no one is going to judge you for them. You can rub cocoa butter on it to add some elasticity to the skin if you think the stretching is still occurring.
If it's been a year and you're still in pain you need to go back to a doctor as you could have more serious injuries. You shouldn't still be swollen or in any kind of pain almost a year later.
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A
male
reader, serenity80 +, writes (10 June 2011):
People will tell you all sorts of rubbish about how you can get rid of stretch marks. The fact is, you can't. They will simply fade over the years but most likely, never go away entirely.
I don't want to sound harsh but you should just accept yourself for how you are. Stretch marks are not unattractive, they are all part and parcel of being an individual.
I would not for a moment think you were any less attractive just because you have stretch marks. I have some marks around my chest and biceps from lifting weights. I really don't give them a second thought.
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A
female
reader, Y_v +, writes (10 June 2011):
 I use Vaseline- Cocoa butter body oil.
It's really effective however you will have to be persistent and patient with it. You apply it after every shower/bath time on stretched marked areas and massage it in well. You'll maybe start to notice change within 2/3 weeks of using it. Stretch marks are scars so it won't get rid of them completely but it will make them less noticable :)
Also because it's so oily, you don't need to put too much on otherwise you'll end up looking a bit ridic :) You can buy it from most cosmetic shops and it's about £5 maybe less.
Hope this helps x
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A
female
reader, eyeswideopen +, writes (10 June 2011):
 Stretch marks are scar tissue. To get rid of scar tissue requires plastic surgery and even then it can't always remove the deeper scars. In time, stretch marks thin and fade. Keep applying the lotions to keep skin moisterized. The main thing about stetch marks is that they bother the bearer more than they are noticed by others. After having 3 kids I've got my share, my husband calls them my "battle scars". I'm rather proud of them.
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A
female
reader, AuntyAlexxmo +, writes (10 June 2011):
 Rubbing olive oil into the skin encourages the tissue to grow and the scar to reduce.
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A
female
reader, fi_the_tree +, writes (10 June 2011):
 Have you tried doing some research online for home remedies? I was going to suggest bio-oil, but you have already tried that!
There must be something online that you can try, maybe join some pregnancy forums, some of the women on there should have some advice on helping to get rid of stretch marks!
All the best hun, glad you didn't do yourself some serious damage coming off of your horse!!
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