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female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes: Dear auntIve become really sad recently because of my body. When growing i developed a few stretch mark at the top of my legs, i was never down hearted about this because they wernt that visable.However, Earlier this year after a rough time i put on weight making the stretch marks spread hugley, down my legs, on my hips and touching my tummy. I do have a boyfriend who says im beautiful anyway, but its making me sad to think that they will stay forever. I lose the confidence i need to do things with my boyfriend and my sense of dress has totally changed. Im losing the weight i gained, but still the stretch marks remain.Is there anything thats can help them fade or cover them up?please help
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (12 March 2007): try a spray tanits make them less visble
A
reader, anonymous, writes (12 January 2007): Hi! Irish is so right. I have stretch marks after having three kids, and lost over three stones in weight. They are inevitable. The skin can only give so much. They do fade but they never go. You have a lovely guy and i bet he hasn't even noticed them. I have been where you are though and wanted some miracle potion to get rid of them. You can try some of the creams, they will make your skin beautifully soft, but beauty does come from within. Enjoy your life and don't let this issue completely take over your life and spoil your future happiness.
Take care and i wish you well for the future
xx
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A
female
reader, willywombat  +, writes (11 January 2007):
 Pete IS right about the Bio oil, it has been PROVEN to work in reducing the appearance of scars and stretch marks. As for them disappearing so you cannot see them that actually depends on how deep the tearing is that cretaed the strech marks in the first place! Many women who develop stretch marks find they can vary in size and appearance depending on the sort of weight gain that caused them and where they are on the body. Men get them as well let us not forget.
To explain what they actually are (in order to understand why they never fully go completely)stretch marks are lines on the skin that start off as raised red lines. They then turn purple, before slowly fading into flat silvery streaks. The medical name for this type of mark is stria. Stretch marks happen when the skin is stretched a lot over a short period of time, such as during pregnancy. Sometimes (especially on the stomach after pregnancy) they can become indented causing the skin to look 'rough'.
The skin is made up of three parts: the epidermis (outer layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the subcutaneous (inner layer), where fatty tissue is stored. The dermis helps to support the skin and keep it firm. It also contains blood vessels that supply skin cells with nutrients, and nerve cells that give us feeling. Stretch marks occur in the dermis.
The dermis is made up of strong fibres that connect to each other and allow the skin to stretch as we grow. Over time, these small fibres become thinner and less elastic (stretchy), and some of them break. Where the fibres break, the skin becomes thinner, and these areas show as stretch marks. When the skin is stretched thinly, the blood vessels under the surface show through, which is why stretch marks look reddish in colour. Yoyo dieting, pregnancy, athletes who put on muscle mass, adolescents going through a growth spurt are all people who can develop these marks, in fact I have them on my legs and hips and boobs after pregnancy but not my tummy.....why? 'cos I used Bio oil on my tummy and no where else.... D'ur!
If they are really bad you could have surgery but this is in extreme cases where the person has enough skin to actually remove! Please read this link and try to accept that these things are natural and a part of life, they don't make you any less valuable as a person.
xx
http://www.embarrassingproblems.co.uk/stretch.htm
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reader, anonymous, writes (11 January 2007): I don't usually waste my time on people who hide behind unnecessary anonymity so I'll keep this brief:1) Bio Oil has been shown to help significantly.2) I've had stretch marks I developed more than 10 years ago fade to a point that I can't see them any more3) I did encourage her self-esteem and to be confident. I suggest, next time, you read further than the first few words that I write.Thank you :)Peter
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (11 January 2007): Dr Pete, stretch marks never completely fade so that 'you cant see them at all' as any mother of several children knows...they WILL fade to a whitish silvery colour.....bio oil has not been proven to work or any other creams for that matter....The fabric of the skin is torn and unable to repair in the case of stretch marks....I(I know because I just had surgery to remove them along with an apron of skin after years of searching for 'cures'.)
Rather than send this woman looking for crreams and Drs (a mistake I made) I think we should be telling her to work on her self esteem and realise that any ignoranmous who thinks stretch marks make you any less beautiful isnt worth having anyweay....Be proud be confident, your beautiful and dont need to spend money on creams to negate who you are
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reader, anonymous, writes (11 January 2007): Search for "bio oil" in Google this stuff is supposed to be the best way to deal with stretch marks. Better than lazer surgery (which isn't that effective any way).
Stretch marks do fade with time and if you are lucky they will fade so much that you'll not be able to see them at all.
I realise you are really sad but stretch marks are way more common than you think you are, and as you get a little older you'll become more confident about your body and you won't care so much. You'll feel even more confident when the day comes that you will not care what other people think.. and even if people do notice you have stretch marks, why is that such a bad thing? it's not!
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reader, anonymous, writes (11 January 2007): I think you must know that the majority of females out there have some form of stretch marks? Even very young teen girls and guys get them from growth spurts and developing fast. Do not, I repeat..do not allow this to sap your self-confidence and make your life miserable. Your bf loves you as is...why, because he sees your beauty, inside. I bet he doesn't even notice them? Take heart, so many women have poor body images due to stretch marks.
So now--I have to be straight up with you...you can't get rid of stretch marks. But you can change your attitude towards them. The only way to deal with stretch marks is to accept them and 'forget' about them. Too bad all those air-brushed, computer-generated, shame-inducing images of those 'perfect' women we see in the magazines do not represent the realities that most of us women out here in the real world face. Realize the media is a very strong force in false expectations and how we envision that we aren't up to snuff. Forget all that. Learn to go deep within your pysche and love your body for what it is or this will continue to drive you nutty. It will make you self-concious, it will make you feel bad about yourself, all the time and will chew into your self-esteem. Don't torture yourself. They aren't worth it. There are good creams that can help...a bit. It might reduce their appearance, but you'll never fully get rid of them. Good luck, sweety and just love you, irregardless of stretchmarks or not.
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reader, anonymous, writes (11 January 2007): I can really relate to you on this one sweety, I've had stretchmarks since I was a teenager because I grew too fast, then when I was pregnant I got a lot across my tummy and lower back too. Sadly there isnt anything that can really get rid of them, There is a common misconception that loosing weight will make them disappear but sadly its not true. I have discovered that they do fade considerably if you use moisturisers with elastin in them regularly. And there is a cream available from l'oreal that makes them almost invisible. The reason that they will never vanish is because the tissue has been stretched causing the skin to become weak and thinner in places, allowing the blood vessels and viens to be more visible.
Although they will never go away over time they will become more or less invisible to the naked eye if you look after your skin.
Over the years I have tried to diguise them in many different ways, but the way that works for me is to apply a spray tan or a fake tan, or if you are a sun worshipper a natural tan can hide a multitude of sins.
Ok hope I have helped let me know if you want anymore tips I'm happy to help.
xx
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A
female
reader, ingotblue +, writes (11 January 2007):
 Hiya, I too suffer from stretch marks I am how ever lucky as they have gone silver, There are a number of creams available such as e45 cream or cocoa nut oil.
I would say it is a case of trial and error to see what works for you.
I would suggest googling it, it might come up with a few more suggestions that I am not aware of.
What you have to remember is that your boyfriend loves you and that is because you ARE a beautiful woman inside and that makes you beautiful out side too.
good luck on your quest
xx
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