it really depends on your age, how elastic your skin bounces back, how fast you're losing the weight and how much weight you're losing.

but if you're only 22 years old and since u're not very overweight, you have a better chance of the stretch marks disappearing I'd say. but yeah... lotion up mister!

lotion up for what? i think i lost you.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but once a stretch mark always a stretch mark. Believe me after 2 children I should know! Don't worry though, they will fade with time, some oils or creams on the market may help them fade, but you'll always have them in some form.

And no, you can't get them from "sitting around" its the weight gain/rapid weight loss that caused them!

so did i get these when i gained weight rapidly? or did i get them since i am starting to lose some weight?

I got some stretch marks when I was heavier (about 160lb odd) but loosing weight in a controlled and healthy way (I'm down to 143.5lbs now but would like to loose more still) has ensured my stretch marks have pretty much faded.

Rapid weight gain......which is why stretchmarks usually occur during pregnancy. Its just the skins way of saying woooh! slow down!

thats what i figured.

Hey guys!

Aint been on here for a while so thought seeing as iv jumped back into losing weight and this time am sooo serious about it (i lost 12lbs in my first two weeks!!) thought i'd come back

Just wondering about stretch marks though, i have quite a few on my body, on my belly, my hips, a few on my back and my upper arms and im just wondering if anybody knows any good creams or such to lessen the look of them, as at the moment they are deep purple and red.

Also, cuz im going from 259lb's to 147lb's just wondering if anybody knows anything about excess skin. Im only 19 and people are saying my body will just stretch back but i cant see that happening to be honest

Thanks guys xx

You can try all kinds of stuff if you want. Not sure how much it will help, but the reality is yes it will go away SLOWLY over time. Like within a couple years.

This is what I found from an Encyclopedia about stretch marks....

Stretch marks are a form of scarring generally associated with pregnancy, obesity, bodybuilding, puberty, and intense physical activity. They result from overstretching of the skin, which disrupts the normal production of collagen, causing a scar. Medical terminology for these kinds of markings include striae, striae atrophicae, vergetures, striae cutis distensae, striae gravidarum (in cases where it is caused by pregnancy), lineae atrophicae, striae distensae, linea albicante.

They first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter color. The affected areas appear empty and soft to the touch.

Human skin has three different layers: the epidermis (outer layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the subcutaneous stratum (innermost layer). Stretch marks occur in the dermis, the resilient middle layer that helps the skin retain its shape. Once the dermis has been stretched continuously over time, certain parts of it "overstretch", losing all elasticity and causing the connective fibres within to break. The result is what we know as stretch marks.

Once the body returns to the original unstretched size (after childbirth or weight loss, for example) stretch marks often become much less noticeable.

Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body. They are most likely to appear in places where fat is stored, or that have a tendency to stretch. Most common places are the abdomen (especially near the belly-button), breasts, upper arms, underarms, thighs (both inner and outer) and buttocks. They pose no health risk in and of themselves, and do not compromise the body's ability to function normally and repair itself.

[edit]
Prevention and cure
Between 75 and 90 per cent of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy.[1] The sustained stretching on the abdomen as a result of pregnancy usually means stretch marks will appear during the sixth or seventh month.

There are various methods that claim to remove them, including laser treatments, dermabrasion, and topical applications (e.g. cocoa butter)[2], but none guarantees it.

There is no assured method of preventing stretch marks, although many believe that using oils or creams in high-risk areas may help prevent them by giving the skin more flexibility. Many over the counter products are sold for such use.

The only reliable treatment for already-existing stretch marks is surgery. While several topical applications exist, they are only effective in fading the stretch marks; they do not cause stretch marks to completely disappear.



I have stretchmarks from having a child. I went from 105 pounds to 170 pounds. Imagine that! I have some across my stomach, on my outer thighs and inner thighs, and around the underside of my breasts. My child is almost 9 now. The stretch marks are now faded. I seem to notice them more then anyone else. I can say this. Since I have lost weight, they are much more less noticable.

Shea butter can help a little but really there's no magic treatment... you might try Mama Mio Tummy Rub, it's for pregnant bellies but it's supposed to work really well. If you find something that helps, let me know. Yours sound like the ones across my back. They just aren't pretty!

I didn't get one stretch mark when I was pregnant with my daughter, but my big ol' thunder thighs have stretch marks on them as they ballooned over time. Luckily I'm quite fair skinned and they don't show as well...still I hate them.

Only being 19 I wouldn't worry to much about your skin stretching back. I think you will be fine. The only thing is that rapid weight loss is not really a good thing for the skin, so try to consistently lose weight over a decent period of time. 2 to 3 pounds a week is really the best and one of the best thing I can recommend is exercise. I am currently resistance training just to tone muscle, but it gives the skin more to cover instead of just leaving the skin there to hang. I am not bulking out or looking like a weight lifter just toning up, and of course drink loads of water it is great for the skin!

i know you guys are saying creams dont work, i am trying to find something to just lessen the sight of them, im not asking for them to be completley gone...any creams that do anything? even if it is something minute?

how long does it take for the marks to turn white? i noticed some people that have stretch marks have white ones...

thanks

You can't rid yourself of stretch marks. Like any other material, skin has an elasticity limit. When it reaches (and exceeds) this limit, it stretches. When you lose weight your skin might become tighter, but the strechmarks will always be there. They will not have their characteristic pink coloration (they're only that color when they're in the process of getting bigger) - they will turn to a color that's a little lighter than your skintone.

Vitamine E oil is good if you're trying to make them a little more discreet.