It’s about time to admit it: I have stretch marks on my legs, and they suck big time! I wasn’t bothered by them until high school, when most girls start to become self-conscious and seek approval from everyone else, especially boys. What’s worse was that while other women with stretch marks still went out in public in short shorts and sexy skirts, I couldn’t.
I’ve had my stretch marks since puberty. While science says they were caused by the tearing of the dermis, I used to believe my grandma’s idea that they happen when a female steps on a thread during her first menstruation. Ridiculous, I know. What’s true, however, is that I used to do a lot of stretching when I was a teen. So if I believe in science, my marks could be the result of the severe pulling force on my skin way beyond its elasticity.
During summer outings, I secretly become anxious at the thought of wearing swimsuits. My friends would console me by saying it doesn’t really matter. Of course it doesn’t matter – for them – because they’re my friends. But in my mind, it mattered very much – to other people. It was during those times that I’d try to think ways to remove my stretch marks so I could finally stop being so self-conscious.
My first plan was to have tattoos on my legs, right at the back of my knees where the ugly stretch marks are lurking. I could put some tattooed roses in there with the word “rebel fleur”, ala Rihanna. Or I could ask the artist to just trace the stretch marks in black ink. Maybe it’ll be cool and original, especially when I’m bikini-clad on the beach, but my fear of needles hindered me from pursuing this “ingenious” plan.
I’ve scoured the world, via the Internet, looking for creams to cure my “embarrassing stretch marks”. Sadly, none of them have actually removed them. Minimizers? I don’t know if some of the creams have really minimized the stretch marks or I just imagined them fading away because I’m so desperately hopeful of a positive result. All I know is that they’re not gone and are still coarsely visible.
Then I discovered that laser treatments can help treat stretch marks. Fractional laser therapy is quite an expensive procedure but is said to produce good results for white stretch marks like mine. Laser therapy will create a number of vertical injuries to the patient’s skin (the diameter of a hair shaft) with non-treated, uninjured skin in between the treated areas to help heal the wound and replace the area with new skin.
Shall I undergo laser treatment for my stretch marks? I may or may not consider it someday. But right now, I’ll just keep my options open. Yes, they bother me, but I don’t see them as a life-or-death situation. Besides, I’m certainly not a beauty queen or a model, so I don’t need flawless legs. I’m just a normal woman with stretch marks on my knees that the media deems “shameful” to have. And as long as commercial advertising says it’s “shameful” to have stretch marks, many women like myself will be too self-conscious to show them.
The good news is that many celebrities have now stepped forward and talked about their cellulite and stretch marks, among other body image issues. One day, I might be influenced by their resilience and will finally come to accept my flaws as part of simply being human.
I’ve had these ‘stretchies’ since I hit puberty and during my teenage years, I would save up for different creams that claimed to remove them and nothing really worked. Honestly, if there was really a way to remove them, then no celebrity would have it. There are a lot of celebrity moms that get them and even if they can afford almost every cream out there, they don’t bother. Why? Because none of them work! Stretch marks damage your skin to a deep level and topical creams are impossible to work with.
I’m starting to think that this is true. They have all the time and money to get this treatment but they still have it.
I had a package of laser treatment before for my stretch marks but 10 sessions weren’t enough. I think the best way for people to get their stretch marks treated is when they’re new, not years after they get it.
Ladies, if my girl has stretch marks, I don’t care at all. It’s what makes women beautiful; the imperfections.
Stretch marks are because of stretched skin. Nothing to scientific about it. My mom has them and my dad doesn’t seem to mind. I don’t think anyone who has an accepting heart will mind.?
Covering up with a tattoo seems like a bad idea. Most people who easily get stretch marks are kelloid formers. They could create more scars in their body instead of fixing it.
A lot of women struggle from stretch marks and I have some too. I know it’s mine is not as worse (probably) as those who gave birth but no one should care. They’re very valuable scars that make you stronger!
I thought I was going to read about recommendations for stretch marks removal. I think I read something better because instead of being told to repair what seems to be damaged, I was told to learn how to accept it.?
I’ve had stretch marks on my boobs for ages and I haven’t given birth at all. I’ve also had it since my teenage years and I was told that it was because I scratched it when I’m on my period. My mom said my periods make our skin sensitive so scratching your skin around those times can cause wear and tear to your skin–which equals to stretch marks. I have no idea if that’s true, I wore a bra like it was a religion and I don’t think I deserved that stretch mark even until now. I thought only pregnant women get those and even as a virgin I had them. Whenever I would wear a neckline that went a little too low than expected, I would get teased by my male friends and colleagues. I’d be really ashamed of it.
Maybe it really has something to do with getting your period. I do get bruises more whenever I’m on my period and I would never ever shave during that time of the month because I do find my skin is twice as sensitive.
I should have taken before pics, but I think this lotion might be helping to fade my stretch marks a bit….not a miracle by any means, but worth a shot. Other than the smell, i hate the smell, it’s a good, organic lotion. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that will eliminate them, at least nothing you can buy without visiting a laser or a knife. I’m a plastic surgery junkie and would pay big money if something actually worked on my, in some places, inch-wide marks, that my tummy tuck couldn’t eliminate. If they’re under your belly button, stop buying creams and save your money for a tummy tuck. That’s the only fix for massive stretch marks. For people who don’t have stretch marks yet, give it a go and rub it on in large quantities and pray to the genetics gods that you aren’t blessed with them like your mother.
My stretch marks show the beauty of my transition into womanhood. I love my body. I love every bit of hips, boobs, and booty. By the end of the day, You should love every bit of yourself. Regardless if you have–stretch marks and all.