Stretch Marks!!

[RK]

Not to be a pessimist, because I do really want to find a cure for these things, but having been to numerous spas/doctors & clinics & laser specialists, they all promise that what they're doing will help/has helped many other people... swear blind in fact... And I used to trust them (most of them) because you want to put your faith in the next big thing. 9 times out of 10 I think they were probably lying when they claimed so and so saw a great improvement and do you know what bugs me even more than the straight out lies? It's the 'office handling' they do on you 'there's such a big improvement, don't you think'. So many people have claimed that my marks have improved but that, because I see them everyday I can't properly judge... umm?!! All I can say is my mother never saw these claimed improvements either.

[Guest]

hi all

im 15 n i got them all over my legs

i had them on my hips and thighs but they have mostly cleared up now, but its really embarrassing for me in p.e and what not its really noticeable on my legs

I tried Bio-oil but its not working well

Can anyone help?

Hi

You can start taking vitamins and minerals (vit c, zinc and vit b) just take the recommended doses each day and continue to take them from now onwards. Perhaps buy a microdermabrasion cloth (you can buy them on ebay) and use it a couple of times per week on all your skin to keep it nice and healthy. Moisturize your skin every day. The idea is just to stop yourself getting more marks, when you are older there will probably be a cure so don't worry about them too much. Also remember most people have stretch marks somewhere, even men usually have some (on bum or lower back or both) so just concentrate on not getting any more.

J

[Guest]

I'll keep you updated on how I get on, it could be I am being too optimistic and the marks will not go, I have a few more peels to do before I will know the answer to that.

J

You have got the right attitude which is half the battle. I hope you are successful. My experience will peels has been they look great for the first several weeks and months but once the skin is allowed to completely heal after several months of no peels, the little buggers pop right back out. And I don't mean new ones. They are the same old ones that were just masked by all the chemical reactions from the peels. Also the hyperpigmentation tends to help hide the marks too, so once you solve the hyperpigmentation problem the marks then become more noticeable again.

I still believe that they can be removed completely, perhaps the problem is that if you do peels until the marks are acceptable (very faint but still there) that they do indeed become more noticeable again over time. I intend to do peels until the skin is completely normal again. I believe if you peel to that stage the marks will not return.

J

[Guest]

it takes around 8 peels to get the the level of skin where the creams can take effect

[Guest]

I still believe that they can be removed completely, perhaps the problem is that if you do peels until the marks are acceptable (very faint but still there) that they do indeed become more noticeable again over time. I intend to do peels until the skin is completely normal again. I believe if you peel to that stage the marks will not return.

J

The marks can be removed totally!

TCA is temporary for recurring conditions such as Acne, Wrinkles etc. However it's permanent for scars, sm's, freckles, tats or anything of that nature.

The problem is that it makes your skin inflamed & slightly swollen. So they seem better. When the skin fully heals in 2/3 weeks. They'll still be there. They have been improved, but not totally removed like you initially thought while skin was still recovering.

The critical factor is to remember it's a medium - long term project!!!!

The minimum you should aim for is 4 peels. The maximum you should ever need is 10 peels. The key is to keep on doing them. It's a lot of hassle initially, but it's a small price to pay for having them gone for the rest of your life.

Once SM's are totally gone, THEY CANNOT every creep back. What they can do is if you don't get them all. The skin heals, then you will of course see feint traces of them re-appearing. You then hit panic mode & think they have returned. When it's actually the last little remnants of the old ones.

So you have it spot on. Keep doing the peels over the next few months. When you think that's them gone. Give it an extra couple just to make sure that you've finished the job. Get somone else to cast their eyes over them at this stage. Someone that's not likely to just agree with you to spare your feelings.

Lastly, once you get to the last little bits of the marks at the end of your peeling adventure. I'd strongly advise that you use a little bit stronger peel. Even if it's only an extra 5%. Once you reach them, you definitely need to up your TCA strength level.

Keep going with your peels & Good Luck!

[Guest]

it takes around 8 peels to get the the level of skin where the creams can take effect

That's complete & utter nonsense!

By the 8th peel, you marks or scars depending on severeity will either be gone or almost gone!

You don't do TCA & all that downtime just to help creams absorb into the skin. If you want that, then use a dermaroller & get them in instantly!

[sk81]

To the Guest above: Thanks for your encouraging words, just a question: what TCA and stretch mark depth are you talking about on average?? Thanks!

[Guest]

The marks can be removed totally!

TCA is temporary for recurring conditions such as Acne, Wrinkles etc. However it's permanent for scars, sm's, freckles, tats or anything of that nature.

If it were this simple we wouldn't have this forum and all the thousands of web sites with products that supposedly cure SMs. Some doctor or med-spa somewhere would have let this cat out of the bag long ago and would be making boat loads of bucks. And none of us would need to be here still searching for solutions.

Just about every doctor, dermatologist, esthetician I have been to over the years says the same thing: If there were a solution, EVERYONE would know about it (unless of course there is a conspiracy against all of us who suffer from SMs ).

[Guest]

The marks can be removed totally!

TCA is temporary for recurring conditions such as Acne, Wrinkles etc. However it's permanent for scars, sm's, freckles, tats or anything of that nature.

If it were this simple we wouldn't have this forum and all the thousands of web sites with products that supposedly cure SMs. Some doctor or med-spa somewhere would have let this cat out of the bag long ago and would be making boat loads of bucks. And none of us would need to be here still searching for solutions.

Just about every doctor, dermatologist, esthetician I have been to over the years says the same thing: If there were a solution, EVERYONE would know about it (unless of course there is a conspiracy against all of us who suffer from SMs ).

Negative energy is not a good thing..Neither is getting pleasure from saying nothing can be done. It's like you want to pull everyone down to where you are.

Sorry, but I won't be taken there, it is better to remain positive and hopeful and I would advise everyone to remain positive, because being negative about stretch marks does not achieve anything.

I don't mean to be rude but it is quite draining at times to read ultimately pointless posts saying nothing can be done, if you believe that, you would not waste your time posting.



J

[Guest]

I might also add that I brush my teeth every day twice a day to keep them in good condition. I do not see this as a chore, it is something I accept that I do to stop myself from having rotten teeth. If the end result with tca is that you have to apply it once or twice a year to maintain healthy normal skin then that will not be a chore either, but a blessing. It would be nice if we could now end the discussion about stretch marks returning once and for all. If tca removes them for 6 months, and you have to do an occasional maintenance peel to stop them returning, then there is not a person on this planet that should not find that acceptable and as far as I am concerned, for me at least, that is tantamount to a cure.


J

[Guest]

There is a difference between reality and negativity. Stating reality is not being negative. I agree staying positive is a very good thing. I also believe doing something is better than doing nothing. And I also believe it is wise to have some reality sprinkled in with all that positive energy. Balance is important. Managing expections is also important.

The reality is if there were a true solution to SMs everyone would know about it. To stay positive when faced with this reality: doing something at least improves the appearance even if it is not a total solution.

[Guest]

There is a difference between reality and negativity. Stating reality is not being negative. I agree staying positive is a very good thing. I also believe doing something is better than doing nothing. And I also believe it is wise to have some reality sprinkled in with all that positive energy. Balance is important. Managing expections is also important.

The reality is if there were a true solution to SMs everyone would know about it. To stay positive when faced with this reality: doing something at least improves the appearance even if it is not a total solution.

If tca can remove your stretch marks for 6 months before you need to a top up peel to keep them removed then it is a solution. It is better to start a routine for your skin, than to live in a state of defeat and resentment of the efforts of others.

J

[Guest]

Thanks J! That's the attitude! Thumbs up!

[Guest]

If it were this simple we wouldn't have this forum and all the thousands of web sites with products that supposedly cure SMs. Some doctor or med-spa somewhere would have let this cat out of the bag long ago and would be making boat loads of bucks. And none of us would need to be here still searching for solutions.

Just about every doctor, dermatologist, esthetician I have been to over the years says the same thing: If there were a solution, EVERYONE would know about it (unless of course there is a conspiracy against all of us who suffer from SMs ).

Why wouldn't you have this forum exactly? There are multiple ways to treat acne, wrinkles or whatever. Yet look how many products, methods, forums or anything else of that nature are out there to this day on the net.

As to the other part. If someone 'found' a way to do it. How exactly would they cash in. They'd offer it, then others would get around & they'd copy the exact same methods!!!!

There are at least 2 ways to remove SM's.

1 is a series of TCA peels
2 is a whole lotta Microdermabrasion treatments

The second one is being offered by clinics/salons/spas or whatever. Only problem is nearly everybody won't be able to afford the thousands of pounds worth of treatments that you'd need.

TCA can remove tats, yet how many salons or spas will use it for this purpose.

If there was a salon that offered it. Would you still not get the doom & gloom brigade that refuses to believe it.

Such as this one that's been doing it for years in Scotland: http://www.faceandbody.co.uk/skin-peels.php

So if you read the bottom of the page, do you believe them or are you still skeptical.... Thus, I rest my case! You will not believe it no matter what!

Salons will do the TCA, then take it off after a few mins. You then go home & put the creams on yourself & do all the healing at home. Then go back many weeks later & do the exact same thing. I'd save myself hundreds & do it myself at home. Just make sure you get yourself some proper genuine TCA from a reputable seller. Salons, don't do anything special or magical that you can't do by yourself in the comfort of your own home.

Lastly, you may not believe TCA can do anything. Site's such as the German one that's been linked to numerous times in this thread, were all concoted & faked for a laugh.

There are 2 methods of SM removal:

1) Series of TCA peels. Very time consuming, with down time.
2) A whole lotta Microdermabrasion. Minimum is 20. Ideally, around 50. Done at a period of once a week. Very, very expensive.

You can choose to live with them, or you can do whatever you want. Honestly, I don't know you, nor will ever get to know you. So in truth, don't care about you or your marks. You don't want to be helped or do TCA or anything, then nobody is forcing you. Ignore it & find another way yourself. As they say, put up or shut up. Don't denounce anything put up freely unless you have a better way yourself. I've posted some info in the last few pages for people that want to do something about their marks. Whether you want to take it on board or not is entirely your concern. Your body, your life, your marks = Your reponsibility!

[Guest]

I want to say though, I don't want this to turn into a witch hunt. Anyone can post here, but here is the thing, you have posted many times before, and every post is negative. You may not realise you are doing it, but you are.

Stretch marks cause a great deal of pain to lots of people, I know, I have been there. Read between the lines of your posts and it is easy to see you are full of pain. I am too, but I choose to be positive rather than negative about them, because ultimately I WANT RID OF THEM. My posts are selfish in a way, I only share information to gain information and because others did the same thing before me. We are all here for ultimately selfish reasons because we all want rid of our own marks.

So there it is we share information because, if others had not shared before us, we would not have had a clue what to do. When our marks are gone, we will be gone and others will share information in our place and so and and so forth.

That is why we are here, and it is why you come here too, because whatever you say, you want rid of your marks too. Just try posting something positive please, because I don't want dragged down and neither does anyone else. I have my dark moments over the marks, but I keep them to myself, you need to learn to do the same.

Hope you get a routine and hope we are all free of these bloody marks asap!

J