Stretch Marks!!

[RK]

Re: post above - yes, mine look better with a natural tan (as opposed to most store bought fake tans) but I tend to avoid the sun in case (in the long run) it makes things worse. I'm glad you're feeling so much better about yourself though, that's great.

For Mai & everyone else... my skin's very, very sensitive at the moment (no idea why but the excema on my face/neck & now my legs, as flared up again - eucirin & most creams now irritating the hell out of me too) BUT I have started a very 'gentle' regime of putting Obagi 0.05% tretinoin on my arms & then dermarolling. I started this last night & intend on doing it nightly. I was going to do peels alongside this but my skin's way too reactive to attempt this. If I flare up with irritation on my arms then I'll reduce the dermarolling to 2/3 x per week and just keep up with the tretinoin and (again) if it proves too irritating reduce application to 3/4 a week. Unlike usual, when I treat all my marks at once), I'm going to just stick to my biceps - as Obagi is expensive stuff & I'm fed up of spending a fortune for things that don't work.

Keep fingers crossed. Doubt it will work but at least hoping it will thicken the skin in that area (highly thin & tca has never thickened it/reduced looseness)

RK

[Guest]

A lot of people spew information about peels on this message board as though they are experts. Peels can cause way more damage than good if not done correctly. Anyone new to this procedure should consult a real expert. Everyones skin is different and will react differently. Only someone trained in skin peels will know what is best for each individual after doing a skin evaluation.

And no I am not an expert on peels but would certainly consult one if I were going to experiment with burning my skin.

Problem is who do you determine is an 'expert' or not!

A local 'beauty consultant' offers TCA, but in reality she's a trained cosmetic dentist. Wasn't making enough money from that, so paid £600 for a 2 day training course on who to do TCA. She now offers it amongst her services! She charges £175 for a single 15% TCA peel or 4 for £550. I wouldn't trust this clown with a checkup for my teeth never mind applying chemical peels to damaged skin.

Point is, dermatologists know about skin, but very few know about the effects of chemical peels onto the skin to treat SM's.

All anybody needs is a little bit of info before starting with peels. Start off sensibly & realise it's gonna take many months befoire you start getting good results.

For instance, many clinics/salons will only do 15% TCA. They'll charge you a fortune to aplly it. As well as charging you for the pre & post treatment cream/gel/lotion/serum.

The important thing about TCA isn't the actual application itself. It's the care you give your skin before & after the peel that ultimately determines how effective the results will be.

So if you have the money, then use that to purchase better products to look after your skin once you've applied the TCA peel.

[Perfect Skin]

Purple Jen, please don't take offense. There will always be people who are skeptical, and they're usually the ones who create their own roadblocks against success. Those of us who want to succeed could really use you on this board! Even if you only check in once in a while. I actually spoke to you over email a couple years ago when we were both on the Yahoo site, so I remember you fondly. That site is now all porn unfortunately! Don't take the naysayers personally. We will lose out if you leave! Thanks for the inspiration and for finding us.

Perfect Skin (that's my attempt at positive thinking via a username, lol!)

[Mai]

RK
for the eczema, also watch what kind of soap you use. I used to use Dove in the states but apparently the dove they have in other countries is made differently because the second I tried using it here, instantaneous break out of eczema, I had to order cetaphil, and at the very least that keeps taking a shower from being a drying experience.
Do you have emu oil? I am curious if that helps. I was thinking of starting a routine again involving lots of peeling, etc. The reason I havnt been able to do this hardcore before is because of the drying and then the breakouts of eczema. I was hoping using emu oil could keep in check, so I've ordered some.
Also, remember Crisco. Thus far its the only thing thats worked for me, though hoping emu oil will also help.
Anyway, does anyone know about dry brushing? as to why it must be DRY. i want to exfoliate in the shower, using wet brushing, but all I hear about is dry brushing, why is it important that it be dry?
update on my unorthodox technique- sm are red and irritated but thats it.

[Guest]

Problem is who do you determine is an 'expert' or not!

A local 'beauty consultant' offers TCA, but in reality she's a trained cosmetic dentist. Wasn't making enough money from that, so paid £600 for a 2 day training course on who to do TCA. She now offers it amongst her services! She charges £175 for a single 15% TCA peel or 4 for £550. I wouldn't trust this clown with a checkup for my teeth never mind applying chemical peels to damaged skin.

Point is, dermatologists know about skin, but very few know about the effects of chemical peels onto the skin to treat SM's.

All anybody needs is a little bit of info before starting with peels. Start off sensibly & realise it's gonna take many months befoire you start getting good results.

For instance, many clinics/salons will only do 15% TCA. They'll charge you a fortune to aplly it. As well as charging you for the pre & post treatment cream/gel/lotion/serum.

The important thing about TCA isn't the actual application itself. It's the care you give your skin before & after the peel that ultimately determines how effective the results will be.

So if you have the money, then use that to purchase better products to look after your skin once you've applied the TCA peel.

I would definitely not go to that person either. The person I just started going to is a Medical Esthetic Specialist at a MediSpa. She at least has a 4 year college degree and specializes in skin peels. She does not recommend the straight TCA peel for stretch marks. She believes the risk of hyperpigmentation is too great and that it may make the situation worse.

She instead recommends a body peel which contains Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and 10% TCA. She says that no peel will remove stretch marks, but that the surrounding skin will be treated and the stretch marks will fill in somewhat with collagen and that combination will make the stretch marks look softer and blend better. The plan is for a body peel every 3 weeks until I am satisfied with the result (probably somewhere between 5 to 10 peels). She will bump me up to the same body peel but with 20% TCA after the first couple of peels.

[Guest]

She instead recommends a body peel which contains Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and 10% TCA. She says that no peel will remove stretch marks, but that the surrounding skin will be treated and the stretch marks will fill in somewhat with collagen and that combination will make the stretch marks look softer and blend better. The plan is for a body peel every 3 weeks until I am satisfied with the result (probably somewhere between 5 to 10 peels). She will bump me up to the same body peel but with 20% TCA after the first couple of peels.

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

[Guest]

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

I got the same general info from 2 different medi-spas about peels. They were totally against TCA in any form for stretch marks.

I guess it has to do with not being able to get the old scar issue out. You can produce more collagen, but can't remove the old scar tissue.

[Guest]

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

I got the same general info from 2 different medi-spas about peels. They were totally against TCA in any form for stretch marks.

I guess it has to do with not being able to get the old scar issue out. You can produce more collagen, but can't remove the old scar tissue.

so why are people posting on here saying that TCA works? period.

mixed messages

[Guest]

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

I got the same general info from 2 different medi-spas about peels. They were totally against TCA in any form for stretch marks.

I guess it has to do with not being able to get the old scar issue out. You can produce more collagen, but can't remove the old scar tissue.

so why are people posting on here saying that TCA works? period.

mixed messages

Different people, different messages. For my part, I already said I don't think you can get rid of the marks except by excision. But I do think it might be possible to obscure them with thicker layers of skin over the top. But, like most people on here, I don't REALLY know.

RW

[Guest]

im confused. i was feeling so positive and excited after reading the past few pages on peels now i have no idea. one says they work, another says they dont. i was really keen on doing the TCA routine but now im not so sure. i dont want to put myself through all this if it isnt going to help significantly.

can anyone clear things up a little pls?

[cr]

If you are willing to commit to a routine then you will see improvement. Our bodies are so different that what works for one person will not always work for the next person. If you are deeply committed to improving, and even possibly removing your marks, then you must commit to a consistent routine for at least 1 year. The course of action of abrasion, such as dry skin brushing or using microdermabrasion cloths in the shower, and peels (beginning with very weak GA peels) is what is suppose to work at removing the scar tissue. Also, as a side-note, dermarollers are also believed to help break down scar tissue, but is a controversial method and not always necessary. Then you need a method to help stimulate new collagen formation, which is where copper-peptides help, or massaging nourishing oils into your skin post peels and abrasion(oils such as emu, vit. e or olive oil, or MSM cream). In addition to all of this, you must nourish your body from the inside with multi-vitamins, MSM supplements, iron, vitamin C, and a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. If you are willing to devote a little bit of time pratically every day then you will see major improvement in your marks and probably elimination, but it takes time and perserverence. You have to make up your mind if you are going to find a solution or not. If you decide that you do want to find a solution then through experimentation seek out the solution that your body best responds to, which may not be included in this reply. Then you must consistently do it. It is up to you. People will always say it does work and it does not work because our bodies are so different. It is up to you to find if it does, in fact, work for you. All the best! CR

[Guest]

just been reading back over some early pages of the forum (around late 200s) and all of them seemed to be doing a routine involving TCA of a much much higher percentage, some even used 100%. a 30-50% peel was considered light-mild.

just feeling a bit lost at the moment and short on ideas.

[Guest]

http://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=49690

[Guest]

http://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=49690

This person is nuts putting 50% TCA on their skin first time out. This person also claimed to see results after she was almost completely heeled which was only 10 days after doing her first peel. It takes several weeks for the skin to completely heel before the skin normalizes to see what the real result is. At only 10 days out especially after using 50% TCA, her skin was likely not completey heeled and still had some inflamation.

Here is what we know:

- The experts (or those who claim to be expert) all say the scar tissue can't be removed but that peels can make stretchmarks less noticeable.

- Many people on this forum have been doing peels in one form or another for at least a year (some more; some less) and no one has had total success but many have seen improvement. The few people who have blown through here and said that peels do work have not said that it has actually worked completely for them (atleast I don't remember them saying it actually worked completely for them).

Doesn't seem that hard to figure out the answer to the question of whether peels totally remove stretchmarks.

[cr]

I have only been doing an extremely diluted TCA peel for 2 months and have seen more improvement in my stretch marks than the 5 or so months of GA peels. TCA peels (no greater than 25%) is considered a medium peel and is able to work deeper than the GA peel, which is categorized as a light peel. Those on this forum who have been doing peels for a year, I believe, have been doing GA peels for the most part. I do not think that there is anybody on this forum right now, or lately, who has been doing TCA peels for a year. If I have mistaken then the person who has would you please reply? There is a big difference between GA peels and TCA peels. I think that there is a possibility that GA peels can remove stretch marks, but I think that it would take twice as long if it could. I am interested to hear from anybody on this forum who has been doing TCA religiously for a year in order to learn what their results were. I am a believer in TCA combined with other methods. All I can do is report to all of you what I achieve with my different methods. So far, I have not totally removed my marks, but the indented ones are filling in, they are also getting smaller and what use to be long stretch mark have divided into two much smaller and finer lines. The only way to really describe it is that they look like they are shriveling up. I know, it sounds weird, but that is the only way to describe the process. My stretch marks look 50% better in the most resistant areas of my body, and 70% better in the least resistant areas. Despite totally getting rid of them or not, I am so pleased with the results not only physically, but also how much better I feel mentally and emotionally regarding these marks, that I will continue for as long as I have to. I am not saying TCA is the magical formula, some people have claimed to remove their marks with very simple home remedies. All I believe is that if you truly want to improve your marks, your skin, your body, your outlook on your stretch marks than a consistent routine (whatever that may be) that you are devoted to will surely reap many rewards. CR