Stretch Marks!!

[Mai]

Keep in mind that a lot of you are doing this on one area of your body. My marks are everywhere, so I would be applying the TCA (in layers) to almost my entire body. A 2 ounce bottle of 30% cost 120 bucks. That would not last long, at all. People who say they get 10 treatments out of one bottle don't have them on their ENTIRE BODY. Not to mention, my stretch marks are pretty deep. I know some of you have them on your arms, etc, but the ones on my arms are pregnancy sized, not the tiny ones most of you have.

If you guys are getting cheaper TCA, then please share where. I don't want to buy it off e-bay for the first time because when I start it I want to KNOW that I am using the real stuff and I have heard buying it off e-bay has no guarantee.

[Guest]

I'm in much the same boat as you, treating a large proportion of my body. In hindsight, I should have bought 50% tca and diluted it from the start, you get a lot more acid for your money that way.

I think for most people using the lighter tca peels (25% and below) you will need to do multiple peels to remove marks (unless you are lucky). Deep marks would take a long time to remove using light peels, but then using strong peels carries risk of scarring.

I still think tca is a cheap solution though, compared to some others. I'm happy that I am still having good improvements. One thing I will say though, it is better to leave it for 4 weeks between peels, the results are better when you space them farther apart than close together, at least on me anyway.

J

J

[Guest]

I would also add that I think for someone with deep stretch marks over a lot of their body they would need multiple bottles, even if they were diluting 50%, probably around 6 to 9 bottles would be needed and a year for the treatment.

I am on my 4th bottle now which is 30% and I normally dilute it to 25%, I wish I had bought 50% because I would probably only be on the 2nd one.

J

[Guest]

Where do you find 50%? Are you getting your TCA from platinum skin care or have you found a cheaper place?

[Guest]

Keep in mind that a lot of you are doing this on one area of your body. My marks are everywhere, so I would be applying the TCA (in layers) to almost my entire body. A 2 ounce bottle of 30% cost 120 bucks. That would not last long, at all. People who say they get 10 treatments out of one bottle don't have them on their ENTIRE BODY. Not to mention, my stretch marks are pretty deep. I know some of you have them on your arms, etc, but the ones on my arms are pregnancy sized, not the tiny ones most of you have.

If you guys are getting cheaper TCA, then please share where. I don't want to buy it off e-bay for the first time because when I start it I want to KNOW that I am using the real stuff and I have heard buying it off e-bay has no guarantee.

bear in mind that a hell of a lot of us are coverded head to toe, i have them absolutely everywhere, i promise you, name a body part, i have it. and for you to say that it would cost as much as laser is quite frankly the most bullshit thing i have ever heard. if your covered like you say you are, your talking between 20,000 to 50,000 pounds for a full body treatment minimum.

you can get tca off ebay for under $10 and if you want to go a more expensive way nova peels cost $40 dollars, hardly bank breaking. so lets go above J's estimate and say you need 10 bottles (personally it would take me a lot less than 10 bottles and i am covered but for hypothetical reasons), that is $400. for a stretch mark treatment that is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. want to go the cheap way get stuff off ebay, 10 bottles would set you back $100. and in my opinion you wont need this many bottles, remember we are over estimating here.

[dreaming of porcelain]

Hi Everyone

I've been reading this board for months, but today is my 1st time posting. I see that you all are trying to deal with these awful things by peeling, scrubbing, and doing those types of things..I'm doing that too - actually having profractional laser treatments done on my arms (I've had 2 and wil have 2-4 more).

How do you guys try to keep a positive outlook day by day as you're dealing with the marks? I'm finding this really difficult. Although I've seen a good improvement with the treatments that i've had, I just keep thinking that "they're still there" or "they will always be there and I'll feel miserable and have to cover myself forever."

I'm young, only 22, so I really do have faith that I won't have to feel/look this way forever, but I don't know how much longer I can stand myself in this state. I have marks all over the place - my breasts, to the point that they sometimes look like deflated saggy balloons, my arms, from elbow to armpit, my back and hips. I'm most bothered by the ones on my arms and breasts because I eel the need to cover them up by wearing long sleeves and camisoles with lower cut tops.

I just don't feel like the young woman that I should. I think about this everyday and I feel like I just go through the motions, waiting for the next weekend that I can hide in my PJs. It just doesn't seem fair; yes, I gained 40 pounds, but I'm not the 1st person in history to do it, I won't be the last. I've lost it all, but I feel like I'm going to be distressed everyday by these physical reminders of the fact that I used to be 170 pounds (I'm 5'2).

It makes me sad when people congratulate me on my weight loss and say things like "you look fabulous" or "you must feel like a million bucks" because I just don't feel that way. I know I don't look as bad as I feel I do, but I just can't stand to look at myself now.

I actually stayed home from work today because I couldn't sand the thought of finding something to wear that would cover up my arms and chest.

If you guys can tell me what you do on a daily basis to actually enjoy your life (because I know there is life beyond SMs) do tell.

[Mai]

I live in Asia, so don't inflict your laser prices on me, ok honey?
Thanks

I am not getting tca off ebay. Rk, who said that TCA didnt work for her was using stuff bought off ebay. If i try it, I want to make sure I give it a chance, meaning I get it from someone who can guarantee that it's real. I mean sure if it turns out that it works, I may consider trying the stuff off e-bay, but thus far, two of the people who said it didn't work got if off ebay.

Its 120$ for 2 ounces at somewhere where I know its real. It's even more expensive in asia, for reasons I don't understand. I dont want to try something that may be fake and then have it not work and be like, well that didnt work like everything else. If i try TCA, I am giving it a fair shot and that means purchasing it from somewhere where it can be guaranteed.

You could have recommended nova without being so caustic.

I wonder why their TCA is so much cheaper. If it's the same stuff the price shouldnt vary so much from place to place.

The first time I try it, i will try it from platinum skin care, so at least I have some sort of guarantee. If that works then I would love to find it more cheaply. And if you are so for your cheap TCA go and get it! no one is stopping you! go and cheaply remove your stretch marks, trust me when I say we would all LOVE to see it. <- not being facetious there, not trying to be sarcastic or mean but if you can do it in 100$ I'm sure everyone would love to know about it. so please, go and get it wherever you want, just let us know how it works out.

To the poster above, I think the best thing you can do is start a routine, maybe speak to a counselor. A lot of people say that doing something, anything eases their depression a little bit, it empowers them, doing something does help. there is a lot of information on this board, scan through it and decide what works best for you. We all know where you are coming from and I wish you luck.

[meloe]

what do you guys think about using two acids, instead of one.. a glycolic acid peel and a salyclic acid peel for stretch marks?

do you think by benefiting from a bha and aha, there would be better results!?

[meloe]

mai, i just want to say that I understand where you're totally coming from.

i have stretch marks on my entire body, both of my legs are covered, my ankles, my feet, my face, my stomach, my arms, my neck, my back, everywhere.. they were only on my legs until I started taking ballet, and now they're everywhere.. and they're not just red, they're deep, as well..

SO I am telling you this, so you know you're not alone, because we have to be optimistic and if you ever having a down moment and just need someone to talk to, let me know! I think having support with people in the same situation is a really up!

FOR ALL OF YOU OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM
WE CANT DWELL ON WHAT IS, BECAUSE there is no benefit from doing so.. we have to be STRONG!

...and trust me I know how hard it is to be strong.. my whole life was acting, and then stretch marks consumed me.. ...NOT TO MENTION I used to be a nudist and I LOVE SEX but i have not lost hope, and neither can you! WE ARE BETTER THAN THESE MARKS!

[samstarr]

Does anyone know if this is something that doctors are constantly researching, and if there is any way we can find out? Sometimes I feel like it's just not important to them...which I know is ridiculous because whoever comes up with a solution will be VERY wealthy and well known, but sometimes it feels like it's just not a priority in medical research. It should be.

[Guest]

I am convinced there is something we don't know about! when was the last time you saw a celebrity with stretch marks? Even those who smoke, get pregnant, gain tons of weight and then magically, no sms... I wonder if you have enough money to get like 10 laser treatments then it doesn't matter...

I know there are people investigating, but you are right, it doesn't seem like there are that many in comparison to the amount of money that would certainly be made from a cure.

[Kojiro]

Research into scar treatment is much bigger than you think it is. It just happens under the term 'fibrosis'. Fibrosis is the medical word for scarring, and can happen to essentially any organ of the body. The kidney failure and blindness from diabetes is from fibrosis. The long-term damage from heart attacks is fibrosis. Stretch marks are fibrosis of the skin. Its not a field of study that is being taken lightly.

[Ginobili]

I am convinced there is something we don't know about! when was the last time you saw a celebrity with stretch marks? Even those who smoke, get pregnant, gain tons of weight and then magically, no sms... I wonder if you have enough money to get like 10 laser treatments then it doesn't matter...

I know there are people investigating, but you are right, it doesn't seem like there are that many in comparison to the amount of money that would certainly be made from a cure.

I'm a big basketball fan. When I watch Santonio Spur games a few years ago I notice Tim Duncan have quite alot of stretch mark on his arms. But recently I notice I can't see his stretch mark any more.

[Ginobili]

Also want to say laser cost something like 1000$ per area per session. So I'm sure TCA is cheaper even if you bought a bottle for 100$+.

[Guest]

according to this board, it seems as if TCA and peels are the most popular form of treatment

no love for rollers and lasers? ...i always thought lasers would be the future but i guess not..

and yes, sometimes i also feel like scientists and doctors are not devoting enough time into the treatment of stretch marks...for us they are the most important thing in the world, but for other who dont have them - they probably couldnt care any less...