nyc2008 wrote:Can I just ask... you mentioned in your post that "the marks are definitely still there, but they have lost that silvery colour". Before you did the TCA peel, were the stretch marks pink, purple or silver? What colour are they now would you say?
Hello, the marks were white when I started (silvery shiny white eww). For some reason, they never come out red!!! They just start white. Well in any case I've had them for a couple of years. Now that some time has elapsed from the first peel, I'm realizing that some of the sm's do actually come back to being shiny. I think what made them appear to lose the silvery color is the fact that the skin gets so dry after the peeling process. Despite that disappointment I still do see some improvement. The marks are there, but one of them on my stomach seems like it is breaking up. This was the first time I peeled, I left it on too long and burned my stomach. I was very scared I ruined my skin, but the burn mark peeled away. What I'm seeing is the SM, but with little lines going through it, little lines of normal skin. It's a very small change, but I have noticed it. It hasn't been that long since the first peel (about 4 weeks)...but I feel like it has heeled. I've been reading that everyone says to wait longer...but I want to do another peel soon because in 5 weeks I'm going to be away for a month in a hot country. I'm going to be in the sun everyday and I don't want to peel too soon and completely ruin my skin once I start getting that sun. My arms are ruined enough as it is lol
Oh by the way...I was very wary of doing the peels on my arms and shoulders because I was afraid I'd be left with a lot of hyperpigmentation. I ended up doing it, and my skin did darken considerably, especially on my shoulder (where I had a lot of carboxy injections). But when it peeled ALL of the dark skin went away. Btw in case you are wondering what my skin type is...I'm hispanic with light skin, that burns before it tans.
I'll check this page out with more frequency since I'm getting replies. Any questions just let me know
Hi nyc2008, and thank you for your reply!
Ohhh, yes I forgot about the hyperpigmentation. I should imagine most people on this board are using TCA peels on stretch marks that aren't visible... like their stomach, thighs, bum etc. I want to use them on the back of my upper arms... so if I got hyperpigmentation through using TCA it would obviously be visible to others as it's on my arms (unless I keep covering them up, which I don't want to do!)... but, if the TCA peels made an improvement to my stretch marks... maybe I would prefer having hyperpigmentation than having the stretch marks? Or would it make it all looks worse? People might see it and ask why I have funny dark marks over a load of stretch marks... so I could infact make my problem even worse... hmm

I doubt I will use TCA peel on any of my other stretch marks, mainly because they are too big of an area to treat. My whole lower stomach is covered, all of my inner thighs are covered, my back would be too difficult to get to, unless I got someone else to do it… which I doubt I would let anyone see them… both my hips/sides have about 5 long vertical (about 3 inches in length) marks spread fart apart (about an inch apart)… so I would be wasting most of the TCA on the “normal” unstretched skin in between the marks.
Like I said, I hate ALL my stretch marks… but mainly want something done about the ones on my arms as I refuse to cover up another part of my body. I will soon be buying a nuns outfit at this rate J
Guest wrote:G
p.s. ive just found a whole load of new stretch marks that i didnt know i had, found a really thick and deep and long one aswell which is pretty devastating. these arent new, ive just never noticed them because im so covered in the things already. its all rather depressing
Aww

, I totally know where you're coming from and how you feel.
A few months back I was having a shower, and for some reason I felt the need to look at the area below my breasts (the upper stomach?) and I noticed a few horrid purple lines! I was hoping they were marks from the wire in my bra or tight clothes... but nope. A few hours later they were still there! And I ran my fingers over them and they were indented, so I knew then exactly what they were. God, I felt so depressed... And about 3 months on, they have spread… they were in an area of about 1x1inch… the area is now about 4x4 inches, maybe even bigger… It's gotten to the point where I keep checking all over my body daily to see if any new ones are forming! I'm so paranoid and I REALLY HOPE and pray I don't develop anymore. If I do, I might as well be completely covered in them.
…
Oh btw, I went to see my doctor last Friday and guess what?
Nothing. That's what lol. She didn't even really take much notice of what I said. She didn't suggest anything at all. When I told her why I was there... she just said "well stretch marks form because you stretch your skin... through gaining weight" (like I have). I was like yeah... I do know that!
She said if you lose the weight the stretch marks will look better and become smaller as then they wont be under so much strain, and they wont be so wide because they wont be "stretched" anymore.
I dunno, I doubt it. Most people I have talked to who lost weight said their stretch marks looked worse after losing weight

I can only hope eh?
I am currently dieting. I’ve been doing it for 2 weeks and lost over half a stone so far. So nly another 3 stone to go! Lol. Fingers crossed once I get to my goal weight my stretch marks will look better... seriously I mean it, fingers crossed.
So, she didn't offer me any help or any other creams etc... she just talked about the losing weight. I mentioned being referred to a dermatologist, but she basically said “they wont offer anything on the NHS…” so yeah, no point… unless I got my purse out and gave them loads of money I don’t even have.
So, I’m feeling even more depressed and upset now, like I said I would… so the other day I went _ and I bought the StriVectin - SD cream… for a fraction of the price wooooooooo! I will give it a go on a small area and see how it goes. It’s expensive so I will start off in a test area and see how it goes. If I see improvement I will then invest in some more of it. If I don’t see any improvement I certainly wont waste anymore money on that!
I’m probably going to start using the cream with my Derma Roller that I bought a while back but have never used. Also, I may invest in some TCA peel from Nova and try that too. So at the moment, I have some sort of hope in me that I can try a few things and wait and see what happens.
PS
I noticed earlier I am developing a few more new stretch marks under my left
breast (on my upper stomach)… on the right hand side it’s covered in stretch marks (recent ones). So if I do get more develop on the left side, at least it will match with the right? Haha, joke. NOOO they need to stop forming.
bc8