Stretch Marks!!

[Guest]

Hi G, are you the person who recently tried your first TCA peel?

If so, I have just read some of your previous posts asking if people wait inbetween peels, and that you feel ready to do another peel alot earlier etc.

I was reading all the info on the nova site about peels with regards to waiting between peels, and how long the healing process takes for each peel and when you can expect to notice results after a peel:

"Afterwards, the peeling process is quite noticeable taking 7- 10 days with a medium peel (50%). On a positive note people will generally require only 6 peels to achieve the desired results. TCA peels produce improvement in collagen and elastin in the skin, and the removal/fading of the stretch marks. Peel treatment, healing, then your new look, takes approximately two weeks from start to finish depending on the strength peel you use.
It can take up to 6 weeks to see the full result of each peel. Repeated peels should have a time lapse of at least 2 months or you will get a superficial peel. The peeled/new skin needs to heal completely and toughen up before the next peel."

I found that info extremely useful. So if you have done your 2nd peel too early, maybe you are having a "superficial peel" as stated above. I think it may be worth peeling, then waiting at least 2 months for the next. Well that's what I would do anyway. I know that sounds a long time and we all want results tomorrow! but if I know I've done everything by the book and then it doesn't work... I can then say to myself, "well it isn't because I did it wrong"... it's because the TCA peel itself just doesn't work

bc8

[Chic]

At least some people here do have boyfriends/girlfriends... And I find that amazing! You're so lucky! I refuse to have any kind of relationship just because I'm afraid that even if I hide the marks on my bottom and thighs they will be discovered by my partner anyway at some point and he will dump me. I know people will say he wasn't worth it anyway, but I can't accept such a rejection!! I really can't. To make it worse, I look for an above average bf in the looks and personality department! For example people have told me in the past "oh look at that gorgeous man over there" and I ask "who?? what gorgeous are you talking about?". I don't do it consciously! Maybe I suffer from some kind of Body Dysmorphic disorder which also extends to other people. lol.
Anyway, I'm booked for a cosnsultation for permanent make up to cover them soon. The make up artist said it will be costly and it will take several months but they CAN be camouflaged. In my opinion, if this can be done it will beat any cream and laser that don't even work. God knows how many thousand pounds I've spent over the years, so if this works I really won't mind the cost. I'll update you when I get my first treatment.

[Guest]

I have tried creams myself in the past, before coming to this board. I would personally not recommend anyone wasting money on them. They will not reach the dermis and therefore are unlikely to give any lasting improvements.

I think some people are being far too impatient in expecting results with tca. It is not a miracle cure, it takes time (and lots of peels) to get the results, but it does work for some and is working on me.

I really do sympathise with how a lot of you feel. It is hard living with a lot of stretch marks, it does affect confidence etc but you really have to give yourselves a kick up the backside and start helping yourselves. You can cry and be depressed as much as you want for as long as you want, but I guarantee you that will not improve your marks, more likely it will make them worse if anything. Anyone who feels suicidal needs to start a routine, it will help to motivate you, and make you feel you are doing something to help yourself. Its the sitting doing nothing that is the real killer with these things.

Just to update I am continuing with my peels, my bum is now in the process of peeling. Good improvements again, but marks not yet gone.

J

[stbegonepls]

How many peels have u done on ur bum, J and what percentage will u grade the improvements?

regards
K

[Guest]

I would guess that I have done around 8 peels on my bum (I haven't counted them). I started doing tca in June this year and my bum was the intial area I tried. In reality I have done too many peels as really it should have been one per month on each area, but I was impatient at first just like many others are now. These days, I stick to one peel per month on each area. The marks on my bum are the oldest ones I have, older than a lot of the posters on here in fact..

I would say the improvements are very good, I can honestly see the potential for my skin to completely resolve and become normal again. Marks are much fainter, some virtually gone, some are more stubborn. Overall, as I have said before I believe this is the best solution for me. There is no way with the amount of marks I have I could ever consider laser so I will just continue doing my peels each month.

I just want to urge people to try routines, whatever routine they like, rather than sit in some state of despair. I cannot stress enough how much it helps lift your spirits to know you are doing something about them.

J

[kellyjolly]

Thanks J you have been a great morale boast. I guess that means u need more rest on the peeling area instead of doing it immediately after the peeling has healed, the effect will be better if we give it a longer time, right?

regards
K

[Callan]

I had a tca peel with an aesthetician for my SM's and I think it was too strong because now I have brown discolorations. Does anyone know how to get rid of this?

[caidensmummy]

Hiya
im 18 years old and have a wee boy whos 6 months i have realli bad stretch marks on my stomach,hips,thighs,bottom,boobs,back of legs nearly evrywhere and i hate them im dreading the summer i wont ever show my body again it makes me cry all the time and people jus say uve gt ur son so stretch marks shouldnt bother you but i dnt think they understand i hate them so much and its hard to face the fact that my body has changed forever.i was considering getting laser treatment but they sed it might not even work i just wish there was something to fade them.if anyone finds anything good please let me know ive tried nearly everything tho.

[fugggly]

At least some people here do have boyfriends/girlfriends... And I find that amazing! You're so lucky! I refuse to have any kind of relationship just because I'm afraid that even if I hide the marks on my bottom and thighs they will be discovered by my partner anyway at some point and he will dump me. I know people will say he wasn't worth it anyway, but I can't accept such a rejection!! I really can't. To make it worse, I look for an above average bf in the looks and personality department! For example people have told me in the past "oh look at that gorgeous man over there" and I ask "who?? what gorgeous are you talking about?". I don't do it consciously! Maybe I suffer from some kind of Body Dysmorphic disorder which also extends to other people. lol.
Anyway, I'm booked for a cosnsultation for permanent make up to cover them soon. The make up artist said it will be costly and it will take several months but they CAN be camouflaged. In my opinion, if this can be done it will beat any cream and laser that don't even work. God knows how many thousand pounds I've spent over the years, so if this works I really won't mind the cost. I'll update you when I get my first treatment.

I am 31 years old, I have never been in any type of relationship. People assume I am some kind of hermit freak, little do they know I am that ashamed of my body. I have a decent face, not to be vain, but most people think I am pretty. I can only imagine some man looking at me in total disgust at my stretchmarks. I cannot bear the thought of rejection, I am a very sensitive person, this would crush me to think that someone would reject me because of my stretchmarks. I would always think that they could do a lot better than me, there are so many better looking women out there, with nice clear skin, so many people cheat on their partners, a man would have lots of reasons to cheat on me because I am so hideous. The upsise is that it is winter now, and everyone is covered up. But summer will come along soon enough and all my insecurities will once again come crashing down on me. Like others here, I have thought of killing myself over this. It is so easy to tell someone to get over it, and get over your stretchmarks. They simply do not understand. I feel like I have been cheated in life. This board is the only place I can talk about this. It does help a little to see there are other people going through the same turmoil as me, it makes me feel less alone.

[Guest]

At least some people here do have boyfriends/girlfriends... And I find that amazing! You're so lucky! I refuse to have any kind of relationship just because I'm afraid that even if I hide the marks on my bottom and thighs they will be discovered by my partner anyway at some point and he will dump me. I know people will say he wasn't worth it anyway, but I can't accept such a rejection!! I really can't. To make it worse, I look for an above average bf in the looks and personality department! For example people have told me in the past "oh look at that gorgeous man over there" and I ask "who?? what gorgeous are you talking about?". I don't do it consciously! Maybe I suffer from some kind of Body Dysmorphic disorder which also extends to other people. lol.
Anyway, I'm booked for a cosnsultation for permanent make up to cover them soon. The make up artist said it will be costly and it will take several months but they CAN be camouflaged. In my opinion, if this can be done it will beat any cream and laser that don't even work. God knows how many thousand pounds I've spent over the years, so if this works I really won't mind the cost. I'll update you when I get my first treatment.

I am 31 years old, I have never been in any type of relationship. People assume I am some kind of hermit freak, little do they know I am that ashamed of my body. I have a decent face, not to be vain, but most people think I am pretty. I can only imagine some man looking at me in total disgust at my stretchmarks. I cannot bear the thought of rejection, I am a very sensitive person, this would crush me to think that someone would reject me because of my stretchmarks. I would always think that they could do a lot better than me, there are so many better looking women out there, with nice clear skin, so many people cheat on their partners, a man would have lots of reasons to cheat on me because I am so hideous. The upsise is that it is winter now, and everyone is covered up. But summer will come along soon enough and all my insecurities will once again come crashing down on me. Like others here, I have thought of killing myself over this. It is so easy to tell someone to get over it, and get over your stretchmarks. They simply do not understand. I feel like I have been cheated in life. This board is the only place I can talk about this. It does help a little to see there are other people going through the same turmoil as me, it makes me feel less alone.

yes i am sorry to hear this...i wil be 22 in a week. it makes me very sad because for the past few years i have sat home on my birthday and done nothing since i dont really have many friends. it is very sad and breaks my heart to know that my youth has been wasted. while other people are going out to celebrate their day of birth with parties and friends, i sit home. another year has gone by and still no cure ofr stretch marks, so i guess i will be sitting home again this year just getting older and older like i have been for the past4-5 years. i do the same on new years eve and other special days as well. i too have never been in any real sort of relationship. i have a decent face i guess, but i could never be comfortable enough to take my clothes off in front of someone else. the ONLY hope is a cure...it scares me to think that another 10 years could go by before a cure is made, or even longer. how is this not a big deal? why arent scientists and doctors looking further into this? is stem cell the future?

we ALL need a cure, and asap

[Guest]

hey j

when you do peels on your bum, how is it sitting? i have marks on my bum and i bought tca and havent done a peel yet but would like to know what to expect. thnks j you rock!

[Guest]

When you peel your bum its the same as peeling anywhere else, sitting is fine. Be sure to do a test area first and if the tca is strong I would personally dilute it to around 20% and slowly work your way up to using stronger tca.

To the other person, yes, I think that ideally waiting 2 or even 3 months between peels would give better results. Impatience makes me do a peel after 4 to 6 weeks (depending on how I feel and the condition of the area). Sometimes its 4 weeks but I am now thinking of waiting 6 weeks each time to get better results.

Overall, until there is a definite cure for marks I think tca offers a very good solution for some people at least.

J

[nyc2008]

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

[Dreaming of Porcelain]

nyc2008

You said you've had a lot of carboxy injections - did you have them to treat the SMs, or for anther reason? I've heard that carboxy is "supposed" to be amazing for SMs, but it doesn't seem to be available yet in Canada.

I really want my old arms back....

[Guest]

Hi G, are you the person who recently tried your first TCA peel?

If so, I have just read some of your previous posts asking if people wait inbetween peels, and that you feel ready to do another peel alot earlier etc.

I was reading all the info on the nova site about peels with regards to waiting between peels, and how long the healing process takes for each peel and when you can expect to notice results after a peel:

"Afterwards, the peeling process is quite noticeable taking 7- 10 days with a medium peel (50%). On a positive note people will generally require only 6 peels to achieve the desired results. TCA peels produce improvement in collagen and elastin in the skin, and the removal/fading of the stretch marks. Peel treatment, healing, then your new look, takes approximately two weeks from start to finish depending on the strength peel you use.
It can take up to 6 weeks to see the full result of each peel. Repeated peels should have a time lapse of at least 2 months or you will get a superficial peel. The peeled/new skin needs to heal completely and toughen up before the next peel."

I found that info extremely useful. So if you have done your 2nd peel too early, maybe you are having a "superficial peel" as stated above. I think it may be worth peeling, then waiting at least 2 months for the next. Well that's what I would do anyway. I know that sounds a long time and we all want results tomorrow! but if I know I've done everything by the book and then it doesn't work... I can then say to myself, "well it isn't because I did it wrong"... it's because the TCA peel itself just doesn't work

bc8

Hi bc8 thanks a lot for the info. all these posts in the last few weeks are good to read in the sense that you know your not alone. i feel exactly the same way as you and all the others. guess im just gonna have to carry on with the peels. theres nothing else at all. personally i think stretch marks could be removed with tca, but it will take A LOT of time (for me anyway taking my current results into account). im talking years. i knew it would take a long time but not this long, i was expecting maybe half a year, but its the realisation that it will take a year+. and with this 2month guideline per peel it would just take me forever and im simply too impatient i think. i will try not to peel for as long as i can but i doubt it will be 2 months.

its just sooo frustrating, knowing theres nothing i can do about it.

thanks

G