What do do about ugly legs...

UpEarly

This isn't really diet related, but I figured someone here would have some ideas!

I have ugly legs. They're toned and nicely shaped... but my skin is horrifying. I'm an avid hiker and spend a ton of time outdoors. I took a bad fall on a recent hike, and one leg (from the knee down) is currently covered with bruises. Both of my legs are constantly covered with cuts, scratches and bug bites (literally dozens of them). I usually wear long pants when I hike/camp and use bug spray, but the bugs always get me anyhow. On top of all that, my calves are covered with stretch marks that I've had since I was 13. Ironically, the stretch marks aren't from weight gain. I grew 7 inches in the span of a year and got stretch marks on my arms and legs. I've hated and hidden them my entire life. And to add insult to injury, my legs are milk-pale, so you can see every hair follicle and blood vessel that runs under my skin.

To deal with my horrifying legs, I've always been a pants/capris person. I haven't worn a dress in 14 years... and that was my floor-length wedding dress. My husband and I are casual people with casual friends, and I can't remember the last time I had to dress up. The last time I wore a shorter dress was probably in the early 90's, when girls actually still wore pantyhose with everything.

Fast forward to tonight... I have to wear a dress. It falls to right above my knees. It looks really nice on me, but what the heck do I do with my legs? Please do not tell me 'leg makeup'. I did a test run with that and it doesn't work in Virginia on a humid, 80+ degree day. Do I just suck it up and wear pantyhose even though nobody wears them anymore? Do I go bare legged and hope I can keep my legs hidden under a table most of the night? Do I just go, have fun and try to pretend my legs aren't disgusting?

greatdaneaddict

Definitely wear panty hose, or maybe tights? They are actually coming back into fashion. Kate Middleton wears them all the time! :bigsmile:

wickedcricket

pantyhose are 90's, thigh highs sweetie. black thigh highs will make YOU feel sexy and hide a world of flaws. IF your legs are shapely, which mine are NOT, even better. get some sexy, lacy thigh highs and flaunt those legs!

HoopFire5602

I feel your pain. Mine are horrible too. I actually still wear panty hose (compressions stockings because I had a blood clot in my leg). I don't see anything wrong with wearing thigh highs with a dress. Or you can just flaunt your battle scars.

rml_16

Definitely wear panty hose, or maybe tights? They are actually coming back into fashion. Kate Middleton wears them all the time! :bigsmile:

Yep. That's about all you can do in the short term.

billsica

Do I just go, have fun and try to pretend my legs aren't disgusting?

^^^ this, except don't give a $%#@ what people think.

JennLifts

I would totally just have fun and let your marks show that you are an active individual and not scared to embrace it! Who do you need to impress with beauty? Your husband obviously loves you either way.

Rae6503

Tights are trendy for fall! Dark obvious ones, not "nude".

And yeah, I often have bruises, sometimes really big and ugly ones from rugby. I wear nylons and/or tights even when they aren't trendy and/or I don't care if my legs are ugly.

sarah44254

I show off my gross legs. I don't even care anymore.

I have slices, scars, bruises, marks from old acne (yeah, acne on my legs... wtf) stretch marks on the backs of my calves because they got HUGE suddenly when I went thru puberty...

all that junk, whatever. I like a dress, I wear the dress. Only once has someone said something about my legs, and that was my own father. He is was a piece of junk at the time (trying to be a better person now) and his comment really hurt, but I am learning to forget that... especially since nobody else, not ONE other person, has ever said anything negative about my horrific legs.

And they are bad, to me. Guess they aren't so bad to everyone else

ChitownFoodie

I've got scarred up legs....They are HORRID! It's all from sports injuries, chicken pox, severe allergic reaction to something when I was younger (it covered my legs with weird spots that never went away). I never wore shorts or dresses until...well, NOW. That being said, I tanned and the imperfections seemed to fade into the background. they are still visible, but not as pronounced. Just enough to get away with wearing shorts and not feel super insecure.

Reneda

Thigh highs are my normal go to also.. I actually got a real tan this year and noticed that it hides most of the bruises and scratches better now... ?? If you're into that kind of thing (tanning).. :-)

Good luck and have fun! If you're confident in yourself, everyone will think you are beautiful no matter what you look like on the outside...

YukonJoy

Well moisturize them for sure, that always improves your skin colour. Have you tried self tanner cream? That might help. I have no idea honestly.

Arnica gel will help with the bruises in the long run but not by tonight. Buy Vitamin E oral capsules, split them and rub it in on your stretch marks. Don't waste money on products like Bio-Oil, the only useful ingredient in it is Vitamin E anyways.

If it's really hot there you will probably be really really uncomfortable in panty hose.

MochaMixAZ

I say go bare-legged, have fun, and know your legs are a roadmap about you! Time to embrace and show off those strong, shapely, carry-you-through gams.

If you catch someone looking, you can do a little tap dance and proudly point out "X" scar or "Y" scar and say, "Know how I got THAT one?!" Or if it's the stretch marks, you could grin and say, "My badges from working so hard to drop those 30 lbs!"

It's a mind-twister, but it's all related to how you feel about yourself - directly related to how you present yourself to others.

Now is a great opportunity to flaunt your hard work.

DannyMussels

I try to avoid skirts, or anything cut above the knee...

vim_n_vigor

I wear panty hose or tights. I guess I am old fashioned!

Helice

im exactly the same i have hundreds of scars and bruises over my legs and i even have a couple of burns from where people thought it would be funny to brand me with hot lighters..
Also have marks from ingrowing hairs and random freckly moles.
What i do is wear stockings (because i hate tights), whenever i wear a skirt..
Also they look much better when i have a fake tan on.
Also i never wear shorts, because i think they look silly with stockings..
but long socks are good and quite sexy if you dont want to wear something clingy.
All these things sort of hide your legs while putting them on show..
Also although iv never found it in a store they do a spray on tights in a bottle, where it puts something similar to a layer of sparkly foundation on your legs.
Its sort of like air brushing them.
Amazing!

But definitely stockings!! The ones with sticky tops that hold themselves up around your thighs!
There sexy and there a godsend!
And im 18 and know that they are VERY much in fashion!

mardavlais

Check this out (hose are back in style):
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33175984#33175984

Do what makes you comfortable... How *you* feel is most important.

TeraJo

Panty hose are back in! I just got back from a trip to London and they are everywhere. Dutchess Kate has brought them back. Do whatever makes you comfortable. Confidence is the most sexy thing you can possibly wear.

mandygal13

First, You're probably the only one who thinks your legs are disgusting.

Second, I don't know what kind of "leg make-up" you've tried, but I've used Sally Hansen 'spray on hose' before. It does a pretty good job of covering up stuff. I live in Mississippi where it's always hot and humid and it didn't run or get yucky. It washed off easily in the shower with soap. Since you're so fair, I would get the lightest color they have so it would look natural. Spray it on, rub it in to look more natural, wait a while before getting dressed, and you're good.

Option: leggings. Would they be cute under your dress?

Above all, don't let your legs keep you from enjoying yourself. If they look bad due to your healthy activity, that is something to be proud of.

TMcBooty

I try to avoid skirts, or anything cut above the knee...

:flowerforyou:

DannyMussels

On a more serious note, theres nothing wrong with pale legs, in some cases it can be very attractive.

For a halloween costume last year I wore some really short shorts , and I was concerned about my white thighs. So I used some of my girlfriends gradual bronzer for a few days, definitely made them a few shades darker, so they matched my calves better, and I felt less awkward.

Maybe for the odd occasion you could try that ^. Just rub it in after you shower every day for a week or so, and youll notice a change. Seem slow at first, but isn't as streaky/unpredictable as instant tanning cream/spray/lotion.

SoDamnHungry

Wear tights. They're very in even if pantyhose aren't. They're harder to see through and look so cute and stylish.

TMcBooty

I don't like any part of my body from the hips down so I personally wouldn't wear a dress, skirt or short and haven't in a very long time.. but if you bought the dress to wear, wear it! And I agree with the other people either way will work tights, thigh highs or bare.. you do what makes you happy and comfortable.

melgillis

Hey, I live in NW Florida - humidity here is horrible. I have several scars on the front of my shins from skin cancer removals. I use concealer - it's thicker than traditional foundation - it sticks, it conceals and it works.

You know, chances are that the folks you see tonight know of your active lifestyle. Don't worry about it. Go - wear the dress - and have a splendid time

melgillis

So agree.

tmiqueen

I don't care what fashion dictates, I wear hose because it makes my legs look AMAZING.

AliceLMS

There is nothing disgusting about strong healthy legs. They did not get the bruises and bug bites by themselves. You enjoy your active lifestyle, bumps, bruises and bites are part of it. Has wearing long pants everywhere you go made the stretch marks go away?

I am also bumped, bruised, and bitten, goes with the way I live. This is my life and my choice and I do intend to live it fully. These are your legs, that's they way they look. So what.

Wear panty hose if they will make you more confident. Wear a great smile and take any comment with grace, take a real interest in the people around you, and nothing else will matter.

I am 57 and always wonder when will we stop hiding and apologizing for not being someone else's picture of perfect?

MzMiller1215

I still wear pantyhose from time to time. There's nothing wrong with you wearing a darker color pantyhose, depending on the color of your dress of course.

kayemme

own those scars... learn to love them. if you love them, others will too.

i'm all about stockings, tights & long socks, but not as a means to cover. i have very shapely legs, but because i'm very active I get bruises, cuts & bugbites all the time. i never really think about it. i love wearing dresses. i find that nobody really notices how beat up my legs are, but if anyone does, they also know that i'm an avid bicyclist and outdoorsy kind of girl.

i think it's kind of hot to play up the feminine side to my masculine side.

ashreneeknutson

I agree here. Get you a spray tan (best for quick and short term results) and then put on some thigh highs or leggings if you aren't anymore comfortable.

UpEarly

Thanks for all the ideas, folks! :-) I think I'm going to go with a sheer pair of thigh highs in an off-black color. The dress is a cute cocktail dress, so I don't think tights or leggings would look right with it.

The dress was a gift from my husband. He'd like me to wear it tonight to dinner to celebrate my 40th birthday. :-)