One for the ladies - stretch marks?

So I've noticed in the past couple of months that I definitely have stretch marks on my stomach, and in complete honesty, however pathetic it sounds, it is reducing me to tears quite regularly.
I can't understand how I've got them. I've lost half a stone but it's been over the course of 2 months, slow and healthy weight loss, no sudden changes, and yet I have this ugly red mottling on my stomach and I can't explain it as there have been no drastic changes to my figure in a short time.
You can't see it in my profile picture but it's there, and I'm having a hard time comprehending what has brought it on.
When I was growing up I had terrible stretch marks on my breasts due to their large size and the fact I developed very quickly, and I have some marks on my hips/thighs but they've all faded now. I have low elastin in my skin due to eczema and the creams used to treat it so I am prone to these things but usually with given cause.
Has anyone else ever had sudden and unexplainable stretch marks, and how do you deal with them?
I'm aware there is no miracle cure to vanish them and currently I'm using bio oil, but any other advice?
The weird thing with these is they don't look like normal stretch marks as they are kind of under the top layers of skin.

Apologies for the rant, but I don't really have anyone I can ask about this stuff and I'm dubious about wasting my doctors time with my vanity issues. The thing is I'm a model, and frequently wear nothing or just lingerie, bikinis etc, so marks like this are a real career killer.

Replies

  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Stretch marks are your skin changing size. It may have even happened when you gained the weight, but they became noticeable when you lost.

    As for modeling, wouldn't a shimmery makeup powder help?
  • LadyZephyr
    LadyZephyr Posts: 286 Member
    Stretch marks are your skin changing size. It may have even happened when you gained the weight, but they became noticeable when you lost.

    As for modeling, wouldn't a shimmery makeup powder help?

    No, they definitely weren't there, I pay close attention to my skin due to my work and so does my beauty therapist etc, they've definitely just showed up recently :/ I've tried using makeup to no joy so far, plus there's a whole load of reasons why makeup just as a cover up is no good at work, I won't bore you with details! (:
  • Kierda
    Kierda Posts: 14 Member
    I have lots of stretch marks on my stomach and inner thighs from gaining 75lbs with my first pregnancy. I dry brush before my shower and use lotion afterwards. They will probably fade in time, but I don't think I will ever not have them. So instead, I've decided to not worry about it. I won't be showing off my stomach anymore, for sure, but that's not really sad to me, personally.

    I'm sorry its a career killer. A stretch mark doesn't make you ugly.
  • fab50G
    fab50G Posts: 384 Member
    Stretch marks suck, that's for sure. But, they will fade in time. There are some great make ups out there for people with birth marks, etc. that I'm sure would work for your stretch marks. You're looking great BTW!
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    Has anyone else ever had sudden and unexplainable stretch marks, and how do you deal with them?
    I'm aware there is no miracle cure to vanish them and currently I'm using bio oil, but any other advice?
    The weird thing with these is they don't look like normal stretch marks as they are kind of under the top layers of skin.

    Apologies for the rant, but I don't really have anyone I can ask about this stuff and I'm dubious about wasting my doctors time with my vanity issues. The thing is I'm a model, and frequently wear nothing or just lingerie, bikinis etc, so marks like this are a real career killer.

    From one career model to another, if your body is your asset I would not be wasting time with a beauty therapist. You need to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The dermatologists would have arrays of technology (which is what I use - RF and light for maintenance, which is very likely the reason I've not had to deal with this, loose skin or any of the common complaints in the forum) plus science, at their disposal to correctly address your Money-maker.

    We are different to the average woman (girl next door), whose allowed her blemishes and it is NOT about vanity. It's about your bankable asset! You are supposed to be as clean and as close to perfection as you can be, provided you are the kind of model I think you are - the canvas/mannequin, granted there are more models who are allowed "their blemishes," "their oddities," "their quirks," which pays their bills - the real model vs the fashion model. You highlighting the stretch marks is a clear sign that it is not a part of your promo. It is not something your agent can sell. It could just be a burst capillary beneath your skin. A dermatologist would best address that.

    If it's a money issue with a dermatologist, go to the Universities who have a Dermatological Department via their Med Schools, like USC and UCLA here in California. If you can locate one, they love to have models for treatment and if you're willing to have your treated areas photographed, the treatment can be free.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    Only just noticed you're located in England. I would advise that you go where I went for my fullbody treatments whilst in Uni - London. You need to shop around Harley Street. It's our version of dermatology, cosmetic science Row and some do give specials and deals, but you'll have to go in to find it.

    Maybe you can dedicate one job's earnings towards your skin treatment.

    As for makeup as the others are suggesting, there is a product, which is not a brand, but it's more medical makeup, which should disguise it better than anything you can get off the shelf, which you may colour-test on an exposed area vs medical makeup, which they directly colour-test on the area. It was discovered in Australia for burn-victims and in America they call it Second Skin, which is available in NY to my knowledge. I think it came to England before here. It works along the same premise as airbrushing, only that it lasts a little longer. I think theirs lasts for 2 weeks whereas airbrushing lasts for one week - if that, but is highly determined by one's skin-shedding phases. That might cover your flaws better.
  • LadyZephyr
    LadyZephyr Posts: 286 Member
    Has anyone else ever had sudden and unexplainable stretch marks, and how do you deal with them?
    I'm aware there is no miracle cure to vanish them and currently I'm using bio oil, but any other advice?
    The weird thing with these is they don't look like normal stretch marks as they are kind of under the top layers of skin.

    Apologies for the rant, but I don't really have anyone I can ask about this stuff and I'm dubious about wasting my doctors time with my vanity issues. The thing is I'm a model, and frequently wear nothing or just lingerie, bikinis etc, so marks like this are a real career killer.

    From one career model to another, if your body is your asset I would not be wasting time with a beauty therapist. You need to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The dermatologists would have arrays of technology (which is what I use - RF and light for maintenance, which is very likely the reason I've not had to deal with this, loose skin or any of the common complaints in the forum) plus science, at their disposal to correctly address your Money-maker.

    We are different to the average woman (girl next door), whose allowed her blemishes and it is NOT about vanity. It's about your bankable asset! You are supposed to be as clean and as close to perfection as you can be, provided you are the kind of model I think you are - the canvas/mannequin, granted there are more models who are allowed "their blemishes," "their oddities," "their quirks," which pays their bills - the real model vs the fashion model. You highlighting the stretch marks is a clear sign that it is not a part of your promo. It is not something your agent can sell. It could just be a burst capillary beneath your skin. A dermatologist would best address that.

    If it's a money issue with a dermatologist, go to the Universities who have a Dermatological Department via their Med Schools, like USC and UCLA here in California. If you can locate one, they love to have models for treatment and if you're willing to have your treated areas photographed, the treatment can be free.

    If it's burst capillaries it's a whole lot of them, that's for sure. I'll try to get pictures up soon.
    My beauty therapist is my advice line mainly because she's my aunt and easily available to me, and she's fantastic but no, not a skin expert but the closest thing I've got to one right now. She doesn't seem to think they're stretch marks, either, but I can't explain the darn things.
    Thing with my look is I'm not quite a blank canvas model as I'm pierced and tattooed, I'm more in the line of art nude/fetish/glamour. Artsy photography rather than advertising or marketing. I'm not always privilege to retouching, some of my images are pretty raw. I was recently published in a photography book where the images were not edited in the slightest! It's nerve wracking.
    Thank you for your advice, it's great to hear from someone who understands the industry and knows how what is a little thing to most people is pretty HUGE to us.
    Would it be ok to message you to talk further about this? I'm particularly interested to hear about your experiences with various treatments.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    Would it be ok to message you to talk further about this? I'm particularly interested to hear about your experiences with various treatments.

    Feel free to message me. :)