Stretch marks :(

tris_hope
tris_hope Posts: 407 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay this post might be a little all over the place - but I need some truth but also some encouragment. I'm 21, and I've recently lost about 35lbs. I struggle with extremely low self esteem and people don't get that. Since losing weight I've found that my body has many stretch marks. I know that is normal and natural and all that but I'm still distraught by their presence on my body. I feel like my body is ruined and I find myself thinking about them all the time. Are stretch marks a big deal to other people or am I overreacting? Are guys turned off by them? Am I totally screwed? Haha! I know they will fade and already have, as most of them are clear, but they still really upset me a lot of the time. Help!
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Replies

  • sunflowerhippi
    sunflowerhippi Posts: 1,099 Member
    I have had them since I was 13. I went from 190lbs to 135lbs and yo-yo'd a lot of my life. I have never had a guy comment about them. They do lighten and fade as time passes.

    I have learned to ignore them and really they are not that visable and shouldn't be an issue to anyone looking at you.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    So many women have stretch marks. I've had mine since I was about 13. They have faded with weight loss. I have had lots of boyfriends and dates and don't think a single man has given two craps about my stretch marks. You are young, beautiful, and there are many other body composition goals you can focus on. Don't get caught up with stretch marks.
  • chandanista
    chandanista Posts: 986 Member
    When I was 15 I was in an accident that scarred up a portion of my lower torso. The nurse tried to make me feel better by telling me that stretch marks would hide them someday. (Hey, she was trying.) Sure enough, eventually my friends were getting stretch marks, and I got some, and no one comments on scars or stretch marks anymore. Literally they are only skin deep, your body is so much more than the visible surface.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    I have had mine for 40 years, you just get used to them.
  • GMAC2016
    GMAC2016 Posts: 249 Member
    As a guy, couldn't care less.
  • StacyChrz
    StacyChrz Posts: 865 Member
    I noticed my first stretch marks at age 14 after losing 30 lbs. on Weight Watchers. Friends at school asked me about the lines on my legs and when I explained that they were because I had lost weight and was getting healthier they were excited about it. Even the guys (yup, teenage guys). I am now 40 and have gained and lost a whole lot of weight in the past 25 years. I have had stretch marks at various stages and have never had anyone make an unkind comment about them. Before meeting my husband I had an active sex life and didn't have any issues there either.
    It may take a little time for you to adjust to seeing them but know that they are a not going to hold you back and to the majority of people they are just no big deal. I actually look at them now as a sign that I'm doing something right.
  • choppie70
    choppie70 Posts: 544 Member
    I had stretch marks at about 14 or so. I have also had kidney surgery ( looks like a magicians saw the woman in half trick gone wrong - 9 inch scar around my waistline!) and 4 tiny scars from having my gal bladder removed. When I first dated my husband I was worried about them. His reply was that they are part of who I am and have made me who I am and he loves me.
  • tris_hope
    tris_hope Posts: 407 Member
    Guys thank you so much for all of your input! I feel better already :)
  • Shells918
    Shells918 Posts: 1,070 Member
    I have scars, stretchmarks, nobody has ever said a word. Palmers cocoa butter oil helps with fading and smells like chocolate. Try it if you're concerned, or just for the smell :)
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,120 Member
    edited April 2016
    They're no big deal. I have a ton of stretch marks from gaining weight (all over my hips and back of my knees). I'm 80-100lbs lighter, and those stretch marks are still there and more of a pain (it's now loose skin underneath clear-ish stretch marks, which gives me one less place to use for insulin injections because I can't inject anywhere near scar tissue).

    The only time I got comments about my stretch marks were from my neighbor's (word that rhymes with witch) of a teenage daughter (the daughter was maybe 2 years younger than me at the time) who made a snide comment to her friend about me wearing a dress with huge purple stretch marks on my legs... man how I wish I now wish I could make a surprise visit and show off my amazingness (stretch marks included).
  • kalm3
    kalm3 Posts: 67 Member
    I have them :( my husband doesn't care at all about them. I was really upset over it for a while, but I'm learning to just accept them. Being mad at them isn't going to make them disappear. You'll get to a point where they don't bother you anymore.
  • ashleyjongepier
    ashleyjongepier Posts: 130 Member
    I was over 350lbs once and I carried a 10lb baby as well, also had a c section. On top of these stretch marks (silver on my sides and belly and redder on my shoulders) I have some gnarly self harm scars from my teenage years. No guy has ever said anything bad about any of it. My husband doesn't give a damn about anything like that. I care about them less and less as well.
  • mandlegrot
    mandlegrot Posts: 7 Member
    They are no big deal and you are still young - you're loosing weight at the very best time when your skin is supple and ready to spring back. Even so most women have stretch marks, thin and big, you can moisturise with bio oil or palmers cocoa butter which might help them but there's no certain way to get rid of them. Over years these marks get thinner and you get used to them :) get a good moisturising routine, and vow to keep the weight off and you may even be proud of your marks one day when they remind you of all your hard work :)
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I have stretchmarks and don't care. My husband does not care either. They are incredibly common.
  • chelseafxx
    chelseafxx Posts: 251 Member
    I love my tiger stripes!!!
  • alyssa0061
    alyssa0061 Posts: 652 Member
    They will fade over time, especially as you're so young. I've never thought twice about they. They are just part of my skin, and I love my skin.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    I never had stretch marks until after I got pregnant. I cried so hard when I got them and I felt exactly like you do in your post.
    I was okay with them after my first pregnancy, never had any comments about them, but then in my second pregnancy they got worse.
    The only comment I've ever gotten about them is from my 9-year-old niece. I took her swimming one time (and I wear a 2 piece) and she looks at me and says, "when I grow up I want to look like you, except all those marks on your stomach. Those are disgusting," needless to say, I only paid attention to the last part of her comment and I have become extremely self conscious of them ever since.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    dont know why a real man would care. men can get them too. I know a few guys who have them,I have them and learned to deal with them. I will always have them so why not embrace them so to speak
  • NaturalNancy
    NaturalNancy Posts: 1,093 Member
    Over reacting!

    I heard Bio oil is good for stretch marks, u can get it at Wallgreens and CVS
  • tris_hope
    tris_hope Posts: 407 Member
    You all are awesome! Thanks so much :D
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I got stretch marks with my pregnancies, last kid was 21 years ago. I hate them with a passion!! I am so self conscience about them around my husband, but as everyone else has said, he couldn't care less. All he sees are boobs and bum when I'm naked lol

    Us women definitely care more about them then men do. And yes, they do fade over time and you'll eventually get used to them.
  • Mentali
    Mentali Posts: 352 Member
    choppie70 wrote: »
    I had stretch marks at about 14 or so. I have also had kidney surgery ( looks like a magicians saw the woman in half trick gone wrong - 9 inch scar around my waistline!) and 4 tiny scars from having my gal bladder removed. When I first dated my husband I was worried about them. His reply was that they are part of who I am and have made me who I am and he loves me.

    Please tell me that you tell people that's why that scar is there.

    "Oh, I never told you about the time I was a magician's assistant? He promised nothing would go wrong so I got in the box...."
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    NaturalNancy wrote: »
    Over reacting!

    I heard Bio oil is good for stretch marks, u can get it at Wallgreens and CVS

    bio oil may work on new stretch marks but I have tried it for mine and it did nothing for them
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    NaturalNancy wrote: »
    Over reacting!

    I heard Bio oil is good for stretch marks, u can get it at Wallgreens and CVS

    bio oil may work on new stretch marks but I have tried it for mine and it did nothing for them

    Yep, I've tried so many creams that claim to get rid of stretch marks. But none of them did squat!

    My daughter in law smothered herself with bio oil everyday and added it to baths regularly when she was pregnant and she's riddled with dark purple stretch marks :( Some of us are just more prone to them than others.

  • slrose
    slrose Posts: 164 Member
    i have many scars and marks but the only person who ever seems to notice them is me.bio oil does help if they bother you a lot,but nobady else is focused on them
  • pickle_walsh
    pickle_walsh Posts: 14 Member
    Im a male and have two points:

    1) i have them myself after having weight that fluctuates often.
    2) they honestly dont bother me/us at all.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Stretchmarks are very common, especially in girls, regardless of whether your weight has fluctuated or not. They often happen simply because you are growing taller. I had them since I was about 10. I have known girls who were always very thin and athletic, and still had lots of stretchmarks. It is very common and nothing to worry about.

    If they are still red, you can treat them. Talk to a dermatologist, creams used to help with scars healing can be used, nothing of the over the counter products you might hear about. If they have already fainted to white scars, no cream etc will help. If you find that you are still concerned about them after a while, there are medical procedures than can help, so talk to a dr and see if you think it is worth it. I was thinking about it for a while, then just ended up getting used to them and realised I am the only noticing them.
  • Stefanny91
    Stefanny91 Posts: 223 Member
    Most guys have some too! Don't let them get you down, most women have them, the chances are only you can see them, as you know what you are looking for.

    I've heard that tanning can make them less obvious and they will get better with time.

    Remember to keep moisturizing and a drink lots of water so your skin in nice and healthy. I put a bit of coconut oil in my bath, and also use it as a moisturizer ... its amazing.

    I have stretch marks from my knees to my arms, I find them fascinating yeah I don't really like them but I see them as a good thing in a way, a sign of how well I've done with my weight loss.
  • natalialikescookies
    natalialikescookies Posts: 72 Member
    edited April 2016
    Stefanny91 wrote: »

    I've heard that tanning can make them less obvious and they will get better with time.

    .


    I've actually heard the opposite, tanning makes them more obvious because the white marks don't tan ?

    That being said, I got my first stretch marks in my knees and on the inside of my thighs around 13/14 after a major growth spurt and they always bothered me sooooo much. I learnt to live with them, they're just a part of me. I don't think anyone I dated or my husband for that matter ever noticed - or cared (I just asked my husband to double check-he had no clue lol)
    I also got a few stretch marks during my pregnancies
    They do lighten considerably with time. My kids are 3.5 and 1.5 now and they're hardly visible. You have to really look for them to see them.

    Congratulations on your weight loss! Keep up the great work and try and embrace your new body, you're doing awesome :)


    Edited for typos
  • AmandaJuneFit
    AmandaJuneFit Posts: 134 Member
    Hey girl , I had stretch marks from getting BIGGER, My skin was stretching out and i had thick red lines on my legs, sides, and tummy. I was 217 and now im down to 195, my stretch marks are LESS noticeable because im loosing weight. I ALSO us Bio Oil. It is so amazing. My stretch marks are no longer red, they are very faded and look like tiny scars.

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