[Megan20746]

I'm 20 and obese. I'm dieting and exercising, which is working, but no matter how much weight I lose, I know I'll still have stretch marks all over my back. I hate them. They're like little roadmaps and I can't even wear a tank top in public without being self-conscious. Is there any way to get rid of them? Does anyone else have this problem?

Also, to men: How would you react if your girlfriend had a bunch of stretch marks? Would you be disgusted, interested, forgiving, horrified or what? I'd just like to know about these things. It's embarassing to even write about, let alone ask someone aloud.

User Detail :  

Name : Megan20746, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 20, City : Murrysville, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Scott]

It wouldn't have bothered me back when I was dating. I've been married 23 years now, and my wife lets weight issues bother her, but it's truly not an issue that bothers me. I don't know if this matters or not, but for what it's worth, I've always been fairly thin. I wish size wasn't a hangup for people. Good luck with your diet and exercise, but if you're naturally more voluptuous and your weight returns, I hope you won't let it get you down, and I hope you can feel pity for small-minded people. I've heard there are creams or lotions that women use after pregnancy to diminish stretch marks, but I don't know details about them. A dermatologist might be able to help.

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Name : Scott, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 46, City : Denver, State : CO Country : United States, Occupation : Editor, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[laura26081]

A lot of new products have been coming out on the market to 'reduce the appearance' of stretch marks. Some may more effective than others, but reducing the appearance isn't the same as eliminating. Any dermatologist will tell you that laser treatements are the only way to actually rid your body of stretch marks. It will likely take a few or several treatments at several hundred dollars per treatment for the stretch marks to fully disappear, but it's permanent when they do. Also remember that as you loose more weight and your body gets more toned, the marks will lessen in appearance. Lift weights in addition to cardio to help tighten up loose skin, and find a reputable dermatologist. It's worth the money to get it done right. Good luck!

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Name : laura26081, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 23, City : bklyn, State : NY Country : United States, Occupation : media specialist - gov't, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[Vail24460]

Hey! I've got 'em, too. Also, acne scars. I could hardly condemn you.

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Name : Vail24460, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : mutt, Religion : Atheist, Age : 40, City : Philly, State : PA Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Luticha D.]

scar zone and mederma are used for stretch marks and acne scars etc. laso things like shea butter can help. i, personally, have stretch marks on my breasts from growing too big, to fast. then i lost weight and was left with them.. they dont really bother me at all as they are just another part of my. use those marks as a reminder of what you have been through with your weight loss. once you reach your goal weight and have stayed there for at least a year and hanging skin/stretch marks are still a bother try considering surgery.

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Name : Luticha D., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : asexual, Disability : Paralyzed, Race : creole, Religion : existentialist, Age : 21, City : Fairport, State : NY Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Jenn-E31004]

hey i'm 24 and i have stretch marks, my husband, whose uber thin, doesn't mind, and i didn't have them when we met. if you find that they really bother you, there is a cream called strivectin (sp?) that works really well, tho' it is rather expensive. Good luck with your diet and exercise, and makes sure to moisturize!...especially in the winter months, when you're losing weight, your skin gets looser and it's awfully bad when your skin is dry.

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Name : Jenn-E31004, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 24, City : Dallas, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : Self-Employed, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[J.L.]

LOL.....hopefully that subject line doesn't look / sound as stupid to anyone else as it does to me. Anyway, stretch marks are not a big deal, at least not to anyone that has more than three brain cells. Any guy that has a problem with a woman with stretch marks better hope his wife/girlfriend never gets pregnant, and he better never go to the gym and really hit the weights hard. I used to lift every day (wanted to be a professional body-builder)and am now the owner of stretch marks on the inside of my biceps. It's a natural phenomenon, kinda like most other things in life, it happens. People need to just let go of these stupid arcane ideas of beauty and learn to look deeper into WHO a person is. And personally, I prefer a woman a little more rounded, skinny women are too damn bony.

User Detail :  

Name : J.L., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 29, City : Sheridan, State : AR Country : United States, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Middle class, 

[Natali]

I'm in exactly the same position - I was 207lbs at the beginning of the year (for my height, that's obese) and I've lost about 40lbs so far. I have horrific stretchmarks. There's no real way to get rid of them - try moisturising, or using Vitamin E capsules to reduce the scarring. Because that's what they are: scarring. In time they will fade into a silvery colour. But to tell you the truth, you just have to learn to accept them, unless you can afford the laser dermabrasion that will indefinitely get rid of them. It sucks, I know, but I'd rather be healthy and thin with stretchmarks than anything else. My boyfriend has absolutely no problem with them either. Seems like most women's insecurities barely even register in a man's world.

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Name : Natali, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 20, City : Vancouver, State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : Writer, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[andrew]

Don't let things like that rent any space in your head. It'll drive you crazy. But I understand that it's not that easy to shrug it off. For one, I don't think you can actually get rid of them without a doctor's help, but you can make them less visible by applying some cocoa butter on them. It makes them fade in due time; the only thing is that it works better if you catch them early. As for any men feeling disgusted, well some might, the close-minded ones, anyway, but it should be what you are inside that makes you beautiful. They should like you for you. We're only human, and nobody's perfect. I could understand you feeling better about yourself, so give the cocoa butter lotion a try. It won't work over ight but it should make you feel more confident so that you can wear a tank top. I say leave the mystery about what's behind the clothes to the imagination and be accepted for who you are, period. I have a huge scar on the side of my head due to an injury, and the cocoa butter helped somewhat, but it's still there. Girls like me for me and couldn't care less about the scar.

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Name : andrew, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Catholic, Age : 33, City : New York, State : NY Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jana McDonald]

You cant do anything with the ones you already have, but you can try your best to prevent future ones. Keep your skin moisturized at all times. Drink as much water as possiable. Take your daily vitamin suppliments. Try this, when you turn off the shower, before you step out or dry off, rub your entire body down with some oil (I like neutragena), then dry off with a towel. Afterwards, rub some lotion into your worst areas. I think the propencity to get them has mostly to do with genetics. I was lucky, when I gained weight, I got very few stretch marks and now that i have lost it, my skin is in remarkably great shape. Take care of your body, it is the only one you have.

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Name : Jana McDonald, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : SLE, Cardiomyopathy, AIH, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : inclusionism, Age : 40, City : Grapevine, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : inspector, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Susan MD]

There are prescription creams that can help. I don't know how much you are trying to lose, but if you lose enough that you have loose skin to remove often a lot of the stretch marks can removed when the loose skin is removed. Stretch marks will fade with time. I am overweight(100+ pounds) and bless my husband he never comments about anything except telling me he doesn't see me naked enough. Learn to love yourself totally and if the marks still bother you see a plastic surgeon. Also my very thin teenager has them all over his back from growing tall too quickly. Even thin men can have them!!

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Name : Susan MD, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : Lupus, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 37, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Physician, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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