Conditions
Stretch Marks
There are many causes of stretch marks, such as rapid weight gain, but they are mainly recognised as the battle scars of pregnancy, with between 75% and 90% of women developing stretch marks during this time. Stretch marks after pregnancy are the bane of most women’s lives. Because whilst men might think that their partner’s scarred stomach is a tapestry upon which the beautiful experience of childbirth has been embroidered; women will be ruing the fact that they’ve had to mothball their skimpy, summer two-piece. Stretch marks aren’t necessarily uncomfortable, but the affected areas can occasionally be itchy and sensitive. However, there are a number of creams and lotions available that, if used daily, can help to keep the skin supple, while the action of rubbing in the cream can encourage better circulation. Laser treatment can also help to fade the marks, but this isn’t available on the NHS and can be expensive.
Comments and Questions
You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
Help ASAP! I'm an 18 year old boy who has stretch marks under my arms next to my armpits, I get very embarrased if I have to take my top off, any suggestions of what cream I can use to possibly get rid of them or anything to reduce the appearance of them.
is it possible for skinny men to get Stretch Marks on their back as i am a 20 year old and skinny and i have stretch marks across my back
i went from a size 6 to a size 14 when i fell pregnant at the age of 16, 5years on and i am now left with stretch marks on my breasts, stomach, back, thighs hips all the way down to the bottom of my calph.. i have also not bin able to get rid of my jelly belly :( .. i would love to be able to wear summer fashion, bikini's and nice dress's on nights out.. Please help me, im sick of feeling the way i do about my body!!
Hi, i'm only 16 and i have stretch marks. I've had them for about 6months, and i have seen an improvement in them as they have faded a little bit especially the ones on my hips. Although these stretch marks are still making me feel depressed because they are still visible and i can't wear a skirt unless i wear like black tights. I'm not overweight but i was 7stone a year ago until my doctor told me to gain weight because i was slightly underweight and so i did but i regret that nw because it caused me to hav a rapid growth spurt. I've never had a boyfriend but i like this 1 person but i'm afraid to start a relationship with him because of these stretch marks, i'm scared that he wld just dump me if he found out. I hav them on my inner thighs, my breasts and behind my knees. I really need some advice as it's making me feel so upset each day i cry most days,but in my room, no1 sees hw upset i am, i just wnt to be wat i was a year ago normal slim body with no stretch marks! Please some1 help me :( x
Can some1 plz help me as this is stopping me from being confident and I always feel self conscious !
im 14 and have had strech marks on my breasts since i was 12 my boobs arent very big (32b)and im a size 6/8 so i cant work out why i have them i've tried using bio oil but they are still there any other ideas ??
i have stretch marks on the inside of my legs and it means that I'm embarrassed bout wearing a swimsuit in front of my friends and so I'm always worried what type of creams would you recommend for me to used to reduce the amout they show?
does getting stretch marks have anything to do with going through puberty? cos I think that's when i got mine but i don't know whether the two are related
I am 13 and and I've had purple lines on my thighs for quite a long time. I've only just discovered they are stretch marks but they have really knocked my confidence and after watching this video it appears there is no cure. So is there any hope that they will go away?
I have stretch marks and i am totally embarrased about them but my mum bought me some Bio-Oil which does not completely get rid of them but it does make them less visable. If you dont want to use this your stretch marks will fade in time and become white. hope this helps xx
im 14 year old girl and i am fairly overweight and selfconsiouse of my body and what make it worse is i have a large amount of streach marks on my stomach thighs and hips im to paranoid to even look at them in a mirror what do i do ?
lose weight, get healthy now because when your older it's going to be harder....Use creams or maybe when your older laser them away
I need help!!! Im 19 years old and I have a 12 week old baby.. I have very bad stretch marks which really nock my confidence I cant wear skirts or shorts as I have them on my thighs. But my main concern is my flabby wrinkly belly.. Before pregnancy I was very slim with a toned flat belly now it wobbles and hangs over my pants, I cant wear tight tops or dresses anymore when I go out. I wear loose clothing which makes me look fatter but hides my belly, this has made me very depressed and I have no confidence at all, me and my partner have started arguing alot because of my depression and I get angry with him for no reason, I sit and cry to myself about it and I just know im always going to have a saggy tummy, is there anything to get rid of this or is there any chance I could get surgery on the NHS??? please help!!
hun i have the exact same problem after having my 1st son at 18 n i 2 was veryy depressed but by time he was 2 i was almist back 2 the same weight as b4 my pregnancy n it looked heaps better i culd wear tight clothes again i suggest daily walking which is wat i did 2 help ive had another baby 6 months ago n same thing as i loose the wait it gets better chin up hun it will get better
Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here
The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.