Video
Dr Pixie:
A surprising amount of you had questions about stretch marks, and a lot of you were asking, what causes stretch marks? Stretch marks are caused by stretching of the middle layer of skin that we call the dermis. Now, why do some people get more stretch marks than others? Well, some people are predisposed to stretch marks; also, people who gain weight excessively or lose weight really really quickly are predisposed to stretch marks. In addition to this, people who have specific medical conditions or take drugs such as steroids are also far more likely to get stretch marks.
Lots of you have posed the question, can you actually prevent stretch marks from forming in the first place? There isn’t really anything that you can eat or take that will prevent stretch marks forming. The best thing that you can do is be very careful about weight gain or weight loss.
You also wondered, well, were there any treatments for stretch marks? What’s effective? There are loads of potions and creams that you can buy, which can be somewhat effective in treating stretch marks, but the truth is, there isn’t really a cure. A lot of you asked about mesotherapy, which we featured in the show. Mesotherapy is a treatment whereby a doctor injects amino acids and vitamins and other medicines into the stretch mark, promoting the dermis to heal and improving the appearance of the stretch mark. Of course, like all other treatments, it isn’t 100% curative, but it can, in some cases, improve the appearance.
With regard to stretch marks, your doctor isn’t going to be able to cure you. However, if you’re really worried and your stretch marks have cropped up for no apparent reason, do seek some advice.
Doctor Responses: Stretch Marks
Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about stretch marks such as: What causes them? How can you prevent it? What is Mesotherapy?
With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre
If you are worried that your child may be obese or has a lot of stretch marks, check our guides for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.
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I'm 20 and had my soon 11 weeks ago and I'm left covered in stretchmarks. My stomach and hips are covered in deep red ones. Also my thighs,the backs of my legs and even the pubic area are covered. I'm so depressed over it I feel my body is completely ruined. Is there anything that could be done? As I won't ever have a child again as I can't bare getting anymore.
Hi amy im the same i had my daughter at 18 im 22 an the stretchmarks I got on my legs are terrible it gets me down evry day Ive tried absolutly everything there so bad absolutly evrywhere On my legs :-( i always fink why me i dnt mind them on my belly Thats normal i kept them hidden for 3 n half years from my boyfriend the Babys dad.... There so deep its not fair ive never taken my little girl swimmin i cry all the time its nice to no its not just me xxx
hi im 21 and had my daughter at 18 i got really bad stretchmarks all over my legs it really gets me down as there so deep, theres hundreds ive tried so many creams i just dont no what to do i still havnt let my boyfriend see them there so horrible please can somebod help me ?? when i bend my legs they feel horrible why did i get them on my legs so bad
Hi, I've got stretch marks all over my behind and thights. Its really frustruating as I've tried every lotion that labels for it but didn't work. i was wondering if anyone knows or has been tried any laser treatment that works, please let me know where is it?...thanks
have you tried bio oil ? it really worked for me ... you can get it in boots :) x
When i was 17 i got stretch marks on the back of my legs, on my upper arms, on my hips, on my breasts and at the top of my inner thighs. They were purple in colour, now im 21 and they are a white/silver colour its not as bad as the purple but they are still noticable. iv lost so much self confidence and i dont like them because i still can notice them. i got mine because i was a size 10 and lost weight too a size 8 then i had a rapid weight gane from 8st to 11st in the space of a year. and im a size 10/12 and i like my body with my clothes on but when there off i feel soo ugly and want too cry because the stretch marks are everywere and they dont go away.any help on cream too make my skin tighter were the stretchmarks are scard. its really affecting my relationship with my boyfriend because i dont like my body
I'm 17 and have stretch marks on my inner thighs and behind my knee on the backs of my legs. I did stop dancing about half a year ago and put on half a stone however, im perfectly happy with my size im 9 and a half stone and a size 10 but the marks put me off having bare legs in the summer. They are a deep red/purple colour and quite visible but there not raised or indented, there just flat on my skin. is it true that cocoa butter can reduce the appearance in the marks? someone help!
hi I had my first child when I was 17 and was a size eight and after my pregnancy my whole body was left completely scared by stretch marks I had another child straight after I know ill never get fully rid of them, but anything that could help appearance and iv tried most creams please help its the bare of my life im really depressed about them i just feel really ugly! and i can never show my body im always concious about it
My daughter is 22 and is 15 stone 7lbs. This week she is yet again trying to lose some weight and is going all out to lose 3-5 stone. She already has stretch marks and the symptoms of being overweight and has Lordosis of the spine. I have found that the doctors are not very supportive as she knows what she needs to do. Is there anything available that will help her stop feeling the need to binge eat, as she feels even though she may lose weight, she will put it back on, as she loves food. It is like living with Jekyl and Hyde or attempting to take a bone off a dog!
I am 18 hrs old and have put on 2 stone over 3 years, this has lead me to having stretch marks all over my stomach arms upper and lower legs, they are deep purple and indent my skin. They make me hate the way I look and I can't go on holiday or to the beach because I wont show my skin. I went to the doctors and he said he hadn't seen anything like it considering I haven't had children, he then gave me a gel which is used for acne and when using it, it drys out my skin and makes it red, sore and then it cracks so I have stopped using this, i have also tried all the street remedies which haven't worked, anything else I can use to make them fade? thanks x
hello not sure if it's an exact science but i've heard sunlight makes them fade and it's definitely worked on mine! find a quiet corner in your garden and show you belly to the sunshine haha :) mine have now gone whitey-silver and can hardly be seen :)
I'm 42 and have had stretch marks on my hips, thighs but most noticeably on my breasts. These first appeared when I was about 14 and I was referred to a skin specialist. He got me to strip off amd then went to make a phone call which I heard every word of saying that 'the striae are actually rather bad'. No solution was offered to me at the time of since. I have suffered the trauma of having stretch marks on my breasts, which are usually the most attractive part of a woman, and still can't bear for them to be seen by anyone. It has been a blight on my life. I am single and have never been successful in relationships. I have considered suicide in the past but now i just accept that nobody will ever love me for how I look.
hello liz, you should know that anybody who thinks that you are 'ugly' because of your strech marks is not worth knowing. They would have to be very shallow to dislike you because of how you look. you will find someone who will love you no matter what and I am sure that many people love you already and will continue to, strech marks or not.
I have really bad stretch marks on my inner thighs that are about a year and a half old. Some of them are white-ish/silver and some are still purple in colour. So far I've gotten away with not showing them off, because i haven't been on holidays in while so haven't worn a bikini. But this year, I'm going on holidays with some friends and my family. I'm just wondering if I take vitamins tablets and use the cocoa butter i have on them, will they fade to a white-ish colour in time? (going on holidays in two months)
