Ok. I know I have gained weight. I can tell by the clothes that used to be comfortable or even too big on me. But then the stretch marks start. Ugly red lines on my body showing me that I have become too big for my skin. Ugh.

So, does anyone know of a good way to minimize them? I know I won't be getting rid of them, but if they wouldn't be red, that would be fantastic!

Melsa, if you have access to a dermatologist, they can prescribe Retin-A (not safe if you are trying to get pregnant, BTW) in a higher concentration than for the face for you to use on the stretch marks. You put it on at night, and then during the day, just use a really thick moisturizer (something similar to Neutrogena Norwegian, or that one itself). What it does is speed up the healing process a lot - in 3-6 months of that, the marks will look like an untreated mark would after several years (a white line that is not any deeper than the rest of the skin around it). The quicker you start the treatment, while they are still red, the better the results.

When I did it, I also used it on some stretch marks I had gotten at 10, from growing (horizontal ones) that were so faded by then (like 14 years later) that they were white, but they still had that "ripply" effect, of being lower. The doctor said it was a waste of time, that it wouldn't improve those - and they still "filled out" to be the same as the rest of the skin.

Now, odds are they'll try to sell you on lasers and shots for them, which are more expensive. Don't bother. I did those and they hurt a ton and did nothing for me. The Retin-A is something like $8 or $10 for a month, plus another $8 or so for moisturizer, and it works better.

I daily applied cocoa butter, turned the red ones pink and the pink ones white. :D Pretty nice!

Thanks ladies! I will probably will try the cocoa butter. I have never been to the dermatologist, and that can get pricey! I appreciate the feedback!

At 14, I got some after a rapid weight gain (I'm talking big ones--one of the ones on my stomach is almost an inch WIDE, in addition to the length). They were red and itchy and painful at first and they eventually faded after a couple years. They're kinda silvery-looking now, all of them. But nothing will ever get rid of them, unfortunately.... I tried cocobutter, vitamin e oil...*shrugs* I don't really think there's much to be done but to keep them moisturized.

--Azure

sorry im not advicing, BUT GOD I HATE MY STRETCH MARKS..... why do we have to have them there ugly and dusgusting and its so annoying not being able to fully get rid of them :-( sorry about the rant