Sep

8

5 Simple Truths about Stretch Marks

Stretch marks, the dreaded plight of most modern women, begins during puberty and escalates with childbirth,  excessive weight gain and hormonal changes.

Child birth was my downfall. Per my doctor, my skin was not elastic enough. He stated it was the worst case of stretch marks he had ever seen. He said it so nonchalantly, comparing my body’s skin tone to a weakened rubber band, without a concern for the emotional mess I was, as I watched my once smooth skin tear and bleed whenever my unborn child kicked.

Since that day, I’ve tried countless ways to eradicate my stretch marks. I did not realize it would become a never ending quest.

Along the way, I’ve learned several tidbits that may help you on your own quest to eradicate your stretch marks. I’ve noted them below.

  1. Coco butter alleviates itching but does not prevent stretch marks.
  2. Tans do not hide stretchmarks. Do not leave the hospital, as I did, and run to the beach in a bikini thinking to hide the stretchmarks beneath a tan. The tan, actually, accentuates your stretchmarks.
  3. Over the counter creams do not work. Save. Your. Money.
  4. Prescription creams have some effect on fresh stretchmarks, but very little effect on older marks.
  5. Laser surgery does not remove older, white stretchmarks. They must be recent, red or purple colored, for laser surgery to be effective. Also note, per Dr. Yager, of Yager Esthetics, Latina’s skin tones can adversely affect the use of laser surgery, causing bruising and scarring in their skin.  

After some research, I learned that stretch marks can only be permanently eradicated via surgery. Dr. Yager stated that an Abdominoplasty surgery, also known as a tummy tuck, can remove stretchmarks by cutting the skin below the bellybutton where stretch marks normally occur. The size of the surgical incision, depends on the amount of stretched, excess skin. Additionally, per Dr. Yager, a bikini line incision, based on the type of panty you wear, can be hidden underneath your undergarment or bathing suit.

Slowly but surely, I am coming to term with my stretch marks. They are a sign of womanhood, a privilege, so to speak, and I will continue to believe this … at least for now.

Have you tried any of the above mentioned treatments? Share your experience in a comment!

 

Disclosure:  I was able to interview Dr. Yager during a social media event, where my travel expenses were covered.

About the Author

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Migdalia Rivera, also known as Ms. Latina in social media, is a single Latina mother of a teen, tween and 2 Australian Shepherds. When not blogging, or chasing after her energetic bunch, she connects influential bloggers with brands and PR agencies via her blogger network, Stiletto Media.

Facebook Comments

{ 7 comments… add one }

  • Avatar Mike September 9, 2010, 5:51 am

    My wife has stretch marks, some of them are pretty significant. She got them mostly, like you said, during pregnancy with our 3 children.

    You know what? They’re one of the most beautiful things about her. It’s a reminder of what she is (a wife and mother) and a glorious celebration of the love she has for me. She sacrificed her body and gave birth to three beautiful children through our love for each other. I wouldn’t change her for anything in the world. I look at her and see the woman I love in all her glory. She is perfect even in her imperfection.

    I am completely, head over heals in love with her still – more even than the day we met. To love someone is to love everything about them and accept them as they are.

    My wife suggested that I maybe get my wedding ring buffed out, polished or something – take off some of the scratches and make it shiney again. To me, each of those scratches is a reminder of a day we’ve been together. Looking at her – stretch marks are just the same. That one was from our first born, these here from out second, maybe that one there was from out third.

    Hah – then I look at myself and think “this stretch mark was from my first 5 pounds of weight gain… ”

    I guess what I’m saying is love who you are, accept it, and know that the person you’re with doesn’t see them, not really.

  • Avatar Sabrina September 9, 2010, 1:29 pm

    Mike – you’re wife is truly blessed to have you!

  • Avatar Sabrina September 9, 2010, 1:29 pm

    ***your wife…excuse my error.

  • Avatar Isolated Existence September 10, 2010, 2:28 pm

    I started getting stretch marks when I hit puberty then from pregnancy and weight gain. I was embarrassed by them because I wasn’t even in my 20’s. Now I forget I have them sometimes.

    I used cocoa butter, creams and I also used a home remedy I found on a magazine. You probably have heard of it. You take a carrot, grate it then you put it directly on your skin and leave it there for about five minutes. It didn’t get rid of them completely but it did make them less visible!

    Mike, your wife is a very lucky woman!

  • Avatar Linda September 18, 2010, 9:45 pm

    This just confirmed my suspicions. I’ve had stretch marks since I was a teen, and I just hate them! I remember crying and asking my mom what they were as soon as I saw them. It was a sad experience, but my fiance tells me most women have them and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

  • Avatar Isabela October 8, 2010, 3:15 pm

    Organic Calendua works miracles…Let’s discuss this!

  • Avatar Janice October 16, 2011, 1:23 pm

    Stretch mark most strikes in person who tried to loss wieght froma very wide body.

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