Stretch Mark Prevention?
 

The other day, I was on the john and I noticed some stretch marks around my thighs. :oogle:

So I'm wondering. Is there any creams or ointments or ... bathing techniques or something that will reduce this? I'd like to prevent this or minimize it if possible.

That's a good question, and honestly I have no idea. The best advice I can give is to contact a dermatologist. I'll ask my wife when she gets back from her walk, I think she may have used something on her tummy once upon a time.

If it's due to weight gain, I'd be glad to answer any questions on healthy eating and exercise.

Best of luck.

Edit:she said she just used regular body lotion.'Something with aloe..'

I think heredity has a lot whether an individual is predisposed to develop stretch marks (at least I know this is true for women during pregnancy, obviously not applicable to you). Stretch marks can also develope during weight gain or weight loss when the gain or loss happens too quickly for the skin to stretch or tighten as it usually would. Keeping your skin well moisturized is always a good idea. I know that Retin-A gel or cream is supposed to decrease signs of stretch marks if it is applied when stretch marks first appear. Stretch marks will over time fade and become less noticeable, especially if you have a tan or apply a faux tan. I know that they are also saying that certain lasers are being used in the reduction of the appearance of stretch marks but this would be done at a dermatologists office. I don't know if that is at all helpful, please let me know if there is any other information I can give ya :)

Use cocoa butter

Weight loss and gain are the culprits for stretch marks and once you've got them, they're there for life unless you have them surgically/laser removed. The best way to avoid them is to maintain a healthy weight. I've cocoa-buttered my stomach to death and there is no difference in my baby stretch marks; they fade over time but no lotion, cream, or other potion will make them go away.

Cocoa butter lotion works well. As Medusa said though it doesn't really go away, but if you know they are coming and getting worse, such as pregnancy, then putting lotion on DAILY will do a world of good.

Yeah, once they are there, its pretty much game over, but if you are looking for prevention of them...

Dr. Hauschka's Blackthorn Body Oil
http://www.drhauschka.com/holistic-p...ails.aspx?id=7
Yeah, its spendy, but like lots of high-end products, a little goes a long way and bottom line is... it works. Mrs. Coaster used this all during her pregnancy, and she has zero stretch marks. Another girl we knew was pregnant at the same time and used cocoa butter, her belly was completely covered with stretch marks.

There are creams specifically designed to minimize/prevent stretch marks. I don't know whether they work or not, just that they exist.

Stretchmarks are scars from the tearing of underlying connective tissue and won't ever 'go away', they can be just minimized in appearance by keeping the skin from getting too dry, which is why everyone swears by whatever moisturizer they use. Cocoa butter has a really high concentration of oils and is inexpensive(and smells nice); even vaseline petroleum jelly would have the same effect. Best time to apply any is right after a shower or bath, before bed. Make sure the skin is damp when using anything-putting moisturizer on dry skin will just make the skin drier in the long run.

I had a problem with stretch marks when I packed on the pounds in university. After I lost weight they went away. I've heard though that stretch marks do fade eventually.

I think anything vitamin E works pretty well. There is this stuff called Mederma, which helps get rid of scars and makes stretch marks look "softer and smoother" I've used it on some of my scars and its worked pretty well.

Another thing I have noticed with stretch marks is that I tend to get a little itchy. Whether it be on my sides or my inner thighs; I've noticed that after scratching those areas, stretch marks appeared. After talking about it with my doctor, he said that whenever I felt an itching sensation in those areas, apply lotion or a cream instead of scratching and gently rub the itch away.. I hope this helps :)

I got stretch marks on my upper thighs when I started running cross country, and then again kinda near my armpits when I was working out freshman year in college.

mine were purplish for almost half a year, then they finally faded, and now they look like regular faint scars,and you wouldnt really notice them unless you were looking for em.

Yeah, stretchmarks are a mystery to me as well.

I have some bizarre pinkish-purple stretch mark webs on the side of my chest muscles right in front of my armpits. I wish I could blame my massive pectorals, but hey-ho... I'm fresh out buff guy muscles. I do a lot of pushups and I've had a runner-body my whole life, but my skin is not happy with my armpit region, apparently.

Generally, I think it has to do with the elastic properties of the individual's skin.

A lot of people tout creams and topical things, but I wonder... the skin is an ever-moulting organ.

I don't know about preventing stretch marks but if you wish to get rid of ones you already have, I suggest time and vitamin E. Works well for me.