Stretch Marks!!

[Guest]

No one is trying to be an expert, all we can do is offer advice on what we are doing. People are ultimately responsible for their own actions. If they fail to do a test area, then burn themselves, it is their own fault. The idea is always to gauge what your skin will take because we are all different, especially with tca peels. Some may have an adverse reaction, which is why it is important they follow the instructions they receive with the product carefully, rather than blindly following my advice, or the advice of others. i might choose to do something risky, but that is my choice and I take full responsibiity for it and will not subsequently come on here and blame someone else for my actions.

J

[Guest]

Hello everyone,

I am posting here because I am up late and can't sleep. I've only posted a couple of times before but, have probablly read every single post in this forum. I have been regularly checking this forum since the old stretch mark thread that got deleted a couple of years back. (I know some of you remember that) Well, anyways I used to be obbsesed with my stretch marks! I mean really depressed and crazy over them. Somtimes I read people writting things like they have thought of suisicde over them. Trust me I've been there. I used to search the internent everyday looking for a cure ever since relume at the epione center was the hot new promise. But as you can see a couple of years have passed since then and still no cure. I then became more aware of noticing other people's stretch marks. And to be honest almost everyone dose have them. Maybe not to extreams, but none the less everyone has some. This made me feel a little better. So ever since the warm weather came I have been making an effort to work on my stretch marks again. I have been exfoliating with appricot scrub like once or twice a week and making a point of putting lotion all over my body every day (nothing special just been using jergsons right now) Oh and since the summer was coming I made the point of losing 10 pounds. Anyways my body other then the stretch marks was looking pretty good so I decided to go to the beach in a bikinni the other day and lay out away from most of the other people. (and lets be honest strangers are never really looking at or do they care about our stretch marks, we only think they do) Well I got a nice tan in my bikinni and I must say I don't know if it's the tan, or all the exfoliating and lotion but my stretch marks look about 50% better. Matter of fact you cant even really see them in most indoor lighting!(sunlight is still a different story though) I just wanted to share because I really feel better about myself then I have in a couple of years. You should all keep your heads up and I know how I used to get so offended when I would hear people say " Its not that big of a deal" but let's just face it and really isn't! I hope others might some day too be free from this obbsession and learn to just be ok with themselves. Good luck all!

[RK]

Re: post above - yes, mine look better with a natural tan (as opposed to most store bought fake tans) but I tend to avoid the sun in case (in the long run) it makes things worse. I'm glad you're feeling so much better about yourself though, that's great.

For Mai & everyone else... my skin's very, very sensitive at the moment (no idea why but the excema on my face/neck & now my legs, as flared up again - eucirin & most creams now irritating the hell out of me too) BUT I have started a very 'gentle' regime of putting Obagi 0.05% tretinoin on my arms & then dermarolling. I started this last night & intend on doing it nightly. I was going to do peels alongside this but my skin's way too reactive to attempt this. If I flare up with irritation on my arms then I'll reduce the dermarolling to 2/3 x per week and just keep up with the tretinoin and (again) if it proves too irritating reduce application to 3/4 a week. Unlike usual, when I treat all my marks at once), I'm going to just stick to my biceps - as Obagi is expensive stuff & I'm fed up of spending a fortune for things that don't work.

Keep fingers crossed. Doubt it will work but at least hoping it will thicken the skin in that area (highly thin & tca has never thickened it/reduced looseness)

RK

[Guest]

A lot of people spew information about peels on this message board as though they are experts. Peels can cause way more damage than good if not done correctly. Anyone new to this procedure should consult a real expert. Everyones skin is different and will react differently. Only someone trained in skin peels will know what is best for each individual after doing a skin evaluation.

And no I am not an expert on peels but would certainly consult one if I were going to experiment with burning my skin.

Problem is who do you determine is an 'expert' or not!

A local 'beauty consultant' offers TCA, but in reality she's a trained cosmetic dentist. Wasn't making enough money from that, so paid £600 for a 2 day training course on who to do TCA. She now offers it amongst her services! She charges £175 for a single 15% TCA peel or 4 for £550. I wouldn't trust this clown with a checkup for my teeth never mind applying chemical peels to damaged skin.

Point is, dermatologists know about skin, but very few know about the effects of chemical peels onto the skin to treat SM's.

All anybody needs is a little bit of info before starting with peels. Start off sensibly & realise it's gonna take many months befoire you start getting good results.

For instance, many clinics/salons will only do 15% TCA. They'll charge you a fortune to aplly it. As well as charging you for the pre & post treatment cream/gel/lotion/serum.

The important thing about TCA isn't the actual application itself. It's the care you give your skin before & after the peel that ultimately determines how effective the results will be.

So if you have the money, then use that to purchase better products to look after your skin once you've applied the TCA peel.

[Perfect Skin]

Purple Jen, please don't take offense. There will always be people who are skeptical, and they're usually the ones who create their own roadblocks against success. Those of us who want to succeed could really use you on this board! Even if you only check in once in a while. I actually spoke to you over email a couple years ago when we were both on the Yahoo site, so I remember you fondly. That site is now all porn unfortunately! Don't take the naysayers personally. We will lose out if you leave! Thanks for the inspiration and for finding us.

Perfect Skin (that's my attempt at positive thinking via a username, lol!)

[Mai]

RK
for the eczema, also watch what kind of soap you use. I used to use Dove in the states but apparently the dove they have in other countries is made differently because the second I tried using it here, instantaneous break out of eczema, I had to order cetaphil, and at the very least that keeps taking a shower from being a drying experience.
Do you have emu oil? I am curious if that helps. I was thinking of starting a routine again involving lots of peeling, etc. The reason I havnt been able to do this hardcore before is because of the drying and then the breakouts of eczema. I was hoping using emu oil could keep in check, so I've ordered some.
Also, remember Crisco. Thus far its the only thing thats worked for me, though hoping emu oil will also help.
Anyway, does anyone know about dry brushing? as to why it must be DRY. i want to exfoliate in the shower, using wet brushing, but all I hear about is dry brushing, why is it important that it be dry?
update on my unorthodox technique- sm are red and irritated but thats it.

[Guest]

Problem is who do you determine is an 'expert' or not!

A local 'beauty consultant' offers TCA, but in reality she's a trained cosmetic dentist. Wasn't making enough money from that, so paid £600 for a 2 day training course on who to do TCA. She now offers it amongst her services! She charges £175 for a single 15% TCA peel or 4 for £550. I wouldn't trust this clown with a checkup for my teeth never mind applying chemical peels to damaged skin.

Point is, dermatologists know about skin, but very few know about the effects of chemical peels onto the skin to treat SM's.

All anybody needs is a little bit of info before starting with peels. Start off sensibly & realise it's gonna take many months befoire you start getting good results.

For instance, many clinics/salons will only do 15% TCA. They'll charge you a fortune to aplly it. As well as charging you for the pre & post treatment cream/gel/lotion/serum.

The important thing about TCA isn't the actual application itself. It's the care you give your skin before & after the peel that ultimately determines how effective the results will be.

So if you have the money, then use that to purchase better products to look after your skin once you've applied the TCA peel.

I would definitely not go to that person either. The person I just started going to is a Medical Esthetic Specialist at a MediSpa. She at least has a 4 year college degree and specializes in skin peels. She does not recommend the straight TCA peel for stretch marks. She believes the risk of hyperpigmentation is too great and that it may make the situation worse.

She instead recommends a body peel which contains Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and 10% TCA. She says that no peel will remove stretch marks, but that the surrounding skin will be treated and the stretch marks will fill in somewhat with collagen and that combination will make the stretch marks look softer and blend better. The plan is for a body peel every 3 weeks until I am satisfied with the result (probably somewhere between 5 to 10 peels). She will bump me up to the same body peel but with 20% TCA after the first couple of peels.

[Guest]

She instead recommends a body peel which contains Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and 10% TCA. She says that no peel will remove stretch marks, but that the surrounding skin will be treated and the stretch marks will fill in somewhat with collagen and that combination will make the stretch marks look softer and blend better. The plan is for a body peel every 3 weeks until I am satisfied with the result (probably somewhere between 5 to 10 peels). She will bump me up to the same body peel but with 20% TCA after the first couple of peels.

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

[Guest]

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

I got the same general info from 2 different medi-spas about peels. They were totally against TCA in any form for stretch marks.

I guess it has to do with not being able to get the old scar issue out. You can produce more collagen, but can't remove the old scar tissue.

[Guest]

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

I got the same general info from 2 different medi-spas about peels. They were totally against TCA in any form for stretch marks.

I guess it has to do with not being able to get the old scar issue out. You can produce more collagen, but can't remove the old scar tissue.

so why are people posting on here saying that TCA works? period.

mixed messages

[Guest]

hey im getting mixed messages here. some say peels can get rid of stretch marks others say they cant. which is it? if peels can cause the marks to 'fill in somewhat' and 'make them look softer' then why cant extended treatment completely heal them? i had really high hopes for the TCA peel after reading through the last few pages but now i hear that they cannot get rid of them and its a bit of a downer. which is it?

I got the same general info from 2 different medi-spas about peels. They were totally against TCA in any form for stretch marks.

I guess it has to do with not being able to get the old scar issue out. You can produce more collagen, but can't remove the old scar tissue.

so why are people posting on here saying that TCA works? period.

mixed messages

Different people, different messages. For my part, I already said I don't think you can get rid of the marks except by excision. But I do think it might be possible to obscure them with thicker layers of skin over the top. But, like most people on here, I don't REALLY know.

RW

[Guest]

im confused. i was feeling so positive and excited after reading the past few pages on peels now i have no idea. one says they work, another says they dont. i was really keen on doing the TCA routine but now im not so sure. i dont want to put myself through all this if it isnt going to help significantly.

can anyone clear things up a little pls?

[cr]

If you are willing to commit to a routine then you will see improvement. Our bodies are so different that what works for one person will not always work for the next person. If you are deeply committed to improving, and even possibly removing your marks, then you must commit to a consistent routine for at least 1 year. The course of action of abrasion, such as dry skin brushing or using microdermabrasion cloths in the shower, and peels (beginning with very weak GA peels) is what is suppose to work at removing the scar tissue. Also, as a side-note, dermarollers are also believed to help break down scar tissue, but is a controversial method and not always necessary. Then you need a method to help stimulate new collagen formation, which is where copper-peptides help, or massaging nourishing oils into your skin post peels and abrasion(oils such as emu, vit. e or olive oil, or MSM cream). In addition to all of this, you must nourish your body from the inside with multi-vitamins, MSM supplements, iron, vitamin C, and a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. If you are willing to devote a little bit of time pratically every day then you will see major improvement in your marks and probably elimination, but it takes time and perserverence. You have to make up your mind if you are going to find a solution or not. If you decide that you do want to find a solution then through experimentation seek out the solution that your body best responds to, which may not be included in this reply. Then you must consistently do it. It is up to you. People will always say it does work and it does not work because our bodies are so different. It is up to you to find if it does, in fact, work for you. All the best! CR

[Guest]

just been reading back over some early pages of the forum (around late 200s) and all of them seemed to be doing a routine involving TCA of a much much higher percentage, some even used 100%. a 30-50% peel was considered light-mild.

just feeling a bit lost at the moment and short on ideas.

[Guest]

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