Still, we ignore those facts and obsess with our bodies. Take stretch marks for example. Raise your hand if you don't have one single stretch mark on your body ... yeah, I don't believe you. I'm lucky that I don't have many stretch marks -- I think slathering myself with moisturizer helps, or maybe it's genetic. Who knows? Either way, I can't complain.People go out of their way to prevent and get rid of stretch marks. The least expensive way is using stretch mark creams, although some creams cost over $100 for a 6-ounce bottle. Some also try laser treatments, dermabrasion and chemical peel. I've read that drinking a lot of water helps you develop fewer stretch marks since it makes your skin soft, therefore more elastic. It may also help if you eat foods high in zinc, like nuts and fish, and rich in vitamins A and C, like carrots and citrus. However, if stretch marks run in your family, then you'll probably still get them anyway.
I guess no one knows for sure if any of the stretch mark treatments really work, but people just love to try! Check out the top searched stretch mark creams on AOL Search below. Have you tried any of them? If so, did they work for you?
For more information on stretch marks, go to AOL Body and search for stretch marks on AOL Search.
This month's top searched stretch mark creams on AOL Search:
1. Hydroderm
2. Strivectin-SD
3. Mederma
4. Revitol Stretch Mark
5. Zenmed
6. Trilastin-SR
7. StriPeptin
8. Palmer's Cocoa Butter
9. Tummy Honey
10. Vita-k Solution
See sponsored links for: stretch marks treatment, stretch marks creams, laser treatments.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 7)
21. I have stretch marks, on my inner and outer thighs...and they drive me mad! Birth control with high estrogen is the devils work! Mederma definitely doesn't work, I used it for almost two years...no change...cocoa butter doesn't work as a treatment, but it prevents (only if you are consistently hydrated)....Cellex - C on dermadoctor.com is said to work, but its expensive....haven't tried that one yet...Striae is the only one where I started to notice results...they got lighter and skinnier...but they are not gone...but the lotion was honest in saying it minimizes the appearance...Diet and excercise also helped...My fiance says to let it go...but I'm obsessed...I don't understand how they are able to make prosthetic limbs that connect to your nerves to act as real body parts, yet they are unable to find a solution to stretch marks!!!
Posted at 9:19AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Debbie
22. I use BarMon Skin Care. Have used it for years. I DID take away my stretch marks from having 3 kids. It is the only thing that worked on me. I still use it because it is a great moisturizer. Everything else is a joke. Don't waste your money on them! BarMon is available on line if anyone is really interested in getting rid of those ugly things!
Posted at 9:28AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Barbara
23. I've also used Dermelect. It's like Hollywood's secret. I think it comes from England. When I was pregnant all these changes occurred with my body- I guess gaining 45 lbs. didn't help. But I've been using Dermelect successfully now for over a year and it has helped me tone up sagging places. They also have a product called Dermelect Cleavage Contour Cream that specifically tones and supports the breast/chest area. I was skeptical at first but decided to try it and I am so happy I did. They have a great neck cream for crepey necks. Check it out. It's called DERMELECT COSMECEUTICALS. I even got free samples of their anti-aging products when I last ordered. Take my word for it- AMAZINGGGGGG!
Posted at 9:30AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Tracey
24. I'm a nurse and work in a Dermatologists office. I myself have been cursed with stretch marks over 60% of my body. When I was 10 and began playing sports I developed them behind my knees. Hit puberty developed them on my hips and breasts. Had my daughter 15 yrs ago and my belly is completely covered with them. When I started working out to lose the baby weight I developed them on my upper/inner arms, butt, and lower back. Naked I look like a map of the United States Highway System. Theyre are my plague. All of the old stretch marks pre-teen/teen have responded very well and almost vanished after years of cocoa butter and vitamin E. The problem is that stretch marks go beyond the surface of the skin and actually rupture the elastic fibers. If you get these, how severe they are, and how many you get plays largely on genetics & weight.Gaining/losing weight too quickly can cause them as well as childbirth. Keeping skin moisturized with Vitamin E, cocoa butter products, keep hydrated. If stretch marks are new (still red or pink) Retin-A works very well (available by RX). Lastly if you are a caucasian woman you should rejoice because even at theyre freshest your stress marks are not as visible as stretch marks on someone with darker skin. Even old stretch marks on dark skin are visible just due in part to the contrast of color, Tanning doesnt help the darker skinned person. Maybe the best thing we should all do is just take preventative measures and make peace with what we have to be completely comfortable in our skin.
Posted at 9:32AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Carmen
25. With my first pregnancy I used coco butter and some pregnancy stuff I bought at the maternity store to prevent stretchmarks. I started using them before my belly even started growing. I put it on 3 times a day, every day. I didnt have stretchmarks until the last 2 months, then they completely took over my stomach. Nothing helped prevent my stretchmarks, I think it's genetic. I have em REALLY bad and I put tons of junk on my belly!!
Posted at 9:36AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Christy
26. What is the stuff you get in the little green tin container? I think it is cow utter. Not sure but that stuff is the best for stretch marks. You can buy it at any local drug store.
Posted at 9:42AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Melissa
27. I didnt want to make anyone upset but I'm 52 and dont have any stretch marks,I have 3 kids.Its all in what you eat and how well you maintain your body.Know your body inside and out.dont over eat ,eat slow dont think this is your only meal.Kris my daughter is 22 she is only 90# very small but she had a 5#10oz baby and has none either.She used the shea butter.
Posted at 9:42AM on Aug 21st 2007 by lorilyn
28. I never used a Stretch mark creme until recently - I had a child 16 years ago and recently purchased Strivectin SD and my stretch marks on my thighs are starting to disappear. Would highly recommend it.
Posted at 9:45AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Victoria
29. I am 50 years...have had to live with a scar and skin graft on my r. forearm...I have everything is rid myself of the scars...Would like to know is there a products to get rid of scars or make them less conspicous...I have also tried corrective cosmetics...they not too good for hiding scars...Have any suggestions out there ladies or gents...I am tired of wearing long sleeves to hide my embarassment scars. Helena
Posted at 9:56AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Helena
30. Stretch marks are caused by the skin tearing in response to it being stretched quickly and by the skin itself being dry. If your skin is lubricated in some way with any moisturiser that has a concentration of rich ingredients, such as cocoa butter, shea butter, almond or olive oil, it will have a much better chance of the skin just stretching in response to the growing that it is doing, as opposed to tearing. As with all scarring on the skin, if you treat it when it is new then you have a chance of reducing the appearance of it. If the stretch mark is still new( red in appearance) then many over the counter creams will work. St John's Wort is also a really good skin healer. If the scar is white and has been around for longer than 2 years, it is pretty hard to get rid of it. In my 23 years of being in the beauty industry, I have always told my clients to constantly exfoliate and moisturise. This is even more important for pregnant women and teenagers going through a growth spurt. Moisturising will reduce the chances of stretch marks considerably.
Posted at 9:59AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Elizabeth
31. I have had 5 boys and am on my sixth (hopefully my girl). If you haven't tried Mary Kay's Visibly Fit Body Lotion for your stretch marks, I highly recommend it!! I have been using it for the last 3 years, which started with my last pregnancy. I did not get one single stretch mark during that pregnancy and I'd say 80% of the stretch marks I had before that are gone and the rest are less noticable!! Mary Kay is known for there integrity and products that WORK! If you'd like a sample contact me at ayoumans@marykay.com or my website www.marykay.com/ayoumans. Give it a try, you'll be impressed!
Posted at 10:03AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Amy
32. When I had my oldest son 20 yrs ago at the age of 19 I was shocked when I found I had stretch marks. Since I was young and a bit nieve I didn't think to do anything to prevent them since I couldn't see any until I could once again see the bottom part of my belly. I used the solid grease type of cocoa butter every day for about 6 months as well as taking vitamin E and also coating myself in vitamin E oil daily. Even though I had not heard of this and started doing this daily until my son was already 3 years old I did get rid of ALL of my stretch marks in about 6 months. Unfortunately within a month I found I was pregnant with baby number two. This system of taking vitamin E pills daily as well as using vitim E oil and solid grease cocoa butter on skin after each pregnancy worked well for me right up until I had my fourth child at the age of 31. I think the age we are when that child is born makes a big difference as I was 19 for the first baby and in my early to mid 20s for baby number 2 and 3. Of course a healty diet always helps too. I've always had good eating habits that didn't include much as far as junk food, processed foods, or sweets.
Posted at 10:14AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Imfreeee
33. Nothing Works!!!!! I have worked for a dermatologist who worked on my skin type and hundreds of others who used cool touch lasers, skin bleach, retinol A, cooper cream, micro-dermabrasions and injecting botox into deep stretchmarks to fill in the voids, I have used Raw coca butter actually from Africa straight from the cocoa nut. I have also used raw shea butter and jojoba oils. I have tried Palmers coca butter , raw olive oil, coca butter stick, neosporin,strivectin, trilastin(SP). I have tried scrubs and products from all over the world. I have wasted thousands of dollars. I even bought this stupid thing off the internet for forty bucks- some mother who had a home remmdy of drinking water, eating vegetables, and using scrubs on your belly as a fix. I am sad to report nothing has worked ladies. I have learned to accept that this is what my skin looks like and I am beautiful anyway and every guy I know including my fiance does not care. We have to get over ourselves and insecurities. Save all that money and vacation on an island where the women their where their stretch marks as a badge of honor!! You are beautiful if you believe you are!!!!! Love and Peace
Posted at 10:21AM on Aug 21st 2007 by sbenejan07
34. forgive all the spelling errors
Posted at 10:25AM on Aug 21st 2007 by sbenejan07
35. I HIGHLEY recommend Arbonne's Re9 Body System (Serum and Lotion). It stimulates your body's ability to produce its own collagen and elastin giving the skin more strength and elasticity. Great for pregnant women to use on their stomachs and anyone who is experiencing weight gain or loss. You can check it out at www.timeturner.myarbonne.com
Posted at 10:28AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Paola Turner
36. This website has alot of skin care products that actually work.There's products for cellulite, skin toning and firming and they should have something for stretch marks.They also have quick delivery. www.marykay.com/nfrancois7
Posted at 10:29AM on Aug 21st 2007 by papayagurl2002
37. What about a guy like me who is a little over weight...but stretch marks run in the family...?
Posted at 10:38AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Sean
38. I am a member of the stretchmark club, sadly. I was so distressed that I visited a plastic surgeon in beverly hills and I hate to discredit this post but There is no way to get rid of stretch mark that are already there. YOU CAN PREVENT THEM! with these creams. If ur pregnant and dont have any stretch marks yet, but NO there is no magic cream to rub on them to make them go away. The reason why, my doctor explained, is because stretch marks are SCARS UNDER THE SKIN. Not even surgery can help! I have plenty of them and yes it was disheartening... sad... distressing, and all that jazz- but there is nothing you can do once their already there!
Posted at 10:40AM on Aug 21st 2007 by AllStretchedOut
39. Stretch marks run in my family. I used Lay It On Thick/Blue Spa by Bath and Body Works. I didn't get any stretch marks. I have told my pregnant friends about it and they have loved it.
Posted at 10:54AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Ana
40. I just had my second child 7 months ago. I still have stretch marks from my first born and I was determined to do something about them. I found that good ole' Vitamin E works miracles!!!
Posted at 10:54AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Tammy