I have stretch marks on my stomach, mostly near my belly button, but I learned to just deal with it. I try and moisturize it all the time now to help prevent stretch marks I guess. I'm not really into all the creams or oils or anything of the sort, I think I'm just too cheap if anything.LOL. But at the same time, the stretch marks I do have are that white color and blend in with my skin pretty well.

I've been researching fraxel laser procedures and apparently peple have gotten positive results. Docs. have used it to treat acne and surgical scars but found a 'side effect' is the rebuilding of collagen in the deep layers of skin. Well what do you know, strecth marks is the breakdown of collagen deep in the layers of skin. Long story short, doctors started using fraxel lasers to treat stretch marks and have achieved some favorable results. Also, The laser's 'grade' makes it suitable for all skin types.

Only drawbacks, fraxel lasers aren't FDA approved to treat stretch marks just yet (they're working on this apparently) only things like acne and surgical scars. Also, it could take up to 6 treatments to get great results at around $600 per treatment.

I so sound like a sales person, and I pray i'm not giving false hope but I'm definately looking into getting some treatments once I get the cash. Do a youtube search on fraxel laser for stretch marks and there are some news stories on the process and results.

I totally feel you all on this one. I'm 25, and even being young, from the lifelong weight fluctuations I have them on my stomach, breasts, underneath upper arms, etc. Only good news is they have all faded to skin tone/ whitish. At one point though my stomach looked like someone raked razor sharp nails straight down my stomach they were bright red and LONG. I'm hoping once I lose weight, if I can get to the size/shape I want, since they are so faded it won't really bother me so much. Maybe I'm just overly optimistic

Even laser treatments don't get rid of stretch marks...they just fade the coloring...but so does time. The only way to truly get rid of them is to have them surgically removed, and sometimes the placement of them makes that an impossibility as well. Any stretch marks above your belly button will not go away with a tummy tuck.

I had some vicious stretch marks after having DS1 two years ago, they are faded completely now and I haven't picked up any new ones on my stomach with this pregnancy (just on the sides of my boobs).

Moisture, a tan and time do wonders for the appearance of stretch marks. Just be patient.

Tons of people have stretch marks. I have quite a few on my hips. It is somewhat genetic but you gotta remember that skin is an organ and can only stretch and go back so far. The best thing is prevention. While losing weight you should be using shea butter and olive oil on the skin to aid its elasticity. Once stretch marks are there, they are gonna stay but they do fade significantly over time.

As others have said, let those stretch marks be a badge of honor and allow them to remind you of how far you have come and how hard you had to work to get that weight off.

I have sm's all over my body from having kids and gaining and losing weight. I have come to accept them and they have faded a lot. I agree that a tan can help a lot.

I've heard Vick's Vapor rub can make them less apparent for a short time.
I've never tried it, though.

I use bio-oil on my stomach and they have really faded over the past few months- they were bright red for ages and this stuff barely started being sold here like what two years ago? I think it's a european product- I love it- and it smells good too

Well I have had great success with using pure triple grade EMU oil on my scars. It does not completely remove them, but it does help to reduce the appearance of them.

This weekend I will be making a fresh batch of goat milks lotion and hopefully a new batch of Jack Frost goat milk soap as well. It all depends on how cranky my shoulder wants to be.

I find working with my hobbies helps me to focus better on my diet goals, because it creates a terrific distraction. Best of wishes for your diet goals as well.

I have them all over my stomach, back, arms, some on my legs. I thought I just had freakish skin that got so many ALL over...usually I just read women getting them on their stomach. The ones on my upper arms were pretty bad a few years ago...I actually had a guy I was dating think I cut myself or had some medical issue they were there - even after explaining I gained/lost alot of weight and it's just something women get. Since then I've been even more self conscious about them.

The ones on my arms have faded a bit just using alot of creams and scrubs. I have this exfoliating scruby washcloth/towel from the bodyshop and if I scrub hard (dry brushing and in the shower) enough they kinda go away temporarily, I get lazy and don't use it as often, maybe if I did they would go away more.

I can't even use self tanner on them because the tanner doesn't seem to color them the same as regular skin...anyone else have this problem?

Are there any creams that aren't so greasy to use? Things like pure cocoa butter, oils...they are greasy and don't absorb too much into the skin.

I was thinking once I reach my goal weight of going the tattoo route as well, atleast for the upper arm ones. Atleast maybe having the tattoos there would prevent me from regaining for fear of messing them up/stretching them.

darn..when I saw this topic, I was hoping there was a miracle cure I have them, but like most... I see them as battle scars of what I'm working to get away from

I used a cream from avon in a purple tube...I don't remember the name. It's like a combination to help with stretch marks and cellulite. I didn't even use it exactly how the bottle said and I noticed a difference(took awhile). You cannot make stretch marks go away completely. Mine faded with my skin. I still have some though. I want to try that bio oil. If it doesn't help I will buy another tube of that avon stuff.