Stretch marks

[elinka999]

I know that many people here might have this problem, it usually happens when the weight drops down. I started to lose weight, and I am now using shea butter on my skin, but I still can see that I have so many stretch marks. Can I hope that somehow it will improve because of the raw diet? (I am 30)
Overall, I'll apreciate if you share with me what kind of positive changes in what time I might expect?

[DavidZaneMason]

-Improved skin tone is definitely CAN be a benefit...along with reduced weight, better skin elasticity, improved circulation, better metabolism, improved healing, greater energy, etc. These items...along with increased cardio-vascular exercise , pure water, and reasonable sunlight on the skin and eyes will maximize your chances to heal and ameliorate stretch marks. Don't you think? Focus on your most passionate endeavors - and trust your heart.

-David Z. Mason

[Firicia]

Hey right now I am dealing with stretch marks too. I actually got some on my tummy, I am 22 and now I can't wear a bikini on my vacation!:eek:

Anyways I having been trying Vitamin E Oil, and coconut butter, so far it's helping, not sure how long until they go away though.

Best of luck.

[elinka999]

:) Thanks, good luck to you too.

[crystalmoon]

I have many stretch marks from having 3 pregnancies & they have faded loads with time & are barely visible now (my last pregnancy was at 31).

I am also concerned about getting new stretch marks & having awful baggy hangy skin if I lose all the weight I need to shift...this is one of the major blocks I have with staying raw...I start to lose weight rapidly on a raw diet then panic about how I will look if I continue to lose weight & go back to cooked vegan & regain all the weight. SIGH
It sounds 'mad' & its driving me crazy but its my 'reality' at the moment so Im trying to work through it by concentrating on health benefits of RAW instead of weightloss.

As Im 42 I reckon my skin may struggle to repair itself...as you guys are 22 & 30 I reckon you have a really good chance of everything healing really well.

[Bananna]

Well in my first pregnancy I remember laying every night on my back with no blankets because my belly was coated in some oil for stretch marks or another...designed to prevent them, and heal them supposedly. Didn't work. So I switched to more expensive creams, I was so dedicated and nothing worked. The good news is they do fade over time, and the only other good news is that they are really common, so as much as you may feel awful about it, there is always someone within arms length, dealing with them too.

You are right about the weight loss...I used to keep myself at a very trim 120 (5'6) and when I would lean forward it was just like an empty pouch...so depressing. My friends daughter made us all laugh, I guess they had a bath together and her daughter asked her if her boobs were falling off! ...ahaha, funny in a depressing kinda way...she's really pretty and thin.
Guess that's why there is such a market for tummy tucks and implants?

Anyways, I did see an advertisement once for a laser type of treatment for them, can't remember what it was called, but they were showing before and afters, like the women were pulling there after skin to show how much tighter is was and how reduced the lines were. I was impressed. But not cheap and requires several treatments, and if you have another baby, they'll come right back again...and ofcourse, lasers haven't had the extensive safety verifications that are preferred....which, actually wouldn't mean much to me anyway, lol.
So...I don't think there is much you can do about stopping them, other than not gaining too much weight in the first place, and once they are there I would find it very hard to believe that any cream or food would make them magically repair.
I'm not afraid to lose weight though, but I am not going to go down to the scant 120...even though I'd look great with clothes ON...130 is fine...ha, look at me fantasizing. We'll see.

[MiahTay]

I agree with Rasiaca. They do fade to a white color but the texture of the skin although I believe it can improve with RAW I don't know if they will "go away". I have had them for about 15 years and have researched extensively (and look about once a year for new technology/treatment) and even though it looks like laser might work ... the more you read, it looks like they minimize them also. So ... hmmmm, if anyone finds something that does REALLY work count me IN!

Heather

[RawHeaven]

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[Bananna]

Ya...besides, bikinis are over rated...aren't they? Or if they're all below your belly button you could probably find a two piece that'd cover them.
But ya, they aren't THAT bad...maybe you could make friends with them. Name them? ...or is that way to out of your comfort zone ...,lol, sorry had to say it.

[Vivafree2]

I had my first strech marks when i was twenty something - it didn't stop me from posing to the swimsuit magazine:)
Now i am twice the size, have cellulitis and would love to have the skin I had in my 20 and the body i had. I just try to say that health and loosing weight is superior to skin imperfections.
Shea butter helps me, msm and massage - the apperance that is. Skin is elastic it can improve - especially on raw!!!!

[Carlsbad]

I had stretch marks even when I was skinny, just because I went through a really rapid growth spurt in high school. I got new ones last year because of being overweight (a different kind of rapid growth!), but they faded to white very quickly once I started raw. Dry skin brushing helped a lot with that, and has visibly reduced my cellulite too. From what I've read, it takes about two years for your skin to heal and regain its elasticity after you lose a lot of weight, and I know that the before and after pics of raw fooders have a lot less saggy skin than people who have lost weight through SAD diets or exercise. My plan is to continue to skin brush, and to give my body time to heal and see where I end up. So far, I've been pleased. And I don't mind the white stretch marks. You'd have to be really really close to see them anyway, and anybody who's getting that close will be someone who already loves me!

[Anastasia Alston]

I hadn't thought about my stretch marks until seeing this thread! Well, I knew they were there & weren't a big deal to me (thus my not thinking about them); I wore a bikini anyway. I've lost a lot of weight in a very short time (from 180# when I went raw to 135# 4 months later.) I've been raw now 7 months & just for kicks, I checked in on my girlfriends the stretch marks last night. I am quite stunned to say that they have almost disappeared!!! :eek: I don't miss them or anything, but I am really surprised since some of them have been with me since me early teens (I'm 40 now.) My cellulite has all but disappeared as well. So I suppose anything can happen when you go raw! Or maybe I just lucked out...

- Stasi, Pea Pod (Morab), Rosie Cotton & Binnabik (the Pibble Posse)