# How do you get rid of stretch marks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2001, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819 "2001-07-01T06:40:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IE425](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e274bd/32.png) [@IE425](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IE425)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/1 "2001-07-01T06:40:17Z")
Well its weird saying this but oh well. I’m 15 and well…big. But you see there are people bigger than me with no stretch marks…but I seem to have quite a lot of them. Is there anyway I can get rid of these? A Cream? Anything! Its very embarassing to go swimming or anything of that sort. It really brings me down about myself. I am trying to lose the weight but I dont think they go away when the weight goes. Thanks 🙂 Dan ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/2 "2001-07-01T06:56:26Z")
They fade with time but they won’t ever go completely. Some people are more prone to them than others. They are caused beneath the skin so applying a topical cream does nothing. Mine were horrendous after the birth of my second son. They’re not too bad now although I won’t be modelling bikinis any time soon, Rapid weight loss and gain can exacerbate them so slow weight loss is desirable ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/3 "2001-07-01T13:09:16Z")
Actually, most doctors now believe that their cause is hormonal rather than thru a “stretching” of the skin. But it is true that they don’t ever go away, although they do fade a bit with time. And they can really look neato when you get a sunburn. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/4 "2001-07-04T20:31:45Z")
I got mine during a growth spurt when I was a youngster. The redness went away after a few months, and now they don’t show if you’re not looking for them. They’ll never go away. Don’t waste your money on hokey hormone creams. ---
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/5 "2001-07-04T21:17:32Z")
I have a question about that. I have a big Hawaiin friend who has stretch marks. They are long light lines. He said it was from growing fast. Then I went to Oregon Football Camp and went up against this HUGE black guy. I mean this guy was the size of a pro. I was talking with him later(he both go to private schools and were discussing that) and noticed he too had stretch marks. I was just wondering can white people get these as well? And is it just growing larger than your frame intended you to be? Thanks, Matt Shepard ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/6 "2001-07-04T21:23:59Z")
Yes, white people can get them too. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/7 "2001-07-04T21:29:23Z")
I’m caucasian, and I have one stretch mark, it is right where the seatbelt used to sit against my belly. I used to draw my seatbelt really tight, back in the days before selfadjusting belts (this was on a '67 Dodge Dart). I don’t know if that’s really what you meant, though. I do, however, have a 100% guaranteed, all natural herbal cure for stretch marks. For your first month’s supply, send $500 in cash (no money orders or checks please) to: Stretch Mark Cure Behind the broken tile Third stall from the left Women’s restroom Terminal A42 O’Hare Airport Chicago, Il ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/8 "2001-07-05T02:46:34Z")
I like to think of stretch marks as God’s own tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/9 "2001-07-05T03:04:01Z")
I’ve got a few stretch marks on my back, from a growth spurt. They don’t really bother me, because I never see them. I would be interested to know if there was an easy way to get rid of them though. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/70819/10 "2001-07-05T06:29:04Z")
They never go away, but they do fade. I had a friend of mine telling me that she is so upset over finding one stinkin stretch mark. I told her to come back and let me know what she thought she looked like after five children. My husband calls them badges of honor. I call them ugly. But most of the time I forget that they are there anymore. Oh, and as for the sunburn part. My first day out in the summer every year, they are the first thing to burn.