As I’ve stated before here, I’m a big ol’ fat guy and I have big ol’ fat friends.
And several of us are wondering what a good product would be for healing stretch marks. If anyone can recommend a good product OR a site that compares products, I’d appreciate it.
Short version? There aren’t any creams that have been proven to heal already-existing stretch marks. You can soften them with any brand of over-the-counter moisturizer, cocoa butter, Vaseline Intensive Care, etc., but basically you’re stuck with them. They’re actually scarring, and there isn’t a cream that will heal scarring. You can possibly minimize potential scarring while you’re gaining the weight (i.e. while you’re pregnant, that is, if you were pregnant 
) by moisturizing aggressively, but it’s not aimed at totally preventing stretch marks, just at minimizing the ones you’re bound to inevitably get.
Says the woman who’s been through three pregnancies and has the stretch marks to prove it. [sigh]
My understanding is that stretch marks are like any other scar. It goes below the surface of the skin and is the result of actual tearing of the tissue. Time can help, but all those other products are just moisturizer.
Of course, if a medical person comes along and proves me wrong, you should probably go with what they say.
One of my friends asks- Why is it that there are products that have testimonies & photos & endorsements that show amazing results? That seems to indicate there are products that get some results.
Does anyone know any product review sites that examines and rates products that at least treats stretch marks?
Do you buy the penile enhancement products that doubtless flood your spam email box?
Because PhotoShop is easy to use, and some people will believe anything. The good news about stretch marks is that they fade with time, to near-invisibility in many cases.
Ha! I have no idea why I have stretch marks, but I do, all over my hips. I barely even have hips! They’re very obvious, even on my geek-white skin. I’d pretend they’re tiger stripes, but they’re the wrong color.
Go to Google or Google Scholar and use the term “striae distensae” to get decent data.
Some prescription creams, alone and with surgical intervention (laser is one intervention) have shown to cause some improvement.
Er, let me amend my prior statement to, “For SOME people, they fade to nothing.” :smack:
Also, thanks, Qadgop.
LOL!
Yeah- after I sent that & went past the Edit time I realize I forgot to add this-
One of my friends asks- Why is it that there are products that have testimonies & photos & endorsements that show amazing results? That seems to indicate there are products that get some results. (I know, I know.)