Any hope to get rid of these awful stretch marks (pic included)?

[Maria53]

Over the past year I have put on weight, from a size 12 to 14. Recently I have joined the gym and started feeling healthier so wasn't feeling too worried...

But then I noticed these awful stretch marks this morning!! I'm currently single & while my confidence is higher than it has been in other ways I genuinely can't imagine letting a man see me like this and therefore think I need to just shelve dating for a while.

I get a decent amount of attention with clothes on and felt bodily confident a couple of years ago. But this makes me feel hideous and guilty for gaining the weight. Is there any hope to minimise the horrendous appearance or is that it now?

I don’t think they are nearly as bad as you make out OP.

No @severalboxes of course I wouldn't reject a man based on that. My most recent ex had a lot of scarring on his back actually. Didn't alter my feelings at all.

And yep if I have a baby I know what's going to happen!

Will come back to you about the gel later @Starfish83

They're normal OP and what men think is not the be and end all. Their value judgement isnt necessary or worthwhile if their expectations are aa ridiculous as that.

They will fade and become less red over time. I doubt there is anyone over the age of 12 who doesn't have stretch marks of some kind. I only noticed I had some silvery ones recently on my bum when I caught them in certain light. They've probably been there for years and I'll be changing nothing about what I wear and door how often I undress.

I don't think any topical application will get rid of them and the industry supporting the fact we all should try in vain is not a friend to women. Your body is exactly the same as or was before you noticed them if you lied it then then like it now, they're just minor skin marks.

Clarins do a lotion for stretch marks: noticed it when ordering something else, but you could have a look at the reviews on their website.

Fake tan/ spray tan/body blur would disguise the marks.

@Starfish83 this is what I ordered - www.amazon.co.uk/Aroamas-Advanced-Medical-Grade-C-Sections-Clinically/dp/B07TZT1VNP/ref=mp_s_a_1_3dchild=1&keywords=silicone+scar+gel&qid=1584483909&sprefix=silicome+sca&sr=8-3?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Started using it tonight so we'll see if it makes a difference. Have to say the current crisis has made me worry a bit less....

Please don’t waste any more money on topical treatments. I can’t emphasise this enough. Stretch marks are so deep in the layers of your skin that logically if anything could penetrate to help them, then all sorts of chemicals and toxins could also penetrate and poison us. Bio Oil is the biggest con on the planet. It’s marketing plays on people’s insecurities and it has zero active ingredients, making it no better than rubbing chip fat on yourself. Scar gels are for raised scars on the surface of the skin, caused by actual wounds.

Don’t let a few small marks make you so sad about your body. As my granny used to say, “People who matter don’t mind and people who mind don’t matter”! Don’t let your self esteem be tied up in attention from men - is that the sort of validation you really need anyway?

It isn't really about the men now I think about it. There are no 2 ways about it - the scars are new, purple and ugly. There are no 2 ways about it. I hate looking in the mirror now, which even 2 months ago I would never have said. And it is all tied up with the fact I have gained weight and feel shame about that too.

There were people with stretch marks reviewing the gel too. You are probably right that it will make no difference but it makes me feel better psychologically so that's enough. Might be a waste of money but oh well.

Look into carboxy therapy.

OP by the time you can meet anyone socially without worrying about catching Corona Virus those marks will have faded. Was going to send you a picture of my stomach I had massive angry looking ones all over my stomach post my last pregnancy, but they are now so faded they I can't get a picture to show them.

I'll echo what others have said I've had stretch marks since growth spurts as a teen. I have had plenty of men try and get my clothes off the ones that were successful never asked me to put them back on because I have stretch marks and some have even come back for more 😉