Stretch Mark Help?

[heater]

I had my baby girl 9 weeks ago, and while the stretch marks on my belly aren't too bad, I've been researching different creams. I used shea butter with lavender oil throughout my pregnancy, I know that it's all hereditary, but I got a few of them at the very end.
I was going to buy Strivectin, but it's very expensive, so I thought that I would do some research online to try and find something else.
Two very popular ones seem to be Revitol and Trilastin. I am thinking of trying the Revitol because it seems to be the most cost effective.
Does anyone have any input?

[Sol]

Originally Posted by heater

I had my baby girl 9 weeks ago, and while the stretch marks on my belly aren't too bad, I've been researching different creams. I used shea butter with lavender oil throughout my pregnancy, I know that it's all hereditary, but I got a few of them at the very end.
I was going to buy Strivectin, but it's very expensive, so I thought that I would do some research online to try and find something else.
Two very popular ones seem to be Revitol and Trilastin. I am thinking of trying the Revitol because it seems to be the most cost effective.
Does anyone have any input?

Congratulations on your new beebee!!!!
I never have had a baby, but years ago before the discovery of all of the new creams etc., my friends who had babies swore by vitamin E capsules. They would break them open and apply the contents of the capsule on their stretch marks.

[JameyBano]

I got tons of stretch marks with Adam---they will fade after time! I went to a plastic surgeon to see what he could do. He said that if he could do something to completely get rid of stretch marks, he would have to keep his office open 24/7! He also said that most men do not care about them, and are only happy enough to be close enough to see them!
Congrats on the birth of your precious baby girl!

[MMandm]

Originally Posted by JameyBano

I got tons of stretch marks with Adam---they will fade after time! I went to a plastic surgeon to see what he could do. He said that if he could do something to completely get rid of stretch marks, he would have to keep his office open 24/7! He also said that most men do not care about them, and are only happy enough to be close enough to see them!
Congrats on the birth of your precious baby girl!

Guilty as charged!

[Kellyk]

Congrats on the new baby!!!

I've never had a baby, but being in the skin care biz and seeing as how there is a baby boom going on, I've seen and heard all the remedies. I would imagine that the new stuff Strivectin et al (go for the SD with spf) would be an excellent choice. The oligo-peptides (seaweeds) strengthen and heal, bilberry and licorice lighten and there are several other skin strengtheners in there. Most of the over the counter scar and stretchmark products are zinc with a few other things added. Zinc will help heal soft tissue damage and it's an absolute must when you get back in a bathing suit as that tissue is very easily discolored by the sun. But zinc alone isn't going to lighten are lessen stretchmarks. If you are breast feeding make sure you have your dr check out the ingredients for safety etc.

Vitamin E isn't really used straight out of the capsule anymore since plastic surgeons stopped recommending it...seems it actually retards healing in some cases. But Vit E along with cocoa butter etc would a great thing to rub down with as a preventative as the tummy grows to keep the skin supple. ...but we're past that here.

There are other treatments as well if you feel that they're really bad. Cool laser and LED light therapies produce some great results without the hot laser pain. Look around at some more progressive spas in the area that may be performing these therapies and get a consultation.

Good luck!!

EDIT: a couple more points and I'll shut up

Do NOT use anything with alpha hydroxy acids that are more than about 4% and don't let someone talk you into doing a peel on them. They actually can cause inflamation within the cells that will increase the discoloration. Besides...aha's are mostly exfoliants and that tissue doesn't need exfoliation..don't know why they put it in scar trt creams

Also be aware that most 'post inflamitory hyperpigmention" (I love using big terms) can take several months to fade...just be patient and don't over-treat the area.

Okay...that's all.

[Sol]

Originally Posted by Kellyk

Congrats on the new baby!!!

I've never had a baby, but being in the skin care biz and seeing as how there is a baby boom going on, I've seen and heard all the remedies. I would imagine that the new stuff Strivectin et al would be an excellent choice. The oligo-peptides (seaweeds) strengthen and heal, bilberry and licorice lighten and there are several other skin strengtheners in there. Most of the over the counter scar and stretchmark products are zinc with a few other things added. Zinc will help heal soft tissue damage and it's an absolute must when you get back in a bathing suit as that tissue is very easily discolored by the sun. But zinc alone isn't going to lighten are lessen stretchmarks. If you are breast feeding make sure you have your dr check out the ingredients for safety etc.

Vitamin E isn't really used straight out of the capsule anymore since plastic surgeons stopped recommending it...seems it actually retards healing in some cases. But Vit E along with cocoa butter etc would a great thing to rub down with as a preventative as the tummy grows to keep the skin supple. ...but we're past that here.

There are other treatments as well if you feel that they're really bad. Cool laser and LED light therapies produce some great results without the hot laser pain. Look around at some more progressive spas in the area that may be performing these therapies and get a consultation.

Good luck!!

Great information and thanks for the update on Vit E.

[Kellyk]

Originally Posted by Sol

Great information and thanks for the update on Vit E.

I know some people swear by it and my dad had massive burns on his face years ago that can't be seen at all and all he did was vit e caps. But the plastics are really stressing to patients NOT to use it on scarring, deep peels, after laser resurfacing...etc. Who knew?

[heater]

thank you for all of the helpful info. i'll let you know what i decide on, and how it works.