Stretch Marks PLEASE HELP!

I had my daughter when I was 20.  I am now 24.  It's extremely hard to have the confidence I had.  My body went RIGHT back  to perfect shape but now I have these stretch marks that go from one side to the other about 3 inches long each.  It is SO EMBARRASSING.  I have bought numerous creams but nothing seems to help.  I have not gone to see a dermatologist yet and this is my last stop.  I don't have health ins.  WITHOUT going to one can you recommend anything I can do for marks that are 4 years old?  And if so, will it diminish it altogether or only fade?

Is there ANYTHING I can do (even if I have to see a derma) that could rid them completely?

PLEASE HELP!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Your symptoms are suggestive of striae or stretch marks. Stretch marks can appear when there is rapid stretching of the skin like in pregnancy.They occur because the collagen and elastin that bind your skin are stressed during weight gain, resulting in tears in your skin's elastic fibers.

There is no specific care for stretch marks.The marks often will disappear after the cause of the skin stretching is gone.Eat healthy ,nutritious food ,drink plenty of fluids and do moderate exercises. Laser therapy, topical medications and dermabrasion, alone or in combination have all been shown to be effective in diminishing the appearance of stretch marks.The advertised antimarks creams have no proof of effectiveness.

I feel that you should consult a cosmetologist and discuss the option of laser therapy with him.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep us posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.

[miamammi0616]

They def. did not go away once the cause went away.  The day after my daughter my body bounced back... I am 5'4, 120 lbs and exercise regularly.. haha.  

But I will take your advice about seeing a professional.  But I am confused?  I see a cosmetologist?  I thought they only assisted in beautification?  And if not what is the difference between A Cosmo and a Derma?

Thanks so much for your quick reply!