Stretch Marks: Dealing with Cracked Skin

Look, let’s cut to the chase here. I don't care about the specific reasons behind it—whether we're talking about weight gain, rapid growth spurts, or just heavy bodybuilding progress...
In my particular situation, it's all down to my height; I'm standing at 6'4", which is pretty much permanent, but I've ended up with these stretch marks right where my massive chest muscles meet my arms—more towards the side of the arm, actually.
So, I wanted to reach out and see if anyone here has dealt with this. What works? Are we looking at topical creams, specific dietary changes, or something else entirely?
I'm talking to everyone here—expectant mothers, bodybuilders, whoever. Just looking for some real-world advice.
Thanks,😘

I’ve got a couple of those Aphrodite creams specifically for stretch marks—there's a night version and a morning one. To be honest, I haven't actually tried them yet, so I have no clue if they even work... I also have some jojoba oil lying around, and according to the label, it's supposed to help with stretch marks too. I've applied it to my backside a few times, but I tend to forget most of the time, so I can't really say how effective it is either. Though, if I'm being honest, it does feel like they might be looking a little less noticeable lately...

Man, if you aren't careful, your skin is just going to crack right open and leave you looking like a roadmap.
All these fancy creams and various little trinkets they sell us... sure, they might soften things up and give your skin some elasticity, but don't go thinking those lines are ever actually going to vanish. They won't. The only thing that happens is they fade slightly over time—looking more like a collection of polished seashells from a trip to Malibu, mmm, just lovely... 😍 😍

I was thinking perhaps some kind of laser eye surgery or something similar might be the way to go.

So, here’s a few tips—nothing's been tested on me personally, so take it with a grain of salt, but some of this stuff actually works for people I know. One former pregnant lady swears by Johnson & Johnson cream (I think it's an American brand, or maybe just sounds like one), while someone else is obsessed with Aphrodite stretch mark cream... personally, though, I’d probably suggest almond oil, or even better, wheat germ oil. That one smells a bit like damp bread, if I'm being honest, but you could always toss in some lavender to fix the scent. And by the way, it helps with stretch marks and a whole bunch of other things too 🙏
The unfortunate reality is that a lot of it just comes down to your skin type; some people just get them no matter how much they pamper themselves. Since we're talking about deep cracks in the skin, maybe it's just one long stretch where the skin wasn't getting enough nourishment from the outside or the inside.
Anyway, I've had mine for years now and I've kind of grown to love my "seventeen" booty. If you can't beat 'em... 😍

Maybe try Googling strije site:reddit.com..

quietstag49 said:You could try some of those Aphrodite creams for stretch marks—they have a night version and a day version. To be honest, I haven't actually tried them myself, so I can't vouch for their effectiveness. You might also look into jojoba oil; I keep some on hand, and the label claims it works for stretch marks too. I’ve applied it to my backside a few times, though I tend to forget most days, so I’m really not sure how much of a difference it makes. That said, it does feel like they might be looking a little less prominent lately.

If you need someone to remind you, I’m happy to volunteer to rub your butt for you! 😁 hahaha

Stretch marks happen because your skin lacks collagen. You can prevent them, but once they show up, you're stuck looking at ways to fade them—mostly through those creams and oils mentioned above, or maybe some laser therapy...

So, how on earth does one actually go about getting some collagen?

If you're dealing with stretch marks as bad as mine—honestly—your only real option is a full skin graft. Sorry...

mellowmaker16 said:So, how do you actually get collagen?

You can trigger type I collagen production—the kind needed for skin elasticity—using various creams or oils found at places like CVS, Walgreens, or Whole Foods. Stick to Vitamin E, A, or zinc. Just walk into a pharmacy and ask; they'll point you toward whatever you need.👍

I ended up with stretch marks both during my growth spurts and after my pregnancy. I guess my skin just isn't built for stretching!
I was applying creams like there was no tomorrow while I was pregnant, but honestly, nothing worked. So, you can take all those claims that you need to buy half the inventory at CVS to see results—they're totally wrong!
My mother-in-law had two kids and doesn't have a single stretch mark on her entire body! Now *that* is what I call great skin.
At the end of the day, you just have to accept them; there are definitely much bigger things to worry about than a few marks on your skin.

Melissa Perez10 said:I got stretch marks during my growth spurts and again after pregnancy. Some skin just isn't elastic.
I went overboard with creams while pregnant, but it was useless. Save your money; all those drugstore products aren't a magic fix.
My mother-in-law had two kids and doesn't have a single mark on her body. That’s what real skin looks like.
Just accept them. There are worse things to deal with.

True, but he isn't pregnant. Hormones can tank your collagen production during pregnancy—though genetics plays a role too.

Sure, you can prevent new ones or fade old ones slightly, but saying they don't work is like saying you shouldn't brush your teeth because some people get cavities regardless.

I should probably just mention—and I say this quite gently—that stretch marks can actually be triggered by an excess of corticosteroids, whether those are your own body's natural production or something taken externally.

mellowmaker16 said:So, how exactly do we get more collagen?

So, I was reading this article yesterday—honestly, it was kind of a slog to get through—but basically, it said that upping your Vitamin C intake can help kickstart collagen production on its own. Like, you don't necessarily need to go out and spend a fortune at CVS or Walgreens buying every supplement under the sun. I mean, I've always felt like our bodies just absorb stuff way better from actual food rather than some random pill, you know? Apparently, there are certain enzymes in tropical fruits like pineapple, kiwi, and grapefruit that help out. Even just sticking to regular American staples like strawberries, blackberries, cherries, oranges, or lemons should do the trick. So yeah, I guess mellowmaker16 hit the nail on the head!🙂

Honestly, I’m at a loss for words here.
I’m feeling incredibly on edge today, and even these damn skin breakouts are pushing me over the limit.
To be perfectly blunt, everything is getting under my skin right now.
It looks like I might actually need to go see a dermatologist.

I feel kind of terrible even complaining about stretch marks... thank God it’s nothing serious, really...🙂
But I figured I'd ask anyway—anyone here who actually deals with them? I heard there might be some early-stage ones you can actually fix. Is that true? And if so, how?
Mine turned white almost immediately instead of staying red. If anyone knows why that happens or how to handle it... thanks.

So I’m reading up on laser hair removal... anyone here actually gone through with it? Where did you go, and what's the damage to the wallet?