Embrace Your Stretch Marks

By Sophie

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Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror and suddenly become fixated on these purple or white linear bands that are on your body? Have you ever questioned what they are, why you have them and how to get rid of them?
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Stretch marks are very common among the population; up to 90% of women have them. They may appear anywhere on the body but most people have them on their hips, thighs, back, abdomen and arms. They develop after your body has been through some rapid changes, so whether you’ve grown up fast during puberty or gained/lost weight. So, when the elastin and collagen in our skin rupture, they create these marks which at first appear as purple and then become white with time.

So, these physical changes can affect your mental state, how you perceive yourself and your self-esteem.

The first stretch marks I saw on my body were on my thighs and calves and they immediately made me self-conscious. I wouldn’t wear skirts, shorts or dresses for eight years, unless it was in winter as I would wear tights underneath. I thought people who gained weight fast only had this problem and I felt ashamed of myself for letting my body reach such a point.

I tried several serums to make them go away but nothing worked. This caused me to lose my money, time and energy (yes, applying serums/creams/oils twice a day for two months can be quite time consuming and tiring!).

However, I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to open up about this topic I considered sensitive with my friends. Most of my friends are skinnier than I am and I wasn’t sure whether they would even understand where I’m coming from. But, to my surprise, they did. We chatted about this for long hours and I understood that any person can have stretch marks and that they are normal.

Through this conversation, I learned more about my friends and also discovered that Stretch marks can be anywhere on your body. This made me feel more comfortable and I didn’t even feel embarrassed talking about this subject because it’s something very common and normal. 

This boosted my confidence and being surrounded by people who are understanding, benevolent and in the same boat as I was helped me a lot.
 
I believe that it takes time to understand that stretch marks are more common than you ever thought and the more bodies you’ll see, the more you’ll grasp that.
Here are some tips to help you handle stretch marks:

• Don’t be afraid to discuss them. It’s possible that other friends would have loved the subject to be brought up but were afraid to talk about it first. So, open the door to discuss; share your thoughts and feelings.
• Purple-coloured stretch marks mean that some creams or for instance Bio Oil might still work to make them less visible but will not remove them completely. However, once they become white, they are there to stay.
• Stretch marks are slowly becoming normalized and celebrities are starting to show them off. Some call them tiger stripes which make them sound cute and fierce at the same time!
• Remember to take care of your body; don’t blame it for having such scars because your body is what keeps you moving every day.

Remember, the majority of people walking on this planet have stretch marks. They can appear anywhere on your body and usually when you have fast physical changes. I would suggest naming them tiger lines as this might help you feel empowered and strong.

Even though each body is different, stretch marks are pretty much the same, no matter how lonely you feel, know that you are most probably in the same boat as everyone else!