[MERGED] All About Stretch Marks

[Ira]

If you mean stretch marks on the tummy, it's usually due to weight gain. Those lines will fade (but not totally disappear) with time AND exercise.

[BODACIOUS]

Do males have stretch marks? What are the causes of why one gets to have these? I've noticed that my male friends have. How do they get to remove this? Thanks!!

[ayeee]

ira :

how about sa butt... di ba?
any suggestions ..i want it gone..

tnx

[Ira]

The ones in the butt (streaky ones?) are probably cellulite. Unfortunately, they're almost impossible to remove. The only way would be starting spot exercises for your buttocks.

[BODACIOUS]

Doc Ira: HAPPY BIRTHDAY

How about those stretch marks at the back of the knee & a little just below the butt? Are these normal places for stretch marks to appear on a male's body. Most of my male friends have these. Kinda eeeky to look at.

[ayeee]

happy bday ira.... =>;

shockss....
*** exercise wld u suggest?

tnx

[Ira]

Thanks for the birthday greets.

Bodacious, I am not quite sure what you mean by stretch marks on males. It's not cellulite--males don't develop cellulite, lucky for them! I have to see them first. If they're fat or they recently gained weight, maybe it's fat tissues lang.

Some exercises which may help trim the buttocks and thighs may be found in this link: http://www.phys.com/fitness/thighbutt / . Swimming and stretching exercises are good, too. Cellulites are not easy to remove--don't believe in lotions/pills which claim to remove them, and don't expect a 100% disappearance. It takes exercise and a good diet, drinking lots of liquid, and a regular massage (at least 5 mins.) on the problem areas to make them shrink.

[This message has been edited by Ira (edited 02-29-2000).]

[Mister Dean]

Doc Ira, I read a book a few years back called "Callanetics," written by some woman named Calla or something. In it, she recommended a series of exercises that are supposed to tone down certain parts of your body. In the foreword, though, she spoke of other doctors' warnings that spot reduction is virtually impossible to do.

Is this so? Is spot reduction truly impossible? You posted earlier that it is posssible, yet I'm thinking about the physical possibilities and it does seem rather odd or, at the very least, difficult. I lost weight during that period but it didn't appear to come from any particular parts of my body.

Your thoughts?

[Ira]

Hi, Dean! My personal experience is that spot exercises worked for me when I wanted to firm up my thighs and legs. Spot exercises help in the sense that it will increase muscle bulk in a particular area, and that in turn can make skin look tighter--but spot exercises are useless when used as a way to lose weight in a certain area--could that be what Calla meant by spot "reduction"? I personally haven't heard of the belief that it's almost impossible to firm up a part by spot-exercising, though. If you remember why, I'd appreciate a note.

[TaRiRaY]

dr. ira: i'm 5'8 and my weight is less than a 100 lbs. i was just wonderin why i have strecth marks in my butt. i heard people say that you get stretch marks if you lose weight, but i'm thin even before i got taller. my friend even told me that it will soon disappear once i gain weight.what do u think is the reason. is it bcoz i'm tall that's why i have these marks? i really want to get rid of it. any suggestions. thank you for the help.
happy birthday! (actually, i really dnt know the exact date coz im new here)



[This message has been edited by TaRiRaY (edited 03-02-2000).]

[harley quinn]

Isn't cellulite just another term for fatty tissue? If so, why can't overweight males get them? Just wonderin'.

[Ira]

Cellulite is partially composed of fat but is not the same as fat. It is an accumulation of fat, fluid and toxins trapped into a hardenednetwork of elastin and collagen fibres in the deeper layers of your skin. Thin women can have them, too. Poor diet, stress and lack of exercise, hereditary factors, and hormones seem to play a factor in whether or not you have cellulite.

It is not known with certainty why men don't get this-- but hormones seem to play an important factor why men are spared.

[Ira]

Oops, missed out on Tariray's question.

Body weight does not have anything to do with cellulite development. You can be reed-thin and have mucho cellulite-o. Like I previously posted, they are hardened clumps of fat, water and toxins that are too stubborn to go away.

Ways to decrease cellulite:
1. Boost your circulation to the area by using a brush, or a massage glove and massage the area every day for 5 min at least.

2. Increase your exercise and watch the diet. Swimming, walking and other stretching exercises are particulary good activities. Avoid sugary snacks and instead reach for fruit and raw veggies.

3. Drink lots of water to cleanse your system and flush the toxins from your body cells.

4. Avoid coffee and switch to herbal teas and fruit juices.

5. Vitamin C has been recommended by cellulite researchers.

6. Cellasene, a tablet, is said to help decrease cellulite significantly. FDA has not come out with their stand on Cellasene, though (whether it's just b.s. or it is really effective), since it's marketed as a dietary supplement.

It will take about 4-6 weeks before you see any results so don't expect to see results on the first day and don't expect to see 100% of it disappear. I don't think we could be this lucky but you can improve things to a great degree.

Professional services available include:

1. Ionithermie- use of electric current combined with a plant and mineral preparation and is offered at salons.

2. Mesotherapy- expensive medical therapy where drugs are injected into the cellulite deposits to boost circulation and stimulate drainage.

3. Cellulolipolysis- questionable technique where electrodes are encased in long needles and are inserted into the cellulite. Only about half the patients treated saw any improvement.

4. Surgery- none of the forms of liposuction have shown to be able to remove cellulite and there is a risk of damaging circulation and the lymph system.

Beware of professional services promising miracle cures. They seldom if ever occur.

[TaRiRaY]

dr. ira: thanks for the advice! now i know that thin people can also get cellulite. b4 i really wanted to go to a dermatolgist and have it removed, at least now i know that there's no 100% assurance that it can be done by prof. srvcs.

it's funny coz i used to think that the reason why i have s.m is because of the panties i wear, ***** dahil masikip nagkaka mark yung balat ko. well, i shud stop blaming my panties! thanks for the help.

1 thing more, just want to know your specialization, i hope i cud go to your clinic someday. maybe u cud help me with my weight prob.

thanks again.

[Ira]

No problem, TaRiRay. But I don't think you'll want to see me professionally--I'm training in neurological surgery.

[silver]

There is this place that offers massage/therapy... and CELLULITE DRAINAGE MASSAGE for those who would like to try alternative medicine for those who would like to remove those unwanted fat deposits. The address is:

-message edited-

[PAOUEE]

CAN STRETCH MARKS BE REMOVED? HOW?

[Ira]

-post edited for Dr. Ira-

[mousepotato]

a derma told me stretchmarks could not be removed (well, that was 3 years ago) even if i put lotion or vitamin E. well, it's not because i lost weight but because i gained weight... hmmmm....

[Ira]

Oops, I'm sorry! Ignore my first post--I was thinking of excess skin caused by weight loss....my apologies. Mousepotato's right.

You can't eliminate stretch marks, except by cutting them out. This however, would leave an unacceptable scar and is therefore not an option. However, you can make some of them look a lot better.

Early stretch marks are red. In this phase, they will try to heal (become white). Most scars heal better when massaged. Use lotion when massaging to avoid irritation. Regular brushing of the skin with a loofah/bath sponge before showering stimulates the circulation and might help a little. Most of the stretch marks improve without treatment, and they tend to fade with time.

Laser seems to be the newest attempt at stretch mark improvement. The stretch marks that this might work for are those that are red or purple in color (early ones). Filmy silvery ones (older) probably wouldn't respond. This kind of treatment is expensive, results vary, and I'm not sure whether there is a dermatologist in this country who's well-trained for this laser procedure. Laser treatment will not remove the scars, only make them fade to some degree. Other options include camouflage with clothing or makeup, or a tan.