Before Picture:


Two months into treatment


Three months into treatment

I can't really see that much of a difference?? I believe you ARE seeing one.. but the photo differences look more to do with lighting/angle/how far away. Do you think you could take a similar picture to the first one for us? I'm not a doubting Thomas, it's just I know that in some pictures my marks aren't even visable at all and yet in others... Same with lighting.

I'm glad you're pleased with the results though!!! & keep going - can't wait to see the 100% gone picture

RK
xx

Glass Butterfl,

Sure I'll be happy to take another picture. Just give me a few days. I worked the area like crazy last night and I'm really red with lots of red bumps

Much appreciated Catfish xx

By the way - what pooch?>... you look bloody toned to me!!

xx

Glass_butterfl

...bloody toned...you made my day!!!!!

Here is another picture. I've tried to make it as bright as I could. Compare the before picture with this one (side by side if you can)hopefully you'll be able to see the improvement.

Hi Catfish,

I pasted all your pictures on to an editor board to look at them side by side (like you suggested). I also enlarged them and you lucky thing!! - you really look as though you've managed to eradicate at least three all together (to the right of your belly button - or left side of the photo). Depth is very hard to judge, but completely trust you.

I just wish this would work for me.

Your marks are a lot larger, less numerous than mine so obviously from the pregnancy... I just seem to have hundreds and hundreds of long and short small ones (some only about 1mm wide).. everywhere's always been really confident they can get rid of them... but nothing's done the trick. I'm wondering if there's something more fundamentally wrong with me

Ree xxx

Thanks again for posting this!!

Got another update coming?

Kojiro,

I've been using the "toothbrush" method and I'm looking very raw right now. I'll lighten up this next week and take a picture and post it.

One thing I can say about the "toothbrush" method is that my stretch marks look wrinkled (remember some of my marks are wide—so I’m talking about the actual skin that makes up the stretch mark is wrinkled). I’m not sure why this is happening but we’ll see how things look when I post the next picture.

any marks completely gone from the last update?

Another update. The larger marks are still red from using the toothbrush on them. I don't think they are getting any narrower. However, they are very smooth--when I run my fingers across them--I can't feel them. I’m getting a little frustrated because I’ve been working these hard . We’ll see how the next few months go.

Kojrio,

I’m not sure if any of the little marks have disappeared, I’ve been so focused on the larger ones…I’ll compare pictures and see.

I’m not using near as much glycolic acid as I was over the summer…as I said before now that it’s colder my skin gets really irritated when wearing pants and using the acid.

Over all, I know the smaller marks can be healed, you can clearly see that in my progress pictures, however the larger and deeper ones are going to take more time…I’m in this for the long haul so we’ll see just how long…

Also, since the last picture I’ve lost three pounds –I’m not sure if that affects the marks but thought I’ll let ya know.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CatFish,

CatFish,

I can't see your posted picture to see your comparison. Perhaps you are still working on it as I write.

A few ideas come to mind may help with progress if it has slowed. If you can reduce the chronic skin inflammation or irritation (redness) from aggressive exfoliation/abrasion or keep them to a minimum (by using a strong acid treatment periodically, resting the scar from strong acid as you are, or use milder acid the rest of time and by consistently supply the scars with sufficient SRCPs and antioxidant oil), avoiding the chronic inflammation will speed both the skin repair/healing and scar reduction processes.

Both resting the scars from acids or changing up your scar reduction regimen (use a different acid, abrasion (cloth, pads, sugar, oatmeal, grains, etc., concentration of actives, or the frequency of application may help.

JW,

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I agree I need to reduce the inflammation. I think I'll let things rest for a week or so and when I start back up I'll change things a little.

I'm at a point right now that if I could get the larger marks to fade I'd be soooo happy. The improvement I've had so far is fabulous and to be honest more than I expected --I'd just like to see the bigger one fade too.

Thanks again!

You are welcome and thanks for sharing your efforts and photos with us.

I understand and can relate to your overall motivation for the ultimate end result. I could remember myself when I saw unexpected dramatic results in overall skin rejuvination or small progressive improvements in my scar reduction while using SRCPs. I was also elated and increasingly hopeful because of the direct experience, the actual feedback, and the evidence.

I do think rules and records are there to be broken; however, do take care to work with your skin cells and within some kind of biological theoretical framework (14-27 day cell renewal cycle) and not push your skin too hard that may actually deter or interfere with progress, especially with difficult scar remodeling methods or regimens that often deal with conflicting issues of treatment intensity and skin endurance suitable for the scarred tissue in question as well as knowledge, experience, skills, time, and patience of the practitioner.

Pushing too hard (for your scar tissues and yourself) may also create disabling disappointments that may interfere with your method and progress.

I was also thinking but not sure if it's even necessary an issue in your case if you could only work on say three large stretch marks instead of all the stretch marks all at once and see how you could reduce these 3 large scars efficiently and effectively that it may be a more manageable and encouraging approach. I know once I saw evidence and progress that confirmed my conjectures, the experience and evidence further reinforced my confidence, belief, and motivation. Even with results and motivation, my patience was tested still. By focusing on experimenting or treating three large scars, you may be able to learn more efficiently or see more visible results because you can compare the treated larger scars with the untreated scars visibly. The experience and the evidence between the changes in these scars may also psychologically motivate you further because you'd know you are doing something right and on your way. Once you have things figured out, it's just a matter of repeating the same procedure in cycles until the scars are remodeled or change up things from time to time to intensify or slow the treatment to keep extending the progress effectively and efficiently.

JW, Once again thank you! You brought up some excellent points...I wasn't taking in consideration the cell cycle, etc. I'm also going to try as you suggested and work on the three largest scars and see how that works.

Thanks for your input and support!

Hi CatFish,

Another idea just came to mind. With scar reduction (you know you are in it for the long-term; rest period + repeated treatment cycles), you probably won't see a major overall difference on a monthly basis, especially if you are treating and looking at the scars every day. It took me a good 6-8 months to remodel one age spot on my face and the damaged tissue was probably not as deep and tough (though just as difficult to remodel) as your stretch marks on the body. After a good 6-8 months of mixed intensive (and milder or none) spot treatments, further improvement seen in a year with continued use of milder actives - exfol/SRCPs/bho). Stay objective with changes seen on your stretch marks, observation, can only help you troubleshoot better your scar reduction approach and remodel the scars more efficiently. I do see real progress from your pictures, but be mindful of taking/comparing photos on a monthly basis is similar to weighing oneself everyday while trying to lose weight, which serves no real purpose but a destructive one and makes no biological sense. Be methodical and flexible to improve your scar reduction methods or meet the needs of your skin or scars biweekly, but comparing photos every 3 months or more may be more productive, at least with respect to scar reduction.

Congratulations in loosing 3 lbs by the way.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JW,

I disagree... We've seen some, if moderate, improvements in your SMs so far, I think a monthly (skin cycle) record is better - you can still just compare the first to the last, or the first to the third etc but I'm certainly interested in seeing them.

You may have to start another picture catalogue if you're only going to be working on three scars though... Maybe you could try working three scars one way (say intense exfoliation) and three scars another way (less exfoliation, but more SRCPs and oil).... ?

Personally, whenever I've asked, Dr Pickart seems to suggest that the most effective methods of scar removal are the most intense and to go this way if you have stretchmarks and your skin can tolerate it. SB has people using exfol and SRCPS both twice daily etc.

Anyway, keep your chin up!! X

quote:

Originally posted by Glass_butterfl:
I disagree... We've seen some, if moderate, improvements in your SMs so far, I think a monthly (skin cycle) record is better - you can still just compare the first to the last, or the first to the third etc but I'm certainly interested in seeing them.

I also enjoy looking at the progress pictures and agree with your points made and thought it would still be beneficial to consider all sides to keep a somewhat balanced perspective while evaluating progress for CatFish, people who are just looking at the pictures, or people who may or may not have experience with the time-consuming scar reduction journey or process.

quote:

Originally posted by Glass_butterfl:
Personally, whenever I've asked, Dr Pickart seems to suggest that the most effective methods of scar removal are the most intense and to go this way if you have stretchmarks and your skin can tolerate it. SB has people using exfol and SRCPS both twice daily etc.

A few general points worth considering to improve scar reduction (not just for stretchmarks):

1) I used a callus remover (12.6% salicylic acid) along with various strengths of SRCPs/bhos to remodel my age spot on my face, so I would not consider the method a child's play or lacking in intensity when the age spot is no longer there and without any sustained side effects or additional scarring. Whatever methods or products are used in remodeling scars, successful scar reduction, in addition to knowledge of products used and wound healing theories, takes time, persistence, and patience because both repeated intensive treatments and recovery periods are required even if all the elements above are in place.

2) Although the principles behind using exfoliation and SRCPs/bho to remodel scars are the same, the scar reduction approach, i.e., the method, the strengths of actives, the effectiveness, and the efficiency in scar reduction cannot be the same because the formation, the size/area, and the location of the scars are different. Thus, the most effective and efficient way or products to use to remodel a pitted ascar would likely to be different than remodeling stretch marks on the torsos.

3) The most intense scar treatment doesn't mean the most effective or efficient. For example, when professional and clinical grade peels are used improperly (or SRCPs/bho not used regularly or properly for combination therapy), proper healing and tissue repair do not take place resulting in no progress or new scars being created.

4) Proper management of healing and tissue repair is way more important a consideration than the intensity of the treatment, especially when the use of strong actives and the cycling of intensive scar reduction treatment are involved. The most efficient tissue repair is enhanced when we use stimulating actives and methods that still work with and within our skin's own regenerative abilities and processes but do not overpower or destroy the innate biological abilities. That boarder for maximum positive yield between stimulation and rebuilding can be pushed graduately or suddenly appropriate to the scar reduction timeline or the scar in question, but maximum proper skin repair, i.e., the regeneration and retention of new healthy cells (without additional scars) is core.

5) If you are indeed using a constructive intensive method for scar reduction (specific to your type and location of scar and somewhat experiential), i.e., more positives than negatives seen balancing efficiency and effectiveness, then milder treatments and rest periods are absolutely necessary to benefit from and to prolong the intensive scar reduction protocol.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JW,

Hi I got stretch marks on my tummy from pregnancies, and want to get rid of them. How did you do it? I just ordered some exfol cream, trireduction p&r, and super CP serum from this site. Do you think this will help? What is a toothbrush method? By the way, how do you post a brand new topic?

hello cherisse

some general stretchmark info can be found here:
http://www.skinbio.com/quickstretchmarks.html

to start a new topic-
at the top of the page, at right
click on "New", then "Discussion"