Tag: celebrity

Women Take to the Internet in Hordes to Show Off Stretch Marks

Posted on December 5, 2018

Tired of being ashamed of their bodies, many women have recently been showing off their stretch marks on various social media sites. The message these women are trying to promote is that you shouldn’t be ashamed of your body.

You have children. You created those children and carried them for nine months. You fed them from your breasts and barely slept for several months after they were born. Yes, you may have developed stretch marks while you were pregnant, but so did millions of other women. You don’t need to be ashamed of your stretch marks; they are a perfectly normal part of being a mother.

Australian Blogger Olivia White

House of White blogger Olivia White posted a photo of herself to Instagram wearing nothing but underwear in order to show the world what a postpartum body really looks like. White writes: “Puffy face, droopy milk filled boobs, wider hips and belly full of stretch marks!! That’s my post baby reality, no ‘bouncing back’ here!”

Reality Star Kendra Wilkinson

For Mother’s Day 2016, reality star Kendra Wilkinson took to Instagram with a selfie showing the stretch marks and stretched skin on her stomach caused by her two pregnancies. Wilkinson captioned the image “Look what my two babies did… They made me happy.”

#loveyourlines

The #loveyourlines Instagram account and hashtag campaign is a global initiative for women to show off their stretch marks to promote positive self-image of their postpartum bodies. The Instagram account features artistic black and white photos of women with their stretch marks in full view and has promoted the use of the hashtag on Twitter for other women who want to celebrate their post-pregnancy bodies.

Robyn Lawley

Sports Illustrated model Robyn Lawley uploaded a photo of her stretch marks to Facebook in response to the publication of an article that claimed she considered having an abortion to avoid getting stretch marks. Lawley refers to her stretch marks as her “#tigerstripes” and writes “And to anyone who feels bad about your body especially after a baby, you are a warrior, you created a life inside of you, that’s no easy feat.”

#stretchmarks

Another hashtag campaign designed to make men and women both feel more confident about their stretch marks, #stretchmarks on Instagram is used for highlighting images of people with stretch marks and promoting inspirational quotes about living with stretch marks.

Getting Rid of Stretch Marks

While the recent movement to celebrate stretch marks proves that they’re nothing to be ashamed of, you don’t have to live with stretch marks. It’s not necessary to go through dangerous and expensive plastic surgery to get rid of your stretch marks; many lotions and creams are available that may reduce the visibility of your scars or get rid of them altogether. Check out our catalog of stretch mark removal products to find one that is right for you.

How Australian Model Elyse Knowles Banished Her Stretch Marks

Posted on November 28, 2018

Early this month, Australian swimsuit model Elyse Knowles took to her website’s blog to tell the story about her battle with stretch marks and how she has significantly reduced the appearance of her stretch marks with laser therapy. Knowles tells the story of how she developed stretch marks as a teenager during puberty; as her body grew swiftly, stretch marks formed on her buttocks in response.

While the stretch marks did not prevent the model from a high-profile swimsuit modeling career, she made the decision recently to have them removed with laser treatment at a local clinic in Australia. Knowles takes the time to mention that she feels there is nothing wrong with stretch marks and comments that she knows many other models that have them as well, but even so she admits feeling somewhat insecure about her stretch marks—even though she knows that they’re normal.

Knowles received three treatments over the course of six months and posted pictures on her website to show the before and after results. While she admits in the comments that the stretch marks she had were very deep and did not go away completely, she says that her skin looks significantly better and that the visibility of the stretch marks diminished quite a bit.

What Is Laser Therapy?

Laser therapy is the process of using pulsating lasers to stimulate production of collagen and elastin and encourage new skin growth. When stretch marks form, it is because skin does not have enough elasticity to handle rapid changes in the shape of the body. In Knowles’ case, these rapid body changes were caused by puberty, but other common causes include weight gain, quick muscle development, and pregnancy.

Collagen and elastin development that occurs as a result of laser therapy encourage skin to repair itself by encouraging new skin growth in areas damaged by stretch marks. Stretch marks occur in the middle layer of skin—known as the dermis—so the best way to get rid of them or reduce their visibility is through use of a stretch mark removal cream or treatment—like laser therapy or a chemical peel—that encourages new skin to grow over top of the damaged layer of skin with visible stretch marks.

A number of different lasers can be used as part of laser therapy that work better for different types of stretch marks. For example, for deep red stretch marks, lasers can reduce the color and inflammation of those damaged skin areas. For white stretch marks, a Fraxel® laser may be more effective. The Fraxel® laser works by damaging skin in order to stimulate regrowth around areas where stretch marks have formed. According to Knowles, the procedure is only mildly painful—no worse than getting a wax.

Doctors Nearby and Treatment Costs

To find doctors in your area that can perform laser therapy to minimize the appearance of or get rid of your stretch marks—and to get a quote on the cost of the treatment—use our stretch mark treatment cost calculator.

If You Think Models Don’t Have Stretch Marks, You’re Wrong

Posted on November 4, 2016

Models in ads and magazines have been promoting an unattainable level of beauty for too long. For decades now, real women with weight issues, stretch marks, and other blemishes have felt self-conscious while flipping through the pages of magazines, wondering how the women featured could be so beautiful, in such good shape, and have such flawless skin. How do they do it?

The answer is that they’re not what they appear to be. The magazines that publish these photographs do significant editing and retouching to make their models appear to be perfect when they’re anything but. Models, like regular people, struggle with blemishes, skin unevenness, and stretch marks, but with makeup and Photoshop, those imperfections can be easily covered up.

Victoria’s Secret Releases a Photo of a Model with Stretch Marks

Victoria’s Secret released images last month from a photoshoot of model Jasmine Tookes where stretch marks are visibly displayed on her hip, proving that even models have imperfections. The photos prove two things: one is that perfection as portrayed in magazines is a fairy tale, and the other is that it is absolutely possible to be beautiful even with imperfections. Tookes is no less gorgeous with stretch marks on her hip than she is with the stretch marks covered or edited.

While the photos were not released with any comment about the lack of editing, many companies have moved recently to feature more natural photos. American Eagle’s lingerie brand Aerie saw a 20% increase in sales after publicly announcing it wouldn’t Photoshop its models in 2014, and Sports Illustrated featured Ashley Graham on the cover of its “Swimsuit” issue this year. Graham, a size-16 model, is as stunning in her swimsuit as any skinnier model in the issue.

Reestablishing the Real Body as Beautiful

Many women have stretch marks. According to statistics, there are more women in the world with stretch marks than without. Stretch marks are caused by many factors, including pregnancy, weight gain, genetics, sun damage, puberty, and changing hormones. However, brands and publishers have historically taken so much effort to hide stretch marks on models that many women feel alone in their battle with striae, feel as though other women aren’t struggling with the same issues.

Complicating the self-image issues that go hand in hand with stretch marks is the fact that stretch marks don’t go away on their own and must be treated to fade or disappear. Some of the most effective treatment options are extremely expensive and require women to undergo months of appointments and treatments before seeing any visible effects, so getting rid of stretch marks for a lot of women just hasn’t been an option.

A Cost-Friendly Stretch Mark Treatment

Knowing that even models have stretch marks can make you feel more confident in your appearance. However, you don’t have to live with stretch marks forever. Many stretch mark removal creams are available over the counter that provide a cost-effective way to fade stretch mark scars.

Celebrity Secrets for Preventing Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Posted on October 17, 2016

There are lots of tips for avoiding stretch marks during pregnancy. Some recommend following a special diet or using a special product, but how can you be sure that the tips you follow will effectively prevent you from getting stretch marks? If you’re expecting a child and trying to find the best way to avoid stretch marks as your body expands to accommodate your growing baby, consider these tips from some of your favorite celebrities on how they avoided stretch marks during their pregnancies.

Kate Middleton

While carrying both her son and daughter, the Duchess of Cambridge reportedly used Bio-Oil—a skincare product containing lavender, rosemary, and chamomile oils—to prevent stretch marks and keep her skin soft. Because sun exposure can weaken skin so that it’s prone to stretching and scarring, Middleton used bronzer for color and avoided sunning or tanning. She also practiced yoga during both of her pregnancies to prevent the excessive weight gain that can promote stretch marks.

Molly Sims

Model and actress Molly Sims followed a specific diet during her pregnancy to avoid developing stretch marks. Sims recommends eating a diet that’s rich in fatty acids—nuts (sesame seeds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds), legumes (split peas and lentils), fish (salmon and cod), and greens (kale, spinach, and collard greens) to prevent the development of stretch marks during pregnancy.

Ali Landry

1996 Miss USA winner Ali Landry is a fan of cocoa butter for stretch mark prevention. Landry applied cocoa butter lotion twice a day during her pregnancy to prevent stretch marks, and she applied tummy butter to her stomach at night before going to bed. She also recommends drinking plenty of water to keep skin hydrated in order to avoid developing stretch marks.

Victoria Beckham

Fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham posted to Twitter that her preferred stretch mark prevention product during her four pregnancies was Elemis Japanese Camellia Oil Blend. Elemis Japanese Camellia Oil Blend is designed to strengthen skin and make it more elastic, containing sweet almond oil and camellia oil as its primary ingredients.

Kim Kardashian

Like Kate Middleton, Kim Kardashian also recommends using Bio-Oil to avoid developing stretch marks during pregnancy. Beyond preventing stretch marks, Kardashian also notes that she uses Bio-Oil on her face to avoid getting wrinkles around her eyes.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Film star Gwyneth Paltrow recommends a simpler solution for avoiding stretch marks—sweet almond oil. While sweet almond oil can be found in many stretch mark prevention products, it can also be bought on its own at your local grocery store. Paltrow recommends applying significant amounts of sweet almond oil to your stomach, chest, and thighs during pregnancy to keep your skin hydrated and soft.

Finding a Stretch Mark Prevention Product

To purchase one of the products recommended by the celebrities above or to find a different stretch mark prevention product that will work best for you, browse our catalog of stretch mark prevention creams and lotions.