Alright so..

Even though I am a guy, when I ballooned from 180-200lbs. (in about a month I gained alot of weight) over a year ago, I got stretch marks on my stomach, hip-bone area, and back..

They have slowlyyyyyy been fading slightly, sorta, kinda, since I lost weight

I was just wondering, does daily exfoliation help with stretch marks and preventing loose skin from staying? I have the unfortunate high body fat %, no muscle, so my whole body was fat/loose skin problem.. so I'm doing a lot of weight training now too

Or is is not good for my skin to exfoliate twice a day (in the shower with a loofah)

It's not hardcore like a microderm abrasion or anything, just a loofah, I just was wondering if it would help at all or if I'm just tricking myself

Thanks!

You should check out http://www.skinbio.com

Go to their forum... seach stretchmarks... Generally speaking Shallow Marks can be majorly improved. Deep Marks probably not... Sagging can be assisted with their Copper Peptide...

Major science behind their product... Dr. Pikart who discovered CP's is very honest about the capabilites of his product... and reports that clients have reports some stretchmark success with it in conjuction with dermarolling and other exfoliation techniques....

Good luck!

Is it normal to have stretchmarks on your chest? I have then between my chest and shoulder.

I have one in the area by the back of my armpit, like that little flab where my arm meets my shoulder

weird right?

they can be anywhere really where you loose weight or gain muscle/weight too rapidly

Oh, that's probably why. When I started out benching I felt "tearing" of sorts but brushed it off as my muscle tearing. Does it go away eventually?

The stretchmarks under your armpits and other areas can be attributed from growth spurts as well. Cocoa butter and the Bio Oil are suppose to be helpers in reducing them, so check them out.

Guys... stretch marks are the result of skin TEARING underneath the top layer... skin is quite stretchable... however... if it stretches too fast (generally most noted in pregnant woman tummies and boobs) then it tears. The discoloration is the result of thinner skin. Cocoa butter will probably do nothing... other than sooth quickly stretching skin which can be itchy... Not sure what's in bio oil.

The reason exfoliation works... is because your looking to basically irritate the skin and make it rebuild. Which is why you then follow with Copper Peptides... it helps in healing the skin (originally used on burn victims with major success)

Yes you can get stretchmarks anywhere you gain or LOSE size quickly... Which is also a reason to go slow at weight loss on an over fat body... the skin will hang and sag... again the CP's can help with this... a cure? Well depends how bad... a knife may be in order... or acceptance...

Unfortuanetly I speak from EXTREME experience as a mother of twins and a stomach that measured 9 months when I was 4 months pg (a 40lb weight gain total... I lost 30 lbs in 1 week) ... (I see a knife in my future regardless of total fat loss)

Generally, it's not good to exfoliate more than 3-4 times a week because it can peel off too much of your skin and damage it. Loofahs can do the same - its generally best to use a wash rag or one of those pouf things to remove dead skin but keep the good cells. When it comes to stretch marks, its helpful to take a vitamin e supplement daily or get vitamin e oil to use directly on them and can help reduce their appearance. I had some stretch marks on one of my breasts from my last rapid growth spurt, and it was reduced immensely from vitamin e.

Perry... I'm gonna beg to differ... you can exfoliate daily... have been doing so for the last 15+ years... .... Inclusive of my face... which is in excellent condition... (if you use chemicals... now that's another story)... many societies dry brush not only to get rid of dead skin and such but also to work their lymph system to remove toxins from the body... there is a lot out there read on this...

But you can dry or wet brush daily. If however you are rubbing yourself raw... That's a bad thing. Loofahs are ok... but they tend to smooth out... (that's my personal opinion) I personally like body brushes (whole foods sell a good one for around $6.00)...

Ok... I'm crackin' up... I think I'm the only female on this thread....

Hate to say this but what is exfoliation and how do I do it?

Matt... exfoliation is basically assisting the body in elimination of dead skin cells. As we grow older we don't do it as quickly. That's why children generally have amazing skin... you're always looking at new fresh skin... and older people that have never bothered... Well... ICK!

There are tons of ways to do it... and to endless degrees.

I personally would recommend using a body brush. Get a natural brush at target or whole foods for example. When in the shower... put your soap on it... and take on your whole bod... You can include your face (GENTLY at first) the goal is not to draw blood... You'll probabaly notice an improved shave after that... and if your a competitive bodybuilder who has to lose all the hair for stage... well it will help with that too... especially if you get any ingrown hairs... I know... YUCK!

You can also go after an exfoliation with chemicals... lactic and salisalic (Oh GOD MY SPELLING!!!), retin-a... those help skin cells turn over. (retin-a makes you WAY more sensitive to sun...so then you have to be careful with that) Anything stronger should probably be done by a professional... peels etc...

I actually think it's especially important for men to exfoliate their bodies... because of all the hair... hair follicals can get clogged with dead skin and body oils... making for a mess... brushing regularily makes for really nice skin. And if you already have really nice skin... then look out... it's going to get WAY better!

I've done A LOT of reading on the topic... but I'm not a derm... so use your brain... if something hurts or you don't like it... STOP... you know... unless your increasing the weight on calf exercises... 'cause GUYS... Please work your legs as much as your arms... LOL!

I'm 17 so I'm still growing. I'll sit it out and hope it gets better, I have plenty of time.