By Eve on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:10 pm:

Since being pregnant with my son who's now 4 1/2 I developed the most horrendous strechmarks all over my body, big deep ones, the midwife said in her 20yrs of
being a midwife she's never seen such bad ones, can this be a result of the hypermobility?

By Sue C. on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:10 pm:

Stretch marks started on my knees around age 7! I was a tall and skinny kid at the time. They spread to my lower back by age 9. Elsewhere in the past 22 years.
Since age 21 the reddish-purple marks have faded to white; new stretch marks fade rapidly. Interestingly the white marks don't ever change color -- a bruise will
look striped.

None of the doctors I went to seemed to care for 29 years. I later was able to link this to EDS III -- several doctors recently agreed with me.

I didn't try anything to get rid of them thru the years.

Cocoa butter is recommended for "normal" pregnancy-related stretch marks. I've been using it religiously (3+ times per day; as thick as peanut butter) on my
recently-operated-on knee, and it's healing quite well. (I used vitamin E on the scars themselves for about a month, surrounded by cocoa butter.) No additional
stretch marks have appeared, despite swelling and physical therapy. I also have an increased range of motion and less skin tightness when applying the cocoa butter
at the start of exercising. (I've used Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula -- massage cream for stretch marks, with Vitamin E, Collagen, and Elastin. Cocoa butter is the
3rd ingredient. It's about $1/ounce, but it really seems to work!)

By Sara - UK on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:11 pm:

I've had stretch marks since I was about 10 years old! As I was mis diagnosed when I was a child, one 'doctor', even asked had a had a baby as the marks were so
bad! I've been told that my stretch marks ARE to do with EDS as my collagen is such poor quality it cannot cope with the rigours of 'normal' living!

By Barbara on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:11 pm:

This was recently a discussion topic on the CEDA mailing list. While not all persons who responded had trouble with stretch marks, some had serious problems with
it. All respondants had one form of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or another.

One person suggested using Aloe Vera gel for stretch marks.

In my own experience with Hypermobile type Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, my husband and I both have stretch marks on our bodies and we don't have kids.

By Gretchen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:11 pm:

I read an article a few ago that mentioned the corolation between stretch marks and hypermobiliy.

By Shannon on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:12 pm:

I know with Ehlers Danlos type III. The skin is velvety and very fragil i dont know if that would have anything to do with it or not.

By Bridget on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:12 pm:

My HMS daughter has awful stretch marks; she is only 17! They are deep and reddish-colored. She doesn't have the stretchy skin that some with EDS have, but it
is definitely fragile. -- She also couldn't continue with guitar lessons a few years ago, because her fingers would never get calloused, and her fingers always hurt as
badly as someone who had just started.

By Liz on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:13 pm:

I have had awful stretchmarks since I was 17! Even if I only put on a few pounds on holiday, I seem to end up with even more stretchmarks - still, I've got my very
own "Snakes and Ladders" board at no cost!

By Eve on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:13 pm:

Thanks to you all for your replies, I'm glad I'm not alone! I feel so embarrased about them but now I know it's just something I can't help

By Johanna on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:14 pm:

Hi,
When I was 12 years old someone who saw me in bathingsuit asked me if I had had twins recently! The marks are very deep, and the tissue that covers them is very
thin.

By Lynn on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:14 pm:

Has anyone had any success getting rid of (or minimizing) their stretch marks? My daughter (15 yrs with Hypermobile type) is currently using Retin-A and has
attempted laser treatments (too painful) and considered dermabrasion (also painful). Any advice??

By lesley duff on Tuesday, June 06, 2000 - 12:36 pm:

When I sprouted Ialso got horrendous stretch marks on my thighs and boobs.
Two children later and I didn't get any more my
stomach is perfectly smooth.
Just good luck I guess.

By Karen Arthur on Monday, June 12, 2000 - 03:52 pm:

Hello there
When I had my son nearly 13 years ago, my skin looked as though the mad axeman had been at it, in fact the deep purple marks came right over the top of my belly and the skin underneath the "bump" completely gave up and went all baggy.
It was very upsetting then, and is not all that different now!
Good job I am not vain, I looked a right sight with my ankle strapped up as well, some bad joke someone was playing on me.
You are not alone!!

By Sharon on Friday, July 20, 2001 - 10:52 pm:

i too have had stretchmarks since early childhood and they are now white and deep you can feel a major dip where they are and the main places they are is in a ring around my hips, my thighs and my bum. Is not a pretty sight. When my sister was pregnant she was covered in the dark purple/burgandy thick stretch marks all over her body and they looked even worse (I haev't had kids)I don't put anything on my stretch marks as i am allergic to so many creams etc.

By Vicki on Saturday, July 21, 2001 - 10:18 pm:

I wonder what is the connection between stretch marks and hypermobility. I have just resently noticed stretch marks on my daughter's hips. she's only 11 and only has normal growth no excesive weight gain. she's tall and thin but now looks like shes had a baby. what can i do to help her with this I hate for her to feel self concience about her looks.
vicki

By Lin on Sunday, July 22, 2001 - 12:08 am:

i am 16, and have had stretch marks for a couple years now, and i keep getting more new ones! i hate it, they are so ugly! mine are a deep purple reddish colour. i have them all over the back of my hips, a few on the inside of my right thigh that are small, one is 2 inches long and there are 2 more about an inch long, and some across my breasts. I have never gained alot of weight, i have always been thin, but i have never even had a growth spurt! i have grown slowly and steadily my entire life to my small height of 5'3. my mom doesnt believe me, because she thinks stretch marks are white always, not purple. the older ones are white, but i keep getting new ones! they are realy ugly and i cant stand having them! luckily, except for the ones on my thigh all the others are covered, even in a swimsuit. but i hate them. when i shower i cringe. i have tried to get trid of them and nothing works! just venting and adding to the posts of others. olive oil was suggested to me. i am trying it. to rub olive oil into the stretch marks a few times a day. use very little, you feel very greasy otherwise.
Lin

By vicki on Sunday, August 05, 2001 - 09:13 pm:

lin
you can tell your mom that stretch marks can start out as red-deep purple and can fade to white. they are still stretch marks no matter what color they are. I am taking my daughter to the doctor tomorrow to see if he can help with my daughters. I don't want her to feel ashamed of her body because of stretch marks. Hers are on her hips. However, She has gone though a major growth spurt. She turned 12 last Sunday and she is already 5'3" she has always been thin and at her 85 pounds you can tell she has never had a fat day in her life. You can image my surpise when I first noticed her stretch marks. I'll pass on any helpful hints her doctor gives us. I may take her to a dermotologist if her family doc. can't help. I felt so sad when I read your note. I don't want her to feel the same way. I let you know if anything works. Good Luck
vicki