Q: I'm 5-foot-11 and have stretch marks all over my body. I mean all over—my legs, arms, sides of the stomach. Doctors have told me there isn't much I can do, and I've tried creams that don't work. The problem is that a lot of things don't work for women of color. I know this isn't a life or death situation but I'm 21 years old and I haven't worn a swimsuit or even shorts and a tank top since I was younger.
A: If your body looks like a highway atlas, then the answer isn't to try to cover it up with creams or makeup. They actually could be a road map to something more serious that's going on inside your body. First, you need to make sure that your adrenal gland isn't making too many steroids (that could be a sign of Cushing's disease). If the marks are less than a year old and still have a purplish hue, you can have them lasered off or treated with prescription Retin-A from a physician. |
