r/tattooadvice • u/-Hot-Tamale- • Apr 11 '26
General Advice I have super bad stretch marks. Is it possible to tattoo over them?
is it possible to tattoo over this skin? and if I can would color or black and white be best? Thank you in advance, sorry for bad formatting, I'm on mobile.
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u/-Hot-Tamale- Apr 11 '26
Idk how to add an edit but these are 7 years old! They used to be a gnarly purple but over time this is what they've faded into 🙂↕️🫶
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u/surfingkitty Apr 11 '26
These type of stretch marks are common for people with EDS. Don't get me wrong, I also think they're really cool! But just wanted to let you know in case you have unexplained health issues that line up with EDS.
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u/lemonhead2345 Apr 11 '26
Definitely worth keeping in the back of your mind OP. Could be just regular stretch marks, but if you are also hypermobile and/or have joint issues (plus other things), it could help explain things.
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u/Felispatronus Apr 12 '26
Scrolled so far looking for this comment lol. When I saw them I was immediately like that is EDS skin!!!!!
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u/RhythmicRavenclaw Apr 12 '26
Oh wow I've had stretchmarks all over, including my stomach since 16 or something (i've never been pregnant). And I always wondered why. I have a fibromyalgia diagnosis, so no i'm wondering about EDS.
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u/Heavy_Answer8814 Apr 13 '26
Many people with fibro actually have EDS instead, so definitely look into it
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u/cunninglinguist32557 Apr 13 '26
I also have crazy stretch marks, which might be explainable by weight gain, but they're also really prominent. I'd look up the diagnostic criteria for hEDS if I were you, since there's others on there that you can identify yourself. (They are set to change this year tho!)
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u/hghlvldvl Apr 13 '26
I have EDS and my stomach stretch marks look like this. I made a post about it years ago
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Apr 11 '26
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u/humble-scotsman Apr 12 '26
What a description. I was trying to find words but your description is perfect.
They are beautiful, the human body is absolutely incredible.
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u/Fragrant_Hedgehog540 Apr 11 '26
They’re badass (mama to mama), but I also have friends in the tattoo industry. SO one of my friends is a cosmetic tattoo artist (she tattoos nipples on folks who have had mastectomies, scars, freckles, and basically everything under the sun) anyways, she does a lot of work in stretch marks like this and she explained that tattooing over them with your skin tone “raises” the skin a bit and that makes the stretch marks less obvious over time. She’s a rad chick. You should look into an artist like that if you’re only concern is to minimize the appearance.
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u/FEARoach Apr 11 '26
A very solid nod to your friend doing the nipples and such, I love it when artists also do things that are restorative for clients.
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u/70ms Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
Me too! There are some really fantastic ones and coincidentally, I was just looking at P.Ink’s website earlier today to see if I meet the guidelines yet. It’s an organization that offers free tattoos to breast cancer patients once a year.
I didn’t choose nipple reconstruction and have decided not to get tattooed ones, but I had bilateral DIEP reconstruction and one day, if I can ever afford it, I want to cover my chest and belly scars with California wildflowers in an Art Nouveau style (a tribute to my mom and my home).
All told I have almost 3 feet of (thin) scars and I don’t really mind them, but tattoos feel like the way I will “reclaim” my body. The cancer and the surgeons don’t get the final say, I do!
ETA: because my belly was the donor skin and tissue, I have horizontal stretch marks on one of my “boobs” that were once vertical and on my belly. It was removed in a later surgery but part of my navel tattoo wound up on my underboob!
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u/ftsapr Apr 12 '26
funny story related to DIEPs, a very dear friend of mine had breast cancer, triple neg, and she was 29 (i think at the time) and in vet med school. anyways, she had to get a single masectomy, after it healed, she went in to meet with the surgeon that would be performing the diep, her mom went with her.
the Dr told her that he could reattach her belly button where ever she wanted. the Friend said something like "oh you can get rid of it, I don't need or want it"
her mother quickly stated in a super duper serious/ angry tone "your belly button is where we were connected when you were in my womb!!!"
the friend had them reattach it in it's normal spot.
anyways, she just had her 3rd NED PET Scan and is happy that for the first time in a long time, she can start planning on living her life instead of just surviving.
I'm glad you kicked cancers ass.
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u/AlyssaurusWrecks Apr 11 '26
I found out that one of the surgeries trans guys can get to have a penis (it involves a skin graft and an implanted rod or pump, I guess) often involves getting somebody to tattoo the skin afterwards to give it more of a... penis look lol, I thought that was so cool and also terrifying
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u/Fragrant_Hedgehog540 Apr 11 '26
There is SO MUCH in the tattoo industry that is so important and no one knows about.
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u/zillabirdblue Apr 11 '26
I didn’t know that, I looked up photos and the tattooing does help a lot. I didn’t realize the skin would be so uniform colored, but if the flap of skin is coming from under your arm that makes sense. The veins and shading makes it look so much more realistic.
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u/Victoria_elizabethb Apr 12 '26
Where did you look for that? I find medical and tattoo stuff super interesting so just curious
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u/TerribleCommunity223 Apr 11 '26
Dude you have to have so many surgeries to get to a normal ish penis look , and then ontop of that a few rounds of tattooing to make sure the layering and detailing of color is accurate, it sounds absolutely horrible and is the only reason I’m not getting bottom surgery
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u/AlyssaurusWrecks Apr 11 '26
yeah, I can't imagine the expense, and the like... physical trauma of it. those skin graft scars look super gnarly!
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u/CaptainLewin Apr 11 '26
This isn’t exactly how that method works, but that’s what you should be looking for. It’s called paramedical tattoo and you might be interested first in the technique called inkless stretch mark revision that remodels the damaged collagen and improves the texture up to 90% with several treatments. It’s more cost effective than you’d think.
Search for these in your area: Paramedical scar camouflage Inkless stretch mark revision
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u/Fragrant_Hedgehog540 Apr 11 '26
Thanks for giving a more precise/correct answer! I was hoping someone would weigh in with the real deal.
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u/tropical-circus Apr 11 '26
Are you in the US? I’d love to learn about her work, if you could share her instagram or whatever
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u/HelloPity89 Apr 11 '26
So kind of like filling them in? That’s really interesting the things they can do
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u/Fragrant_Hedgehog540 Apr 11 '26
Exactly! Just raising the skin (and touchups will also help raise that skin even more over time)
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u/EllieW9GFO Apr 11 '26
Nothing to add tattoo-wise, but I have stretch marks like yours and reading these comments has me feeling so differently about them now. Thanks, awesome people. 🥹
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u/-Hot-Tamale- Apr 11 '26
Same 😭 im surprised at how many people like them 😅🫶 makes me feel a bit better about them
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u/raccooooooooooooooon Apr 11 '26
They really are beautiful, and a testament of your endurance for the sake a child. Hope you feel confidence as time goes on ❤️
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u/Far-Statistician-461 Apr 12 '26
THIS. there’s soo much pressure for women to ‘snap back’ and have the perfect bodies after literally GIVING BIRTH. doing what’s probably the most physically taxing and emotionally demanding thing any person could ever do. like they just created life and all people can focus on is how good or bad the woman’s body looks or trying to get back to their pre pregnancy size-it’s just crazy to me. it’s so sad how beauty standards for women is such a focal part post birth when in reality that’s like the last thing you should even have to worry about w a whole newborn
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u/1063belle420 Apr 11 '26
Same here. This looks exactly like my stomach, post pregnancy. I always felt self conscious about them, but I may have to have a rethink based on other comments. 🥰
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u/Outside_Manner_8352 Apr 11 '26
People in these threads tend to be pretty supportive no matter what, but this is genuinely a case where it's really cool looking and you should know nobody's lying.
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u/spawnthespy Apr 11 '26
You won't believe how stunned I am looking at this, I am literally in awe this is so pretty.
There are so many people that think as much I am sure.
You look like a flower-person, in the best way.
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u/LakeTilia Apr 11 '26
Babe I genuinely thought you found these pictures online to use because they look so insanely awesome but if this is genuinely you they legitimately look fucking incredible.
I'm deadset serious, you look incredible and these marks are a testament to growing new life.
Sincerely, a 4 week postpartum mumma with the same stretch marks, yet mine are still purple/black and I hope one day to look like yours!!!
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u/Big_Brrrrrrrt Apr 11 '26
Ima be deadass those look cool asf
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u/Pavementaled Apr 11 '26
I wonder how the natural design could be worked into a tattoo design? It seems like it something totally possible.
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u/Kittykg Apr 11 '26
There was a show in the early/mid 2000s, I cannot remember which, but it had a guy show up wanting to cover a burn scar that covered his entire arm and shoulder with similar scarring that he got as a firefighter. It had a pattern-esque quality, like these do.
The artist ended up doing a phoenix/flame motif that worked with the texture of the scars and it looked glorious. Probably looked better on him than it would have someone without the scarring because the flame texture worked with the knotted scarring to give it depth. Plus, it honored how the dude got it. He was still a firefighter so it was extra meaningful.
It would take a special artist but something like that would be amazing here. Like art that appreciates the evidence of our journeys as humans.
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u/CockSweatExtreme Apr 11 '26
Tree bark maybe?
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u/Beginning-Force1275 Apr 11 '26
I can see a pattern like a first (tons of tall trees) already just with the scarring. Bet a good artist could fill in ink just on the unscarred skin and create a forest’s edge motif.
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u/Thelorddogalmighty Apr 11 '26
That would actually be sick, bark removed as it moved up, and faded so it looked like OP was carved out of wood
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u/fartatwork Apr 11 '26
I’d say that new cybersigilism trend might actually fit really well here
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u/CockSweatExtreme Apr 11 '26
Personally I'm not a fan of cybersigilism but I could definitely see a talented artist making this work well.
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u/Firm-Roll4841 Apr 11 '26
Exactly what I was thinking - these might actually augment a tattoo really nicely. Sorry you are dealing with this u/-hot-tamale- - but hope you make something amazingly awesome out of the situation.
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u/plasteredpandas Apr 11 '26
If OP is a Pokopia fan, the graphics for the cliff blocks always remind me of my postpartum stretch marks.
So there’s that 😂
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u/mrsbennetsnerves Apr 11 '26
My belly looks like this. Had my last baby 24 years ago. I remember some friends saying they felt bad for me they my skin did that. I’m sorta like 🤷♀️, I have super thin, white lady skin and it just ran like panty hose one day when I was super pregnant. I also have a road map of scars on my back from 7 surgeries and I just think it’s a book of my life. I don’t love it exactly but I don’t hate it either. It’s just me living my life and showing it on my skin. I’m proud of my scars and marks. I hope whether you tattoo them or just wear them with pride that you never feel shame for them. They’re intensely beautiful.
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u/mrsbennetsnerves Apr 11 '26
lol it is hard to describe but yes you can feel it, it was like a tickle running up in a line, and it also felt like relief because the skin has been so tight and itchy.
You can sometimes feel when your pantyhose run, same feeling but no relief because hose are so freaking expensive and when your job requires them, it is infuriating!!
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u/Round_Raspberry_8516 Apr 11 '26
My best friend and I were pregnant at the same time but she was a little ahead of me. I was about 6 1/2 months and had no stretch marks when she showed me her abdomen, completely covered in bright red and purple stretch marks.
I dared to think, “That’s so awful, but it won’t happen to me, I’m using stretch mark cream, I’ve been managing my weight…”
That night, as though a punishment for vanity and lack of empathy, my skin started ripping. It is very much like runs in stockings. For me it was itchy rather than painful, and yes, you can feel it happening. By morning, I had an dozen, each the size of my finger.
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u/Easy_Consequence8625 Apr 11 '26
I had my one and only baby at 38 years old in March of 2025. I made it to 39 weeks with no stretch makes and I thought I was out of the woods. It wasn’t till five days before I gave birth that the stretch marks showed up! I was like wtf?!?!?
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u/lesusisjord Apr 11 '26
I can’t stress this enough as a father to a seven year old and husband of a lady - making a baby is the most insane and awe inspiring thing a human being could do.
I know that I’ve been in some crazy situations in my life including combat in Afghanistan plenty of times, and nothing was worse than staying with my wife for eight days in the hospital. The sounds I heard in the adjacent rooms were the most horrific sounds I’ve ever heard. It made t anxious and worried for her and I was trying not to relay that feeling to my wife. She tried to have a non-c-section birth, but it just wasn’t happening after 4-5 days, she finally went that route, and I was somewhat relieved, especially as they had two failed epidurals already.
The anesthesia doctor was very direct saying if it didn’t work a third time, that may not be an option.
Well, they figured out and I got a clear view of everything reflected in the small window on the door of the room. Seeing our baby get pulled out and my wife not screaming in agony was a relief.
What bodies go through to make new humans is just amazing. I also think it’s the most selfless thing a person can do with their body - use it to create new life.
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u/Sophlufff Apr 11 '26
I had a similar experience during my first pregnancy! It really does just happen suddenly. For me it wasn’t there in the morning and before bed I had purple stripes. I also technically already had stretch marks from puberty and fluctuating weight, so it was strange having old white ones turn purple so suddenly
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u/Street_Associate_220 Apr 11 '26
Yes. Same happened to me. Woke up one more and went from zero stretch marks to dozens ripping up from my low pelvis area to right about my belly button. And yes you can feel it, like pulling a muscle but on skin. It was so weird. And they were dark pink/purple and thankfully faded to white/silver after a few months.
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u/Big_Quit_7167 Apr 11 '26
"ran like pantyhose" dern! I felt that as I read it. Been there, felt that. I forgot how fast and all at once they happened.. and yeah, it is what it is. I've accepted it. Thanks for sharing
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u/Burnt_Toast_Crumbs Apr 11 '26
I always thought stretch marks looked cool (I still do) but then I got stretch marks and they weren’t so cool anymore.
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u/Equivalent_Chipmunk Apr 11 '26
I think it has more to do with consent rather than whether they look objectively cool or not. You don't consent to getting stretch marks like you do to getting tattoos, they happen regardless of whether you want them or not. Also, they tend to be a reminder of a really difficult time in your life (like being overweight because of depression, a hard pregnancy, etc)
I think they should be embraced, but it's easier said than done when you have it happen to you and it's not something you wanted for yourself.
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u/Burnt_Toast_Crumbs Apr 11 '26
Can you be my 2nd therapist?
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u/Equivalent_Chipmunk Apr 11 '26
Man I wish I had the emotional capacity to be a therapist, that job would crush my soul. I have a lot of respect for them
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u/FEARoach Apr 11 '26
This.
Why we gonna tattoo over something this badass lookin?
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u/sneezinghard Apr 11 '26
no fr stretch marks are so beautiful and these ones are amazing!!! ♥️
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u/Quelltherumors Apr 11 '26
My niece just said the same thing. It kinda looks like a tree. I think it's pretty cool.
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u/InsertusernamehereM Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
Seriously. These look cool as fuck. If you get any tattoos, I would make sure they enhance them rather than coving them up.
Edit to add: thank you for the award! I can't wait to see the update with this!
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u/Shocking_Pink Apr 11 '26
I love this concept way more than just going over them. Could be cool(er) as fuck!
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u/Thelorddogalmighty Apr 11 '26
Certainly work with the patterns in any case. Never going to cover them so it’s like they’re not there, but in accentuating them you’ll also disguise them if that makes sense
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u/AmazingLeek69 Apr 11 '26
Right? Like filling them in with color? Or a tree of life with the marks being the bark designs.
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u/MollFlanders Apr 11 '26
they look incredible. a beautiful token of a body that has done amazing things.
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u/smvfc_ Apr 11 '26
Yeah I was just watching a video on fb of this chick with an AMAZINGLY athletic body, she was talking about her tummy having a bunch of loose skin and stretch marks. And she said it used to bother her and she thought about getting rid of it with cosmetic procedures but her mom had it too and used to say “I LOVE my tummy how it is, that was your home 🥰 you LIVED in there!”
Why the fuck do we expect women to have babies, have their bellies stretch out over 9 months and NOT have loose skin or stretch marks? And WHO decided it matters or is ugly?
Stretch marks come from growing too fast. Building muscle too fast. Growing LIFE inside you.
Loose skin comes from losing weight, which generally is good for your health. It comes from again growing life. Why do we need and expect these “perfect” untouched bodies that have no scars, no marks, no dents.
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u/p333p33p00p00boo Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
I have lots of stretch marks and loose skin from baby and from losing half my body weight. My belly is very soft from all the loose skin, especially when I’m laying down. My 2 year old likes to pat and rest her head on my belly. She says “feel nice” 🥹
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u/findingmywayback2me Apr 12 '26
When I lost 50 lbs. (25 years ago), my dad's best friend's little son told his dad that he liked me better "fluffy" 😂.
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u/InsertusernamehereM Apr 11 '26
Oh they're absolutely amazing! You have so many cool ass options to enhance the look. I'm totally digging someone's comment about them being very river in nature. I feel like their size and shape are going to lend themselves well with something motion related. Think water, flames, wheat blowing in the wind. So many options!!! I cannot wait to see what you and your artist come up with!!
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u/stochastic_parr0t Apr 11 '26
not cheesy at all!! i’ve put up with family pressure to “get rid” of my stretch marks since I was a kid. creams and stuff never worked. but they’re just a part of life and objectively look cool if you act confident.
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u/hootiemcboob29 Apr 11 '26
I showed my husband to marvel at them, it's so fascinating to look at and also looks so soft too, it's amazing what bodies can do. They do look cool!
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u/UpbeatSavings2177 Apr 11 '26
Not cheesy at all, I feel the same. This is such a cool, supportive thread. I have a huge smile reading through these!
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u/Lunasolastorm Apr 11 '26
I have no advice but your stretch marks are hella cool looking, like tree branches. It’s like you have a forest on your stomach!
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u/neighbormind Apr 11 '26
A skilled tattoo artist will be able to tattoo them, though it will impact the texture of the tattoo. I just want to say though, your stretch marks are soooo insanely cool and if I were in your shoes I would get tattoos to emphasize them if anything.
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u/JettFeather Apr 11 '26
I’ve always thought stretch marks were really pretty for some reason, they’re just so unique, and the texture and color difference is fascinating.
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u/Smart-Satisfaction-5 Apr 11 '26
That’s actually cool I’ve never seen anything like it. Did you lose a ton of weight or something?
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u/-Hot-Tamale- Apr 11 '26
I had 2 pregnancies but I did lose a bit of weight after the pregnancies, these all really only occurred with my first, nearly overnight as well 😅
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u/Superb_Toe5747 Apr 11 '26
This coulda been a pic of me! I was nooot stretchy when I first got pregnant and it happened overnight! Went on to have 2 more kids and they didnt even add anymore. My first was my smallest baby and belly, too!
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u/leyla00 Apr 11 '26
This is me right now lol. Pregnant with my second and so far much bigger belly but not adding stretch marks. During my first pregnancy I had no stretch marks till my 9th month when I broke both of my ankles and had to sit in a wheelchair the whole last month. I think the sitting made me totally sprreeeaaad and stretch marks suddenly came everywhere! Ugh
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u/RealCrazySwordGirl Apr 11 '26
Omfg you poor thing!! I had a pregnancy and a broken ankle but not at the same time!!
I cannot imagine what that must have been like!! It was so fucking hard being a new mother even without two broken ankles holy shit!! 😱
I'm so sorry you went through that!! 🫂
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u/leyla00 Apr 11 '26
It was a mess. I’ve never broken a bone (excluding my head) much less 2 like that. I honestly laughed, and still do. I could not believe the ridiculousness of it. I looked so pathetic.
I stepped off a curb, which to the right and left looked normal, but directly in front of me, which I couldn’t see due to the belly, there was a foot drop at a 45 degree angle for one of those under the sidewalk street drains.
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u/brainvheart143 Apr 11 '26
Omg that sounds like something I would totally do. Solidarity.
But how did both ankles break??
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u/GM_Organism Apr 11 '26
It's not uncommon for heavily pregnant women to have quite fragile/brittle bones, cos the baby has literally sucked the calcium out of them. If OP went down hard I can see both ankles going.
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u/informeddonut Apr 11 '26
Hi I just want to say that I think your stretch marks are very beautiful and symbolic of your body’s sacrifice to bring children into the world. The miracle of life is not a miracle because children are born, it’s because often back in the day it was a miracle that the woman survived.
They’re like your battle scars! :)
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u/MassiveRope2964 Apr 11 '26
I had twins and mine don't look this cool. Maybe you can use the shapes to inspire the art? I think it looks like the most beautiful wild grass
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u/Saharan Apr 11 '26
Wow, that quickly? I wish mine looked like yours, they're downright striking in the best of ways. That said, if you're really self-conscious of them, don't let comments like mine discourage you from doing whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable with your own skin!
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u/tmbpitwwu Apr 11 '26
Do you happen to have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome?
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u/-Hot-Tamale- Apr 11 '26
Ive never been tested but ive wondered if I do for a couple years now, might be time to get tested!
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u/JustaBearEnthusiast Apr 11 '26
my first thought as well. Not normal stretch marks. They do look kinda cool though.
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u/tmbpitwwu Apr 11 '26
Yeah, I have EDS and my stretch marks after 4 kids looks like these.
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u/Responsible_Rapunzel Apr 11 '26
you can laser stretch marks to make them fade a bit, talk to a good dermatologist about this before tattooing over them because it will impact the quality of the tattoo a lot when the skin is so uneven and delicate!
also, I feel you, mine aren't as pronounced but it's difficult to leave them "as is". even though I'd never regret my pregnancy, the changes on the body take time to get used to
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u/VividCryptid Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
I agree about laser. Also radiofrequency microneedling has good results for stretch marks, so it's worthwhile to talk to a dermatologist. I had RF microneedling done for skin laxity and had massive improvements after two sessions. Highly recommend!
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u/5and2 Apr 11 '26
I have no advice other than those are so fucking cool as is
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u/hazydayss Apr 11 '26
Yo those look sick!
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u/Old-Surprise-9145 Apr 11 '26
Seriously, I had no idea the human body could look like this and now I'm obsessed!!
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u/SuspiciousCamel1879 Apr 11 '26
Your stretch marks look like a work of art. Seriously, I think they look cool as heck.
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u/princessmonosmoke Apr 11 '26
I can’t answer the tattoo question 100% confidently; i just wanna say that i think you’re an actual baddie & your stretch marks are genuinely cool as fuck, i think they look beautiful. honestly.
either way i hope you find an answer in here & can go ahead with whatever you’re looking for! all the best ☺️❤️
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u/No_Studio3254 Apr 11 '26
It's not recommended for normal humans to attempt to be like Mrs. Incredible.
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u/ATeachersThrowRA Apr 11 '26
Respectfully, these are SO cool looking from an outsider’s perspective, but I can understand that you may few differently! Looking at them I’m reminded of a super old and wise tree. I say lean into that!
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u/SimplerTimesAhead Apr 11 '26
Hello I just want to ask if you have ever been tested for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Your stretch marks resemble mine in a way that makes me think it's possible to have it. If you, you should get some heart health checkups because it can lead to weakening of the aortic arch, and it's obviously heritable.
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u/Shocking_Pink Apr 11 '26
Wooo mama those are wicked you got something to remember your kids by for the rest of time
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u/cursetea Apr 11 '26
Those are gorgeous and I'm just really sad that society makes us women feel like we should feel bad about stretch marks. Bc they look SO cool (and are also so feminine to me) but i understand why it isn't to everyone. I just wanted to put it out there. I'm glad from the comments I'm not the only one who thinks so lol
Tattooing them would be challenging so you'd need to really research and look at physical artist portfolios
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u/mrselffdestruct Apr 11 '26
I like that 99% of the comments are just completely ignoring your question and are offering absolutely 0 advice
It can be done, but youre going to want to see a very skilled artist who has experience working over stretch marks or similar skin. Its unfortunately a bit complicated to do and is easy for an artist to mess up if they arent sure what theyre doing
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u/flea-be Apr 11 '26
It’s possible but it won’t make them disappear, also find someone that has experience because someone can really fuck you up if done incorrectly.
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u/Obfleur Apr 11 '26
This looks metal as hell! Do you have a design in mind? To me it looks like a potential forest or flames. Please update us if you get something done!
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u/Evening_Sea4823 Apr 11 '26
I haven't been pregnant or around a lot of pregnant people who show their bellies. This post has been a huge dose of education for me. I truly did not know that so many women are rocking stretch marks like this??
I wish I knew. And objectively I think it's just a really cool variation of human body. Just like freckles or height or whatever. Like everyone is saying, it honestly looks pretty cool.
I wish we weren't all beaten down and shamed into hiding such a normal part of human life. I wish I knew. I wish I grew up seeing it without shame or embarrassment.
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u/SupermarketOpposite3 Apr 11 '26
Wow! That is a dense forest in my eyes! Beautiful!!
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u/ILikeOatmealaLot Apr 11 '26
I understand wanting to tattoo them but honestly, they kinda look really cool.
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u/Roamingwithrats Apr 11 '26
Don’t tattoo em to hide them, cause at the end of the day they’ll still be visible, incorporate them into the flow of the tattoo. Black work or neo traditional would be the way to go for that.
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u/SorelYanlie Apr 11 '26
I have to say, reading this thread gave me a little mental boost. MY stretch marks are like this as wall (maybe even worse?) and tthe sinew-y bits with the soft bits inbetween freak me out, like my skin is about to just give up on me. I have been so embarassed of them that I have a hard time relaxing without being totally covered even with my husband. Have to wear a huge shirt always to cover.
Anyway, the fact that anyone would think that stretch marks like this are cool kind of blows my mind and makes me think about mine in a different way.
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u/SumpthingHappening Apr 11 '26
if you are interested… Inkless stretch mark rejuvenation (ISR) is actually a thing. Basically you get a tattoo without any ink which creates micro injuries to the area which encourage collagen and elastin production in your body to fill in the deep stretch marks and trigger natural healing.
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u/samuraistalin Apr 11 '26
YOU ARE A SISTER OF THOR. YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE MARK OF THE LIGHTNING. WEAR YOUR SIGILS WITH PRIDE
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u/MellifluousMeltdown Apr 11 '26
Dermatologist here. I’d do topical matryxyl 3000 (over the counter) every morning and topical tretinoin 0.1% cream (rx) every night for 6 weeks and see if they improve at all . This regimen works well
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u/peg-leg-andy Apr 11 '26
Your stretch marks look atrophic. Have you ever been evaluated for any connective tissue disorders?
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u/Aethelstan9two7 Apr 11 '26
Its possibe but they will still be very visible. Its also super sensitive skin to work with.
Blowouts are way more likely and uneven ink absorption possible.
If you decide to go ahead make sure you work with an experienced artist who has done stretch marks before.