stretch marks on breasts out of nowhere?

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

okay, so basically here's my problem. i got stretch marks on my hips, thighs, and the backs of my calves when i was younger, i assume when i was going through puberty. i don't remember when they arrived because i don't remember them ever looking fresh. so, as far back as i can think of, they've been faded and whitish, like scars. i don't scar easily - maybe that's why they faded so fast? anyway, that's not really important.
the point is, somehow i managed to need a bra at nine/ten years old, got my period at ten, and was a c cup by the time i was fourteen, a d by the time i was fifteen, and a dd cup by the time i was seventeen, almost eighteen. if i'm being honest with myself, i was probably a dd long before then, but i didn't find bras that fit me until almost a year ago. (36dd, who knew? apparently NO ONE CARRIES THIS SIZE EVER and when they do, it's sized incorrectly. psht. dear audience, i'd like to thank the girl at lane bryant for helping me find two whole bras that actually really truly fit me and then ordering a bunch more to be sent DIRECTLY TO MY HOUSE. that was a good day. i digress.)
somehow through all these growth spurts and my coming to terms with the fact that i'm never going to NOT be ridiculously hourglass-shaped, no matter how much weight i gain or how silly it looks on me at my heaviest weight, which is right now...i never got stretchmarks on my breasts. not a one.
this is where you come in, vp. i woke up two days ago with really nasty, bright red stretchmarks on the tops of both of my breasts. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE. they aren't particularly large, but there are a LOT of them and they're very noticeable. thankfully they aren't high enough to where they'd show in a low shirt (even though i never wear actual low-cut shirts, i can't get away from having ridiculous cleavage so i'm basically just referring to any shirt that shows cleavage.)
some extra background - i'm eighteen, caucasian (could that be why they're so red? because my skin is practically transparent?), have actually recently lost about five pounds. as far as i know (tested last week from sheer paranoia, lol, guess it came in handy) i'm not pregnant, nor have i ever been. i am on the nuvaring, but i've been using it for...five months now? my breasts have been fairly sore and swollen lately, especially when i take off my bra. (and let me tell you, that motherfrocking HURTS.) i'm not pmsing until next week - i leave my ring in for four weeks and then have an off week, and i'm due to take it out on the twelfth.
so...what the hell is going on with my body? i know that women can experience changes like this until their early twenties, but is it really possible that i'm still going through some sort of puberty? pretty much as soon as that first training bra touched my skin at age nine, my tits have been acting like i'm giving them boob-steroids. is it possible that they could still be growing after TEN YEARS? i haven't changed any eating or exercising habits.
and to add to that...how the hell do i get rid of them? i'm on an extremely tight budget right now and i very sincerely doubt i'd be able to find pure cocoa butter for under five bucks. do vit e rubs work?
thanks for any help!

Comments

[mirandarina.livejournal.com]

I totally know what it's like trying to find the 36 DD that NO ONE carries. I have however had stretch marks on my breasts since...well the massive jump from A to D in junior high. Anyways, I suspect that you could have had a sudden growth from the birth control, the hormones and all? Especially if they've been tender and sore. Gravity definately doesn't help, that could be another issue. Maybe wear a bra to bed if you don't already, to avoid stretching and the like, maybe just a comfy sports bra.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

but i've been on various forms of birth control since i was fifteen. ha, that's the one thing i forgot to add, actually. the nuvaring was a new form, but certainly not my first hbc. i occasionally wear a bra to bed, but i also have chronic urticaria so i can't always do that.

[bradyyface.livejournal.com]

I'm a certified bra fitter, and the thing I see most often is stretch marks at the top of the breast tissue from lack of support.

Unfortunately, most women are wearing their band size too big, and when that happens, the breasts are unsupported no matter how covered they might be. Size DD breasts can actually carry up to 30 pounds, and despite common knowledge, their weight is actually supported by the back band of the bra. If it is not snug and low beneath your shoulder blades, so that it never has the opportunity to ride up your back, then the band is too big and that is what will allow your breast tissue to stretch.

Also! If you don't sleep with a bra on, that can also cause major stretching in the breast tissue. Breasts are just tissue, after all, and leaving them to be squished and molded and lain on throughout the night breaks down the firmness of your breasts.

Phew. I relay this information to tons of women all day long, and it's a hard concept to get used to. Kudos, though, for letting Lane Bryant fit you! They do an excellent job of putting women in the right size bra, and I recommend customers to them all of the time.

I'm not saying that this is the reason for your stretch marks, but it might be an indication? And if you don't mind me offering some advice - if your true size is a 36DD, then you might try a good seamed bra. Something like this (http://www.freshpair.com/Chantelle-Amazone-Underwire-Bra-2101.html) offers fantastic support for those heavy ladies. :)

(I'm a 32DDD, for the record, and I have stretch marks from years of wearing the wrong size. :) Sorry for writing a novel!)

[hold-fast.livejournal.com]

Also! If you don't sleep with a bra on, that can also cause major stretching in the breast tissue. Breasts are just tissue, after all, and leaving them to be squished and molded and lain on throughout the night breaks down the firmness of your breasts.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was genetics that did this, not whether or not you wear a bra. I know some women who don't wear bras at all and don't experience sagging, while at the same time there are women who wear them constantly but have never been what one can call "perky". I'm sure there have been posts on this topic here before.

[bradyyface.livejournal.com]

You know, I have yet to see a lady over the age of 60 who hasn't lost at least some of the elasticity at the top of her breast tissue. Maybe some keep their firmness longer because of genetics - and I'm uneducated, so pardon me if I'm wrong - but I do believe all breast tissue begins to break down at some point, and how fast that occurs depends on the preventative measures taken (or genetics??).

You've got me thinking, thanks. :)

[hold-fast.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't mean they'd *never* sag. I'm sure they will eventually, they just aren't now. I'm pretty jealous, myself. XD I've tried wearing bras at night, but they just aren't comfortable. I'm an odd shape though (not quite saggy, but they seem to be set too low to be perky, not to mention I'm rather small), so if I end up sagging, it'll be no big deal to me.

I'm glad I inspired some mental investigation! I know there are lots of informative posts on the topic around here somewhere. They'd be much more helpful than me. :D

[nova-lies.livejournal.com]

I thought I remembered posts from here that basically said that wearing a bra to bed won't really do anything for you.

I've also heard that wearing a bra to bed can be bad for you, but I don't know if it's true or not.

[bradyyface.livejournal.com]

I've actually heard that underwire can cause breast cancer as well.

Then again, so can the radiation from my cell phone. :) I don't know, but I honestly don't wear a bra to bed myself. I find it uncomfortable, but I was taught that it can *help* reduce stretching of the breast tissue.

[hiriel1804.livejournal.com]

I've also read that wearing a bra (constrantly, including to bed) is coincidental with breast cancer, but it could not be proven to be correlated, because women who wear bras all the time are often women with bigger breasts (I could never sleep with my bra on, it's uncomfortable, but my best friend, who is an E cup does, it's uncomfortable not to). It could be that the larger breast size increased the risk, not the bras.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

lane bryant didn't fit me, actually. i got a website off vp, but i'm completely blanking on the name. anyway, the website suggested that i wear a 36dd instead of the 38d i had been wearing, so i found one and tried it on and it actually offered fantastic support. that's what i meant by fit well, not that it just gave me good coverage. lane bryant was just the only place that i could find in my area that had the bras in stock so i could try them on without ordering blind. i got lucky, too, because i had never been there before since their clothes are too big for me, and the girl said they don't normally stock that small of a size. they were returns that had been purchased online. i bought a bunch and have been switching around wearing each one, so i am being supported really well and none of the bras have stretched out yet.
are you sure that sleeping without a bra would contribute to this? like another commenter, i remember reading that was a myth, and that it was genetics. either way, i do wear a bra to bed often.
that bra is pretty, but it's way too flimsy for me to wear. i have always worn underwire, but i need structured cups.

[bradyyface.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* It's really all about personal preference, but the seamed bras really do offer more support for breast tissue because they do their part to mold and shape the breast tissue off of the chest wall. They U-shaped underwire allows for higher support, which takes pressure off of the neck and away from the straps. I'm digging to find some links to support all this shit I'm spouting, hehe, but google is not being too user-friendly tonight. Here's one I found that compares molded vs. seamed.

I'm not trying to recruit you to the side of the seamed bra, but this is what I tell my ladies all day long. :]

About the stretching during the night myth, I'm going to hold fast to my training and say that constant pressure on the tissue *does* damage the cell tissue and *can* cause loss of elasticity - that's why minimizer bras aren't recommended for everyday use.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

i've worn a couple of seamed bras, though. they're comfortable, but i find that they stretch out very quickly and my breasts move around too much. eh. maybe i'm just not buying the right brand or something.
i've heard that as well, but wouldn't that mean you aren't supposed to wear a bra to bed? to give the tissue a break?
also, i think you forgot to post the link. :)

[bradyyface.livejournal.com]

Ha, good point. I'm actually itching to speak with my boss about this subject right now, but it's also 1:30 am where I am and I'm sure that wouldn't go over well.

And sorry about the link! This is what I've found so far: http://www.herroom.com/bra-cup-styles,911,30.html

A bit of scrolling is required, but it's there. :)

I'll do some digging and interrogating this weekend, and I'll report back to VP what I've found. Training be damned! I want the truth! :D

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

haha, don't forget to post about it!
thanks :)

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

About the stretching during the night myth, I'm going to hold fast to my training and say that constant pressure on the tissue *does* damage the cell tissue and *can* cause loss of elasticity - that's why minimizer bras aren't recommended for everyday use

Any authoritative sources you could dig up on this would be much appreciated. :)

I've never heard that it matters either way, and a quick Google search reveals a plethora of input from online message boards and Yahoo Answers, which are not so much authorities on the subject. ;)

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, though it is often said both that wearing a bra to sleep will either make (or keep) breasts perky, or that it will make them sag more, there is no evidence (http://kidshealth.org/teen/expert/sex_health/bra_sleep.html) to support either of those claims.

Additionally, wearing a bra to bed can be bad for the bra, depending on the type of bra and what it's made out of -- bras hold up better when they are not subjected to prolonged wear -- so that's something to keep in mind as well.

[lupa-2u.livejournal.com]

I sleep with a bra on because a) its comfortable and b) living in a dorm with frequent 3 am fire alarms, I don't like bouncing downstairs into the cold night air, if you catch my drift.

Is that really actually bad for breasts?

[hold-fast.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, you can't "get rid" of stretch marks. If they're already a silver color, that's about as good as they get, no matter what you use. If they're a livid red color, using a cream or lotion can fade them to a white or silver so they're less noticeable, though.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

well, i know you can't get rid of them entirely, but i'd really prefer them to not be so vividly red. i wouldn't mind them if they were faded, i'm just trying to figure out how to do that quickly.
any idea which kinds of creams or lotions would work?

[hold-fast.livejournal.com]

I've used plain Vit E capsules. I buy them in a big bottle at Wal-Mart for pretty cheap, and I just break them open onto my skin. It's sticky, but it works really well for me (after spending lots of money on that expensive scar cream that didn't work). I've used them on particularly red stretch marks and other scars.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

ah, this is exactly what i was going to try. glad to hear it works!

[paperispatient.livejournal.com]

I had half of my thryroid removed a little over a year ago and was anxious to get rid of the scar. My doctor told me vitamin E and a scar cream like Mederma were the way to go. My scar's practically invisible now! I don't know if it was just time passing or the stuff I put on it or both, but I think it's worth a shot.

Also, I'm only a 34B but my boobs pretty much appeared out of nowhere, and I had tons of stretch marks after puberty - and on my hips too, those pretty much just happened one day! I don't remember how long it took for them to face, and it's many years later (I'm 22) but they're hardly visible at all, just some very faint silvery lines that you can see if the light hits my skin just right. So I know it sucks right now, but if it's any comfort, they will definitely fade. :)

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

yeah, mederma works really well. i'm not really willing to shell out the cash for that right now, so i'm going to stick with vitamin e and wish for the best lol.
i know they'll fade eventually, but i'm just confused as to why they would show up now, completely out of nowhere.

[kiteless.livejournal.com]

Target has their own clone of Mederma that I think is pretty cheap. You only need a teeny bit. Maybe check that out?

[moonpalace101.livejournal.com]

If you manage to figure out from whence they came, please let me know.

I just recently developed a slew of stretch marks on my breasts, stomach, calves and upper arms (I hate these the most), on top of the ones I already had on my hips and thighs. I have NO idea why. I'm 24, and my weight has been pretty steady for the past two years; it hasn't changed by more than plus/minus 5 lbs.

It really baffles me, but I try not to worry about them too much. I've found vitamin e makes them temporarily look better. I've also noticed I can feel them appearing...if my skin feels really itchy and dry in the same spot for a few days, it's a sign that I have a new stretch mark coming in, so I make sure to super moisturize.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

actually, now that you mention it, my skin WAS really itchy for a few days before that. i didn't think anything of it because i have chronic urticaria, but that's something interesting to consider.

[nova-lies.livejournal.com]

Honestly I have heard that you can't really make them fade faster even if you use the fancy and expensive creams.

I've had stretch marks in various places for ages, and if anyone comes up with something that can make them fade I'd love to try it. But as far as I've seen in response to these kinds of questions it's always been "There's not really a way to do it."

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

see, i don't know. i've heard a lot of people say that you just have to deal with it, and other people swear by either vit e oil or pure cocoa butter. i'd just really like one definitive answer! lol

[selaphobia.livejournal.com]

The truth is that both cocoa butter and vit e oil work, they just don't work the same for everyone. Since they're both relatively cheap (and neither one can really hurt you), I would try them both and see how they work for you. Try to find some with little to no additives in the mix, since pure cocoa butter or pure vitamin e oil will obviously work better than things that have been diluted.

Also, making sure you're getting enough vitamin K in your diet will help your body heal wounds and scars quickly, including stretch marks. So start munching on some salad and broccoli! :o)

[big-sarah-yeti.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest popping to your doctor, I'm afraid I can't remember the details, but my friend had the problem of excessive stretch marks and it seemed it may be a deficiency or something connected with a gland not being on top form that caused it.
Sorry I can't be more specific, and I'm not saying it definitely is this, but best to rule out everything I guess.

[whatwe-know.livejournal.com]

sounds like it might be from nuva ring...lots of BC has a tendency to plump breasts, even when they NEED NO FURTHER PLUMPING.

anyway, you can't get rid of stretch marks unless it with some expensive high tech dermatological procedure (i think it might be a laser treatment actually, saw something on tv about it a LONG time ago). only thing you can do for relatively little money is help them to fade more quickly. so moisture moisture moisture, cocoa butter, vitamin E, etc.

sorry. stretch marks are really...blargh. i have a few around my hips and thighs that don't really bother me at all. but my breasts are covered in them. thankfully they are very old and white, but they still bother me. they just give the skin a weird texture. oh well. i hope i can learn to love my poor titties more because they are the only ones i have...a little afriad they will get completely destroyed through childbearing but at least then it'll be for a good reason.

good luck keeping them in check!

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

i would assume the nuvaring if it was in the first few months, but it's been five months since i started using it.

[arctowardthesun.livejournal.com]

the plumping comment just cracked me up. my bra now makes a respectable hat.

[loonylupinlover.livejournal.com]

If the Ring is a new method for you that's probably the likeliest cause for the soreness and stretch marks -- it's like secret ninja boob growth. It doesn't matter how long you've been on BC in the past, any time you go to a new method there's the potential for new side effects, including breast growth. My boobs were temporarily big enough when first starting NuvaRing that even my friends noticed, not just my boyfriend, lol. They decreased enough to fit properly into my bras again, but even so they're still bigger than they were when I was on the Patch.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

it isn't new, though. i've been on it for five months, otherwise i would assume that the nuvaring was the cause. that's why i find it so weird that it's happening NOW.

[garagara-a-gogo.livejournal.com]

I developed very red stretch marks on my bottom about 10 years ago. The only thing that helped to reduce the redness was going to the dermatologist and getting a rx of retin-a.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

i'm not concerned about other people. i just don't understand why the stretch marks showed up now, of all times.

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

Your breasts can grow and develop well until age 25. At 18 I was a smaller size than I am now at age 20.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

yeah, i'm really hoping that's not the case with me. i already have back problems and plans for a reduction in the future, i don't need to keep growing!

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

same here.

[roseant.livejournal.com]

Well, I personally use lemon and cucumber juice for stretch marks. They have really lightened old and new marks on my butt.
If your skin is sensitive let the lemon slice soak in some water for a while then use the water to spash on or apply with a rag.
Cucumber juice is nice to use in the day.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

REALLY. do you use them seperately or together? do you leave it on? i'm intrigued!

[roseant.livejournal.com]

1. Either. I think the lemon helps more. I skipped the cucumber a lot of the time.
2. I would leave it on overnight. Lemon makes skin more sensitive to sun so if you want to, just wear cucumber in the day.

I actually mainly used it to get rid of acne and this giant scar type thing on my face but found the added benefit of lightened stretch marks.

Over 2 weeks time I would cut less than half of a lemon and a piece of cucumber then put them in a glass bottle together. I'd shake it up then put in the fridge until I'm ready to use. At night I would pour it out in a bowl and just splash it on all over. If I had time I would squeeze the lemon juice out and apply to the stretch marks.
Lemon and cucumber are known to brighten skin.
You can use lemon without water, I just had to make it last and I was desperate. I would still do this if I had lemons :-p
I think it's the lemon that actually does anything for me.

Some other natural things that work for my acne and scars that I've heard works for stretch marks and lots of things:

Lemon oil
Lavender oil
Tea Tree Oil
Manuka Honey(which I have yet to try but really want to)
Tomato Juice
Making a paste with a baking soda and water to use as a scrub

Sorry, tired here.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

thank you, that's really helpful! i prefer natural remedies over anything, so i'm going to give those a try.