Stretch marks from Prednisone.. Do they fade away? :(

This may seem like a strange response, but...

Frankly, I've never looked for stretch marks. Now I know you probably didn't either, but there they are. I know I have some, but they just aren't the main focus in my life. I am SO HAPPY to have my cognitive function back, to have diminished pain and increased mobility... well, to me stretch marks are a small price to pay.

That said, I, too have read that some people have them go away, particularly if they apply the creams, etc like you have been doing. While with other people they never go away. I think it depends on a lot of factors, including but not limited to, skin tone, how long they were "plumped up" by the prednisone, overall age, speed of healing, all that stuff. Probably toss in some healthy eating, sleeping, and drinking lots of water in as well. I'd probably give it up to a year before I gave up -- while skin does regenerate it does take a while.

Best wishes, let us know how it goes!

On the plus side, the moon face does go away!! Mine was totally gone within 6 months of being totally clear of prednisone. Drinking water seemed to help flush it from my system.

Mirrors might not be our friends! LOL. Nothing like a chronic illness to teach us more things about ourselves than we ever really wanted to know.

Post Edited (Lynnwood) : 7/2/2015 12:06:58 PM (GMT-6)

I have stretch marks all over my body thanks to my first child/pregnancy. I used cocoa butter cream diligently. Didn't work not one little bit. I have very pale skin. Several yrs later the stretch marks are pale and silvery, but they never disappeared. I introduced myself to a one piece bathing suit with a skirt a long long time ago.

Hi haydeelu. I want to welcome you to our forum. This is such a "fun" topic I had to chime in. Upon being diagnosed with lupus in 2005 I ate anything that gave me comfort and I gained 100 lbs. Eventually I lost the 100 lbs, but my 5 foot frame showed no mercy. I have some stretch marks on my hips, but I my vanity lies with all the loose skin from my 100 lb stretch. My stomach skin hangs just past my hoo-hoo and my breasts literally reach my waist. Mammograms though are a cinch.

Now I take a mess o' meds, two IV meds monthly, and 7 mg of prednisone daily because my adrenal glands are on strike. This miniscule 7 mg is enough to give me both moon face and buffalo hump. If anyone knows of a buffalo missing one, it can have mine. I'll probably stay at 7 mg of pred for the rest of my life so any time you see a humpless buffalo please post. That said I'm 57 years old and a little sagging is natural. I just wish I didn't have to roll up my breasts to fit them in my bra.

I think many women would be concerned about a stretch mark highway and all the other nasty side effects of pred. Self esteem is very, very important. On a positive note over the years whenever I went off pred my moon face vanished usually within 2 weeks. The hump took longer- may be a month. Take a deep breath haydeelu and also throw in loads of patience. Once you're off pred life will feel at least somewhat normal. I'm not embarrassed to say my normality comes in antidepressant bottles. And to think this last paragraph was all I really wanted to say. Go figure. Love, Butterflake

Hi,
I was diagnosed in 1988 with Lupus and had a very bad flare up which almost took my life. They gave me so much prednisone that my body(whole body) stretched that I have stretch marks everywhere. My arms, legs, back, stomach are covered. I've tried everything to get rid of them but some are so deep theirs no way they will go away. I call it my road map. Anyway I now think of it as a reminder to how serious Lupus can be and what can happen if I don't take care of myself.