I'm a guy and I have them and I'm insecure about them...to an extent. When I was 240lbs in high school, I started to develope those red stretch marks all over my lower abdomen. However, once I started to lose weight, now at 179, they started to fade. I have plenty on my upper arms as well because my weight has gone up and down 40 lbs in 2 years ago due to a new relationship. This one girl asked me "hey you have stretch marks on your [upper] arms." I thought that was a bit harsh to just point out without actually having a point in the first place. I came to realize that I may have them, but I've grown accustomed to them because they add to my journey and remind me of once where I was weight-wise.

I have a bunch on my tummy but I got them tattooed over and you can't even see them. Although I stretched again and it mangled one of my tats a little.. What can ya do..

I have them on my boobs. I grew three cup sizes in about four months when I was a teenager and ended up with real nasty ones. They hurt so very much when they were new. I remember there were days when wearing anything on my upper half was excrutiating and I'd have to put that sunburn stuff with lidocaine in it on them to just make life tollerable.

They've faded quite a bit by now, but I'm still a tiny bit self concious about them, partially because they remind me of an oh so awkward point in my development and partially because well, it seems sorta weird to have all these little white lines on my boobs (even though logically I know it's perfectly normal).

I had the same experience as Beth, though it didn't hurt as badly as it sounds like hers did. I started 'developing' in 5th grade and went from training bra to C cup really quickly in middle school, complete with many, many, red stretch marks. I was horrified since I thought only pregnant women got them and I'd never heard anyone else my age having them.

It is weird how it's never discussed, though I hate my own stretch marks and have never mentioned them to anyone. My OH is great and loves all of me, but I honestly don't understand how he finds my breasts attractive with all those ugly white lines - myself I try to look at them as little as possible. Sad, but true.

This is one area where I really do love being fat! No, really, let me explain: I got mine during adolesence, when I gained my weight - a few years later they had all faded and were almost invisible. You really can barely see them now and only at certain angles. So since adulthood, long past my days of purple stretch marks, I entered the realm of womanhood taken up with pregnancy and birth. I have had 7 pregnancies, 2 to term, and birthed those 2 9-lb babies. When my milk came in my poor boobs swelled to H cups. And you know what? I didn't get any pregnancy stretch marks! Not a single one! My belly is already full and round, my tatas are already out there, and the skin is already expanded and squishy, pregnancy's got nothing on me. One of the great things no one tells you about being fat and pregnant is you don't get stretch marks; or you get far fewer if you are just genetically very prone to them.

We don't wrinkle so much either as we age. Something else nice to look forward to :)

I've always been pretty average-sized, sometimes on the chubbier end of average, but not ever overweight and I've never been pregnant, but I have still have stretch marks! But the only place they are is on my lower back and my faintly on my thighs, which is weird because the only part of me that gets chubby is my belly, so I figured if I was going to get stretch marks it would be there. Bodies are weird.

I've got some small, white stretchmarks on mt inner arms - not really noticeable to anyone but me, but I remember when I first noticed them, I almost cried.

I've always had stretch marks on my tummy, but none on my arms, legs or breasts; and I was really upset that this sign of fatness was now visible to the general public when I wore short sleeves - because, you know, then people would know I was fat. Duh.

Now, I realise I can only see them because I look at my body every day. A cursory glance wouldn't notice them, and anyway, who cares?!

I have to say, I would have issue if I got stretch marks on my breasts. They're my favourite part of my body, and a huge part of my self-esteem. Here's hoping if I ever do get any there, I'll deal with it a little better!

I've got quite a few stretchmarks in various places from the usual gaining and losing lots of weight. I was at my heaviest when I was about 19 and went on to lose about 4 stone, so I suppose I've been lucky in having still quite elastic skin at the time.

I was really bothered by mine when they were still purple, especially the ones on my upper arms - they looked really really bad. Now they're silvery and I consider them something to be proud of because they remind me of where I've come from. Actually, I kind of like the ones on my hips: I think they look a bit like silvery feerns ;p

S x

I have them all over my thighs and butt. They showed up around puberty when I was ten. I don't even remember gaining that much weight, but then again this was an age when I didn't even look at my body.

Now it's magazines and full length mirrors and I can't imagine a time when I can't remember my weight or what I looked like naked.

I've got them on my boobs, stomach and arms. Prolly on my thighs too, but I gave up worrying about them after high school.

They are part of me, and yeah, I remember when they hurt and were red and ugly. If my biggest issue was my stretch marks, I'd probably be a happier girl, but really, with all the things I'm trying to learn to love about myself, the stretch marks are the least of my problems.

They're on the sides of my butt/thighs. I went from 5'1" to 5'7" in about 3 months over the summer between 7th and 8th grade. I was completely self-conscious about them (and, well, everything else), but they're going away. Either that, or I'm learning to ignore them... :) I used to wear those boyshort bathing suits to try to cover them up. Then I said "screw it."

Actually, I'm still really self-conscious about visible capillary veins on my legs. Had those since I was 17, and there's nothing to do for them; it's genetic. I rarely wear shorts or skirts as a result. I'm trying to get over it... and candidacy is helping. It's far more nerve-wracking than worrying about what some idiot on the street thinks of my legs. :)

I have them on my upper arms and the back of my legs around the knee. I hate them so but i'm hoping with so more weight-loss they will shrink.

I have stretch marks everywhere, but the most visible area is on my arm, near my armpit. Those were a result of gaining 100 lbs, and when I lost the weight, I was left with a nice little reminder of stretch marks on my arm.

I love wearing tank tops and sleeveless shirts, but for a long time I didn't, because I felt like everyone was staring at me. It's been 5 years and during that time, I realize I just don't care and I wear them proudly. When someone asks about it, I tell them that it's a reminder of how much weight I lost.

These days I'm not so self-conscious about it. I'm more concerned about my saggy boobs. :)

Thanks for the posts! I got mine at 15 on my inner thighs. I think it was a combination of puberty and intense weight lifting for sports. Whatever. Although they've faded I can still see them...and I don't care!

I also have them on my butt and thighs and got them at puberty and not from any memorable weight gain, the thing is, my butt is probably my favourite body part now and if I had to choose between no marks or less butt I would choose the stretch marks any day!

Are you sure that you want to destroy the ozone layer?

Oh, I have plenty! I have some from puberty, on hips, thighs, etc, then from pregnancy on my stomach, and my back. Actually, i recently wore a (modest) bikini to a water aerobics class at the Y. It was terrifying, but it's the only suit I own, and it's a $200 Malia mills bikini! I was shocked that I looked okay in it, and nobody reacted at all. The bottoms covered some of the stretch marks, anyway. It should not be a source of shame, and I am not going to wear a burka on the beach because some guy is pissed off by some feature of my body! By the way, those mean commenters on that site are probably 13 years old, with lots of stretchmarks in their futures- haha!

I hate, HATE, HATE, mine!!! They are all from being overweight my entire life then losing weight. If they could do full body skin transplant I would start saving now!