Would you wear a bikini if you had stretchmarks?

fairy_lights

Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are about this.
I've lost quite a lot of weight over the last few years and for the first time in my life I'm starting to think I might want to wear a bikini on the beach this summer. I usually wear full swimming costumes with swim shorts over the top so to even contemplate wearing a bikini is a huge step for me!
The problem is I have a LOT of stretch marks; on my thighs, the back of my calves, my breasts, underarms, and the worst of all cover my hips and snake round on to my stomach. They are pretty faded now and as I tone up through exercise seem to be getting less noticeable, but I do feel very self conscious about them. I'm worried that if I wore a bikini people would stare, make rude comments etc.
I got my stretch marks during my teenage years when my weight fluctuated a lot, which makes me feel even weirder about having them because whenever I hear people talk about stretch marks they seem to be the result of pregnancy. I don't even have a kid to show for mine!


Another thing I'm worried about is what affect getting a tan would have on the scars, would they tan like regular skin or would they stay super pale and silvery and look even more noticeable against tanned skin?

mcja

I am stripy like a tiger and every time I go on holiday, I wear cossie. Then I sit there, and look about thinking !!!!!! was I worried about!!

Seriously, don't worry about them, no one else will even notice, and we all feel fab with a tan!!

lostinrates

I have scars. Lots of them, and a fair few stretch marks.

I actually feel rather fond of them. They are part of me.

I'd wear the bikini proudly if I were you.

mrcow

mcja wrote: »

I am stripy like a tiger and every time I go on holiday, I wear cossie. Then I sit there, and look about thinking !!!!!! was I worried about!!

Seriously, don't worry about them, no one else will even notice, and we all feel fab with a tan!!

I agree,

As soon as you start looking at everyone else's lumps and bumps, you being to wonder what you were worrying about!

Just wear what you'd like.

In my experience, strechmarks don't get any more noticable with normal tanning.

rach_k

I wouldn't wear a bikini anyway, but I wouldn't think twice about somebody with stretch marks wearing one. I think people are usually more worried about what they look like to really look at others! If you want to wear one, just wear one and be proud. You can always take a sarong or similar to throw on if you have a wobble of confidence.

sweetcheeks33

I would wear one... I wear a bikini all the time on holiday however I only have my shorts n vest or sarong: dress off when I'm lying by the pool/beach and cover a little for walking about. That would maybe help with your confidence.. But hell I'm more worried about my own !!! than anyone else's tbh!

Wear it proud and enjoy xxx

DigForVictory

Wear your bikini with a smile & if anyone is foolish enough to suggest you shouldn't (other than in a radically Muslim area - I'm presuming reasonable sense!), eye them over to suggest their dress sense is even more questionable than their manners...

Have a wonderful holiday!

fairy_lights

Thanks for all the replies ladies. I think I will brave a bikini but make sure I've got a sarong or kaftan on stand by in case I get the wobbles.
I'm considering getting my belly button pierced, something I always wanted to do as a teenager but spent years thinking I was too fat for so if I do catch anyone staring I can just assume their looking at my piercing!
It's funny but I've never really paid much attention to other women's imperfections on the beach, I suppose we're all too busy worrying about ourselves to be critical of anyone else.

belfastgirl23

mcja wrote: »

I am stripy like a tiger and every time I go on holiday, I wear cossie. Then I sit there, and look about thinking !!!!!! was I worried about!!

Seriously, don't worry about them, no one else will even notice, and we all feel fab with a tan!!

lol this is exactly me too. Why not bring a one piece for the first day or two and a bikini for when your confidence increases

busiscoming2

I have stretch marks (albeit very faded ones now) which I got from the teenage growth spurt and a couple from pregnancies. I have always worn a bikini without worrying. I would say the one place it doesn't matter what you look like is on holiday, just take a look around while you are there and you will see people far worse. Just be brave and remember you will probably never see these people again. Have a fab holiday

RachRubyD

Most people have stretch marks I have them on my hips and thighs from puberty and my boyfriend has ones all up his back from puberty. I don't think they are that noticeable to be honest especially if faded. Plently of celebs have stretch marks and you never notice them like shakira has them on her hips and bum area and she is tiny.

Do you body brush and use bio-oil i found mine are less noticable since doing this. Well done on losing weight and toning up. You worked hard so you should show off your body.