Stretch marks are fairly common for both men and women. Body-building or an intense workout routine can easily cause stretch marks. The rapid increase of muscle mass in your shoulders and arms can cause stretch marks. For men and women who are not active, stretch marks may occur during pregnancy for women and during growth spurts or puberty for men. The good news is that stretch marks can be treated and in most cases prevented.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are caused by skin stretching and an increase of cortisone in your system. Cortisone is a hormone that is naturally produced by your body’s adrenal glands. There is nothing wrong with your body producing Cortisone, but having too much of this hormone can make your skin lose its elasticity.
Stretch marks are common in certain circumstances:
- Athletes and Bodybuilders: rapidly gaining or losing weight can cause stretch marks.
- Teenagers: Stretch marks are very common when teenagers experience a growth spurt.
- Pregnant woman: during pregnancy the skin stretches in numerous ways to accommodate the baby, this continual tugging and stretching can cause stretch marks.
Are Stretch Marks Preventable?
If your stretch marks are caused by a genetic predisposition or condition,there’s nothing much you can do to stop them from appearing, but for Athletes and Bodybuilders there are some preventative measures, which includes avoiding gaining weight or muscle at a rapid pace. Generally keeping your skin moisturized is another preventative measure, especially if you’re aiming to gain muscle or put on weight. In this case we recommend moisturizing at least twice a day. It is also important to regularly drink water, keep your skin hydrated and maintain a healthy balance of diet rich vitamins.
Stretch Marks on Your Back and Shoulders
Athletes, Bodybuilders and gym enthusiasts will usually experience stretch marks on their backs and shoulders. These stretch marks will often appear in a horizontal pattern. These kinds of stretch marks are usually long, but generally narrow after a while. Back stretch marks may be sensitive and itch because of the body attempting to repair itself. The important thing to note is that stretch marks are a common problem experienced by many across the world and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Bodybuilders may experience this quite often, since it is difficult to regulate weight loss and weight gain. However, the appearance of stretch marks is entirely treatable and can be lightened over time.
Treatment of Stretch Marks
For Athletes and Bodybuilders we have a few recommendations to treat unwanted stretch marks:
- Add minerals and Vitamin E to do your diet and make sure you’re supplementing your diet with a good balance of multi-vitamins and minerals.
- A good multi -vitamin will improve the health of your skin and the rest of your body. Most stretch marks can appear to be worse because of poor nutrition and a lack of multi-vitamins and minerals. This usually results in your skin tearing.
- Eating a nutritious diet should reduce your chance of developing or worsening your stretch marks. Always include foods that have Zinc, antioxidants and fruit in your diet. Healthy proteins such as chicken or nuts are also a good source of nutrition for your body.
Home Remedies to Try
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A is often referred to as a retinoid which makes the skin appear smoother and more youthful. They can be bought over-the-counter as a topical cosmetic cream.
- Sugar: Many people have found sugar to be useful as a Microdermabrasion. Rubbing a sugar scrub on the skin exfoliates the area.
- Aloe Vera: Pure Aloe Vera is a natural healing agent and skin softener. Apply pure aloe vera from the plant to your stretch marks daily after your shower.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Collagen is renowned for all skin types. It is the protein that helps your skin keep its shape and appear healthy. As we grow older, our collagen decreases in our face and our bodies. You can purchase hyaluronic acid in a capsule or extract.
- Coconut Oil: Since stretch marks cause scarring, coconut oil and other essential oils might help heal the appearance quickly. Coconut oil has many healing properties. Apply coconut oil to your stretch marks every day and it will take away redness.
