Although stretch marks are frequently associated with puberty, pregnancy, and weight gain, they are rarely associated with exercise. Stretch marks are frequently caused by the rapid expansion of muscle tissue as a result of exercise and bodybuilding, especially in men.
Biceps, shoulders, and thighs are the most common places to see stretch marks from working out or bodybuilding, but they can appear anywhere rapid growth occurs.
Tips On How To Prevent Stretch Marks From Working Out
Due to the nature of bodybuilding, exercise programs frequently contradict a great deal of stretch mark prevention advice. If you’re willing to wait a little while longer to achieve your gym goals, you can still do so while reducing your risk of developing stretch marks.
Avoid Significant Weight Gain Or Loss In A Short Period
This is the most difficult piece of advice to follow when it comes to sticking to a workout routine. On the other hand, gradually increasing your size allows your skin to adjust to your changing body mass, making it more elastic and less likely to stretch beyond its limit.
Consume A Healthy Diet
This may be the easier route to take, but you must ensure that you are eating foods that are beneficial to your skin. Vitamins, zinc, and anti-oxidants are just a few of them. By caring for your skin from the inside out, you can keep it supple and thus more resistant to damage.
Moisturize
Stretch mark prevention, reduction, and elimination products are widely available. You can maintain healthy skin on the inside by eating a nutritious diet, but you can also maintain healthy skin on the outside by moisturizing. Numerous items are dual-purpose, which saves you money.
Vitamins A and E, shea butter, and cocoa butter are the most effective ingredients, but retinoid treatment is also available. Retinoids, on the other hand, should not be used during pregnancy due to the risk to the fetus.
Many people have reported that Bio-oil is effective in preventing, reducing, and eliminating stretch marks and other scars. Coconut oil and olive oils are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that your skin will absorb.
What Causes Exercise-Induced Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are deep scars that form in the skin tissue when an area of the body grows faster than the skin’s ability to adapt. When the skin is stretched beyond its natural elasticity, a mark is left. This mark will initially be purple or red, but will gradually fade to a silvery, white line.
Bodybuilding workout plans are rigorous and intense, which results in the rapid growth of muscle groups such as the biceps and thighs. Stretch marks may develop as a result in these areas.
How to Remove Stretch Marks from Bodybuilding and Workouts
Continue to exercise caution
If you already have stretch marks, you may wish to conceal them or even eliminate them. Continue to employ the methods outlined above to keep them at bay. When it comes to topical treatments, the sooner you begin, the more effective they will be.
Apply a stretch mark cream to the affected area
If you haven’t done so already, begin using stretch mark removal cream immediately upon noticing your stretch marks. This technique works best with purple/red marks because the skin is more receptive to this color. Circular motions should be used to massage the area to increase blood circulation, which brings oxygen and nutrients to the cells from within.
Therapy with Light
Certain wavelengths of light are thought to promote healing, and infrared light can warm the skin at a deeper level, speeding up cell processes and stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, which keep the skin supple.
Stretch mark creams work better when applied deeper into the skin tissue. Red light therapy can help speed up the healing process. This can be done safely at home by untrained professionals using a variety of products at a fraction of the cost of a dermatologist’s treatment. Stretch mark removal with IPL may be the most effective light therapy.
Microdermabrasion
Stretch marks can be minimized in appearance by using microdermabrasion to soften and even out the surrounding skin tone. While it may not be able to eliminate stretch marks when used alone, it, like IPL, can improve product absorption and results. Microdermabrasion can also be performed at home with one of the numerous available at-home kits.
Remove Your Stretch Marks From Working Out
Due to their genes, some people develop stretch marks regardless of what they do. There are several things you can do to minimize the appearance of stretch marks, whether they are new or existing:
- Dermapen is one of our favorite stretch mark treatments because it requires little to no downtime.
- If you have discoloration around your stretch marks, Intense Pulsed Light can help lighten them.
- For those who no longer have colorful stretch marks, a fractional laser may be a better option, as it resurfaces the rough and uneven skin caused by stretch marks.
Final Thoughts
Stretch marks are a common occurrence, particularly in women, but can affect anyone. They are most likely to occur during periods of rapid growth, such as puberty and pregnancy, but can also be caused by weight gain or bodybuilding.
There are many ways to prevent stretch marks from occurring in the first place, including maintaining a healthy diet and keeping the skin moisturized. If you already have stretch marks, there are treatments available to help reduce their appearance, including topical creams, light therapy, and microdermabrasion.
