Can Bodybuilding Cause Stretchmarks?
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
The goal of a good bodybuilding program is to develop a sculpted, strong, muscular body. Appearance is important and nothing looks more “buff” than a ripped body, but hold on a minute - what are those ugly purplish or reddish marks around your armpits or triceps? Stretchmarks!
How Can This Happen?
When you are bodybuilding, you are gaining muscle and generally gaining weight. During a good bulking cycle it is not uncommon to gain 20lbs. Unfortunately, along with this weight gain your body can develop stretchmarks, those unsightly marks signally damaged skin.
Understanding Stretchmarks
To get a better understanding of how you developed these marks, an understanding of the skin’s structure is necessary. To start with, there are three layers to normal skin:
1) The top layer is called the Epidermis and has the purpose of keeping out all those toxins in our environment from entering our bodies through the skin.
2) The second layer is called the Dermis. This second layer of skin is responsible for producing collagen and elastic fibers that give your skin that smooth look. It is in this second layer, that stretch marks occur.
3) The third layer of skin is called the Hypodermis and this is where the fat and connective tissues are located.
It is these three layers of skin working together that allows the skin cells to function properly to protect our bodies. And if you didn’t know it - our skin is the largest single organ found in our bodies.
What are Stretchmarks?
To answer this question, you need to understand that these marks are actually tears in the dermis layer. They are gaps in the dermis left by over-stretched and possibly torn fibers. The cause of this condition is skin growing faster than its capacity to expand or stretch. When our skin is overstretched, it can lose its elasticity and result in the breaking of connective fibers, causing a stretchmark.
The initial appearance of a stretchmark is usually pink, reddish brown or dark brown depending on your skin tone. Next, it will usually change into a red, dark red or purplish line on your damaged skin. As time passes though, the stretchmark will generally fade to a lighter shade than your natural skin tone, giving it a silverish to white appearance.
Are Stretchmarks Restricted to Bodybuilders?
Unfortunately, bodybuilding isn’t the only ones who can develop stretchmarks. People get stretchmarks from a number of activities and conditions;
- rapid weight gain,
- puberty,
- pregnancy,
- obesity,
- heredity,
- stress,
- poor diet, and
- changes in the environment.
Stretchmark Prevention
There are a number of methods that can be used to help prevent stretchmarks. Eating well by consuming a balanced diet is a great way of preventing stretchmarks. This helps by keeping your skin healthy and enhancing its elastic properties.
Another method is to exercise daily, which improves your circulation and again promotes healthy skin. Two unhealthy habits to stay clear of is cigarette smoking (can cause skin to lose its elasticity) and alcohol use.
Stretchmark Treatments
If you found that you already have developed stretchmarks, all is not lost. You may be able to fade stretchmarks and improve their appearance by taking the following actions:
1) Apply a stretchmark creme (containing Vitamin E, Cocoa butter, or fish oil)
2) Laser Therapy
3) Dermabrasion
4) Chemical Peeling
This is just a partial list of stretchmark treatment methods. Other options are available ranging from creams and ointments to major surgery. We highly recommend that you start with the most non-obtrusive approach - a high quality stretchmark remover cream. These creams can dramatically reduce stretchmark appearance by fading the color of the affected skin to where they are barely, if at all, visible.
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