Stretch marks appear when the skin has stretched beyond its elastic limits. This happens when a person grows too quickly or, gains and loses weight too rapidly. These marks can appear on the upper arms, breast or chest, abdomen, hips, thighs and back of the knees.
Generally, women are the ones that are most susceptible to stretch marks, but men can also develop them especially if they practice certain sports. For example, men that practice bodybuilding are especially likely to develop stretch marks.
Bodybuilders try to “bulk up” and develop more muscle mass. This, in turn, forces their skin to stretch in a short period of time. It is very common for bodybuilders to develop stretch marks along their thighs and lower abdomen and on their biceps and pectorals. For this reason, many bodybuilders are concerned about how they can treat stretch marks.
Ways of Treating Stretch Marks
Stretch mark removal is not really an option for bodybuilders as they do not have excess skin that can be removed. Surgical options are much more adequate for people who have lost a great deal of weight and have loose skin and stretch marks. Nevertheless, bodybuilders do have other treatment options.
When stretch marks are new, it is possible to treat them with stretch marks creams and other stretch mark products, like rose hip seed oil. However, as they get older it may not be possible to eliminate them completely. Rose hip seed oil is very effective in dramatically reducing the appearance of stretch marks but not in eliminating them.
In fact, the best solution for bodybuilders lies in covering up their stretch marks. If this is the route you choose then there are three basic ways of covering up these bothersome striations: clothing, makeup, and self tanners. Anyone can benefit from using these solutions.
Covering Up Stretch Marks
Clothing is probably the easiest and most hassle-free way of covering up your stretch marks. You can use jackets and long sleeve shirts to cover the stretch marks on your arms while the stretch marks on your abdomen can be covered up using a top or shirt. However, since bodybuilders compete they need other options that will help cover up stretch marks. In this case body makeup or self tanners can come in handy.
Body makeup is much thicker and more wear-proof than traditional foundation. When you have stretch marks in areas that are hard to cover or that you simply don’t want to cover with clothing, this is an ideal option for you.
Spray on tans or self tanning lotions are another great alternative for covering up stretch marks. Real tanning will only darken the skin around the stretch marks and make them stand out. However, self tanners are a great way of covering the skin evenly while keeping you out of the sun.
When you cannot prevent stretch marks, it’s time to treat them. BIOBODYCREAM is a stretch marks treatment cream that can help remove stretch marks. This is possible because this natural product contains a key ingredient – snail serum – that helps breakdown connective tissue and replaces it with healthy skin.
- Martha Fitzharris