You have the questions, and we have the answers! Let’s get into the relationship between stretch marks and exercise and how to get that glowy, tight skin you deserve.

Does Exercise Improve Skin?

Exercise absolutely improves skin! See below for the top five benefits of exercise on the skin, and consider setting your alarm a little earlier and doing that workout class you promised yourself.

Exercise Nourishes Skin Cells

Exercise works the heart and increases blood and oxygen circulation. The increase of blood during exercise helps improve circulation more generally when you are not exercising. Healthy circulation means the body’s cells are more constantly nourished; this includes skin cells. Nourished skin cells lead to effective cellular repair and replacement and increased vitality.

Exercise Removes Toxins from The Skin

As we have already established, exercise improves blood flow. Increased blood flow delivers more nutrients to the body’s cells and ultimately helps remove toxins from the body. Think of your bloodstream as a highway for nutrients and waste. When the highway works efficiently, it moves fast, allowing nutrients to reach cells more quickly and removing toxins (or waste). This process directly benefits the skin.

Exercise Improves Chronic Skin Conditions

Stress can adversely affect skin and hair, particularly for those with chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. Exercise can help mitigate these effects by decreasing the body's hormonal and immune responses to stress. This process helps reduce the risk of breakouts and flare-ups of chronic skin conditions. Additionally, exercise boosts the immune system, allowing it to better combat skin and general health issues.

Exercise Prevents & Reverses Aging

We know this one sounds too good to be true! But, recent research proved that regular exercise could turn back the clock on aged skin. As little as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day may be enough to achieve this youthful glow.

Exercise Helps Maintain Overall Health

Skin is a barrier organ that protects the body from any potential danger. When the immune system senses danger and is engaged, skin health suffers. Exercising regularly is vital to overall health. When you are healthy, your skin is healthy.

Now that we have shown you all the benefits of exercise let’s understand how and why they connect to stretch marks. And, for fun, let’s do a lightning round of facts about stretch marks.

1. Genetics plays a role in developing stretch marks. If your mama had them, you would most likely develop them.

2. There are two different categories of stretch marks. Younger stretch marks are classified as striae rubra and older stretch marks as striae alba.

3. Hydration helps, no matter the form. So drink water, use topical creams, and wear silicone patches to boost hydration.

4. A balanced diet full of nutrient-rich food helps prevent stretch marks, especially food high in Vitamin C and Zinc.

5. 75 - 90% of pregnant women develop stretch marks. Babies need space to grow, and the skin stretches to accommodate.

But Do Guys Have Stretch Marks?

Yes, guys do get stretch marks! Often for the same reasons as women. For adolescent men, stretch marks appear on the butt, calves, back, or thighs. For older men with stretch marks, they usually appear on the butt. The top three reasons men develop stretch marks are rapid growth during puberty, rapid weight gain, and bodybuilding.

Do Stretch Marks Appear When Gaining or Losing Weight?

Stretch marks commonly occur due to rapid weight gain and are unrelated to weight loss. However, you may only notice stretch marks when you lose weight. When you gain weight, your skin stretches, and if it happens quickly, it tears and creates stretch marks. But, the stretch marks may only be obvious once you lose weight.

Can Exercise Get Rid of Stretch Marks?

The truth is that exercise cannot, on its own, get rid of stretch marks. Stretch marks are scars, and exercise alone cannot repair scars or boost the elastin and collagen necessary to erase them. But don’t lose all hope. You can do exercises to help lessen the appearance of stretch marks.

Exercise for Stretch Marks at Home

Below, we introduce two exercises you can do at home to target stretch marks on the thighs and core. It’s important to note that stretch marks exercise should be combined with other supporting routines like a healthy diet, a good skincare routine, and staying hydrated.

Exercises to Reduce Stretch Marks on Thighs

Step 1: Get down on all fours and extend your right or left leg straight to the side.

Step 2: Lift your leg and slowly make small circles. Keep your hips as still as possible.

Step 3: Complete ten circles going forward and ten circles going backward.

Step 4: Repeat with the opposite leg.

This exercise also works for hip stretch marks!

Exercise for Stretch Marks on the Core

Step 1: Begin in a plank with your hands under your shoulders and hold.

Step 2: Twist into side plank and raise one hand. Feel free to stack the feet or make a modification.

Step 3: Hold, return to the center and repeat on the other side.

Repeat this process 15 times.

You may wonder what happens if you have stretch marks on your stomach. Again, exercise cannot erase stretch marks, so you may notice that you develop abs with stretch marks visible. Know that stretch marks on abs are very common, but if you are looking for a stretch mark eraser, jump to the bottom of this article for the low down.

Stretch Marks Before and After Exercise

It is possible to develop stretch marks after exercise. Rapid weight gain can also come in the form of muscle. Bulking up too fast can stretch the skin beyond capacity and lead to stretch marks. You will notice stretch marks around the arms, thighs, back, and chest when it comes to muscle building. Be sure to have an eye on your stretch marks before and after exercise so you aren’t putting your skin at risk.

How to Prevent Stretch Marks From Working Out

So, how do you prevent stretch marks from forming when you want to bulk up? Just remember these two vital tips, and you will be good to go.

1. Monitor the weight you are using and consider cutting down. You can always increase your reps!

2. Don’t skip cardio. Cardio helps burn calories and controls muscle gains, so stretch marks don’t develop.

If you notice any red lines after a workout, this can be one of three things. You may have pushed yourself a little too far, broken a blood vessel, scraped yourself on some equipment, or the red line is a new stretch mark. Fresh stretch marks appear red, purple, or pink, so monitor them as it develops or heals.

Do Stretch Marks Mean Loose Skin?

Stretch marks and loose skin are not the same. Stretch marks result from the skin expanding rapidly, and loose skin is due to rapid weight loss or aging. Skin is made up of collagen and elastin; when these two reach a breaking point, the skin rips, and a stretch mark appears. When collagen and elastin degrade, loose skin appears. Loose skin is commonly linked to weight loss, pregnancy, and aging.

Can Exercise Get Rid of Loose Skin?

Exercise can help get rid of loose skin. Building muscle mass, weight training, and cardio all help decrease the appearance of loose skin. See below for options for targeting loose skin after pregnancy or on your stomach.

Exercises to Tighten Stomach Skin After Pregnancy

• Burpees

• Cycle crunches

• Flutter kicks

• Squats

Exercises to Get Rid of Loose Skin on Stomach

• Leg raises

• Pelvic thrusts

• Straight leg crunches

• Side bridge

How to Prevent Stretch Marks?

After all of that work, you deserve a treat. And the treat comes in the form of the ultimate solution to heal and erase stretch marks.

Dermaclara is your shining be-all-end-all solution. When applied, Dermaclara silicone patches create a microclimate that boosts collagen and elastin (the two vital proteins mentioned above). This process hydrates and heals the skin rolling back time to reveal smooth, unblemished, and taut skin. This cost-efficient, non-invasive, chemical-free, and dermatologist-approved method easily fits into your daily skincare routine. In just one use, you will see changes to your stretch marks and loose skin, but over time, you will notice a permanent change.

This is your chance! A whole new you is one workout away, and with Dermaclara, you can seal the deal (literally)!