If you’ve just started weightlifting and are concerned about getting stretch marks from muscle gain, stretch marks from lifting or just getting stretch marks from exercising, then you should read this. 

You’re spending a large amount of time trying to perfect your body. You’ve seen bodybuilders with stretch marks and the concern is real when it comes to having abs with stretch marks or getting bicep stretch marks. But there are things that you can do that will reduce your risk of weightlifting stretch marks, as well as things that you can do that will help reduce their visibility if you do have them or get them.  

Is it normal to get stretch marks from weightlifting?

Stretch marks from working out are part of life and can appear anywhere on the body. Bodybuilding stretch marks are most commonly found on the biceps, thighs, and buttocks of weightlifters. The reason is that these are generally the areas that experience rapid muscle development. 

Let’s face it, when you make the decision to start lifting weights you have one goal in mind - you want to build muscle and transform your body. You want to be able to lift more weight than that dude in the gym, and brag about it to your best friend and girl. 

The end result of this might result in stretch marks. You believe that guys with stretch marks won’t give the look that you’re trying to achieve. They are the result of growing too quickly. And when you build muscles and bulk up too quickly your skin isn’t able to catch up and it stretches and tears. Suddenly you have purplish streaks and scars that form. 

Does bodybuilding cause stretch marks?

It's not necessarily bodybuilding that is causing stretch marks. Not everyone that bulks up will have stretch marks. Generally, we are predisposed to have stretch marks based on your family history. So, if your family members have them there's a really good chance that lifting weights stretch marks will appear.  But stretch marks after working out can be prevented even if you’re predisposed to them. 

Causes of weightlifter's stretch marks

Increasing your muscle size too quickly when your skin isn’t able to stretch that far leads to stretch marks. And sometimes it's related to reduced collagen. Collagen is a protein that helps your skin to be more elastic, allowing it to stretch. 

How do I prevent stretch marks when lifting weights?

Here’s something that many people don’t realize. While stretch marks can come from exercise, exercise can also help to improve your skin! The benefits of exercise on the skin are amazing, but of course exercise alone doesn’t prevent or improve your stretch marks. But it will help to nourish skin cells by improving circulation, remove toxins from the skin from increased blood flow, and potentially improve chronic skin conditions by changing your body's response to stress. 

While preventing stretch marks isn’t always possible, there are some things that you can do that will aid in improving the health and quality of your skin. Doing these three things will help to prevent stretch marks when lifting weights.

Improve your diet

Your diet isn’t only important to bulk up. The foods that you eat also play an important role in preventing stretch marks. But don’t worry you can eat a diet that helps to burn fat, build muscle and improve the quality of your skin.  

Adding healthy foods such as fruits, lean meats, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy will help you to keep your skin healthy. Great options for your skin are grapefruit, plums, salmon, walnuts, turkey, tuna, and green tea.

Don’t forget to keep hydrated before, during, and after your workout. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will keep not only your body healthy but also aid in keeping your skin flawless.

Cut Down On The Weight You Lift 

We get it you want to bulk up, so you’re lifting as much weight as you can. But pacing yourself so that you don’t gain too much muscle too quickly will reduce your risk of developing stretch marks. 

You can try to do fewer reps with extremely heavy weights or cut down on your weight and do 10 to 15 reps per set.

Make Sure Cardio Is Part of Your Routine

Cardio helps to keep your muscles in check. By setting aside at least 30 minutes for cardio whether it’s running, swimming, biking, or speed walking 3 to 4 times a week you will burn calories and better control muscle gains. By keeping your muscle gains controlled you’ll reduce the risk of developing stretch marks. 

Taking Good Care Of Your Skin

The quality of your skin is essential to keeping it strong and elastic. Purchasing high quality products isn’t necessarily the right method when it comes to preventing stretch marks. Vitamin C and E, and collagen are essential for healthy skin and preventing stretch marks. Be sure that your skin is always moisturized; this will improve the health of your skin. But this alone isn’t enough. You must ensure that your body is naturally producing collagen. There are many products out there that help to boost collagen and one of the best ways to stop stretch marks from forming is with Dermaclara silicone patches. These medical grade patches have everything that your skin needs to stay healthy and prevent stretch marks. 

How to get rid of stretch marks from working out

Dermaclara silicone patches aren’t just for preventing stretch marks. When you place a patch over your existing stretch marks it creates the perfect conditions to heal your scars and they begin to fade away. It will boost the natural production of collagen, improve elastin, and after a few months of using the patches on your stretch marks consistently you’ll notice that you can barely see them. And the results are permanent.

Stretch marks before and after exercise

Stretch marks look like lines or streaks that are stretched across the skin and can form on various areas of your body. They often vary in color depending on how new they are. For example, fresh stretch marks tend to be more colorful -  red, purple, pink, or brown. Usually the color depends on your skin tone. New stretch marks tend to be slightly raised and will itch. This itching is normal and simply the result of the skin's healing process. 

While older or more established stretch marks appear to be silvery and usually somewhat sunken into the skin.  If you were to run your fingers over them, they would feel slightly depressed.  

Regardless of whether they are new or old stretch marks, eliminating them is often your thought. There are many methods that you’ll find to eliminate them online. From tummy tucks and body contouring procedures to chemical peels and microneedling and even laser therapy and microdermabrasions. These are all either going to be invasive procedures, costly procedures or both. Retinoid creams and moisturizers are topical treatments that help fade stretch marks, but they will not entirely eliminate them. Unlike our cost-efficient, non-invasive, dermatologist approved silicone patches. They help to effectively fade stretch marks from muscle growth. 

Working similar to topical oils and creams, however, Dermaclara will penetrate the dermis and brings the nutrients to the skin's surface therefore, promoting healing and growth to your skin and healing stretch marks on arm, male thigh stretchmarks or any stretch marks from building muscle regardless of how old the stretch marks.  Our silicone patches will eliminate them.