Strech Mark Therapy

Stretch Mark Cream for Men

5 min read

Yes, stretch marks can also affect men! It’s a common misconception that only women get them because of pregnancy.

  • Over 25% of people with stretch marks are men*.
  • Your risk of developing stretch marks could be related to your hormones.
  • Starting to treat your stretch marks early can help reduce their appearance.

In this article:

  • What are male stretch marks?
  • How can men prevent stretch marks?
  • How can men treat stretch marks?
  • The best stretch mark treatment for men

What are male stretch marks?

For men, stretch marks can be caused by growth spurts during puberty, sudden weight gain or a quick increase in muscle mass during sports.

This happens because your skin is stretched too fast and the underlying connective tissue, the support structure which gives the skin its strength and elasticity has a difficult time keeping up. How prone you are to getting stretch marks seems to be influenced by genetics and hormones.[1,2]

Stretch marks appear as rippled streaks, medically also called striae, most commonly on the stomach, chest, buttocks, thighs, and upper arms. Their appearance depends on skin type and color. On pale skin, they usually appear as red or pink to purplish-blue streaks when fresh and become thinner, paler, and rather indented over time.

How can men prevent stretch marks?

Do you want pack on a bit of muscle, lose, or gain weight for some reason? Great if you have this foresight – because the best treatment starts before you even have the stretch marks!

Whatever you are going to do, do it slowly. Putting on muscles or gaining or losing weight slowly will give your skin time to adjust to the stretching. You can support your skin with a balanced diet including vitamins E and C as well as zinc and drinking plenty of water.[3] But most importantly, keep your skin hydrated to give it the elasticity it needs to expand or re-contract. A moisturizing regime might not be the manly thing you had in mind, but it is the way to go if you want to prevent your skin from keeping a mark.

There are several topical creams and oils on the market. Some are available by prescription, but most can be obtained over the counter.

How can men treat stretch marks?

Have you already gained muscle or lost weight and are reminded of your efforts by annoying stretch marks? Unfortunately, stretch marks do not usually completely disappear, and there is no treatment that will completely remove them. But don’t worry, they do usually fade with time, especially when properly treated! And you have already shown that you’re a warrior, so you’ll easily tackle this one.

There are some natural treatments that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks, but the most important thing is to support your skin’s elasticity by regularly moisturizing. And regular means just that: a real moisturizing regime, at least twice a day.

There are several topical creams and oils on the market. Depending on their ingredients and strengths, some are prescribed to you, but most can be obtained over the counter. No matter which treatment you choose, the most important ingredients for success are tenacity and patience as results take time to show.[4]

While pregnancy is one of the most common causes for stretch marks, over 25% of sufferers are men

The best stretch mark treatment for men

Whether you are going to gain weight, are trying to lose it or have already shed the pounds, the keys to avoiding or reducing stretch marks stay the same: a healthy diet, hydration, regular exercise, and, most importantly, a great moisturizing regime.

Topical treatments to keep your skin hydrated and plump help to both prevent the arrival of stretch marks and reduce the appearance of existing ones. Most effective are treatments containing collagen stimulating compounds, such as hyaluronic acid or hydrolyzed collagen supplement, to improve skin texture by tightening and plumping your skin in addition to soothing and moisturizing components.[5,6]

Summary

Using topical treatments and oil can help reduce the visual impact of stretch marks on men. If you’re planning on bulking up with weight lifting or losing weight, remember to keep your skin moisturized as this could help prevent stretch marks from forming.

References

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