Weightlifting is a type of exercise that is performed and enjoyed by many men in the world today. It offers benefits to the body such as better joint mobility, improved balance and improved strength. But on the down side of weightlifting is the emergence of stretch marks. These are known clinically as "striae" and they occur when the skin is stretched beyond its normal limits in a short period of time. Bodybuilders and weightlifters are prone to develop stretch marks when they build big muscles too quickly. They form in the center layer of skin called the "dermis" as red, purple or pink-colored lines.
Step 1
Cut back on your weight you are lifting. Being that heavy lifting causes big muscles to develop, it can also scar the center layer of your skin by stretching it too far. Cut back on your weights and do higher reps with moderate weights.
Step 2
Boost your collagen through diet. Collagen is a substance essential for the elasticity of the skin and connective tissue in the body. It is due to a disruption in collagen that stretch marks form. To keep your collagen production elevated, eat foods that are high in Vitamin C. This is an antioxidant vitamin that helps boost the production of collagen in your body. Fruits and vegetables that contain Vitamin C include grapefruits, oranges, kiwis, broccoli and red peppers.
Step 3
Get a prescription. Creams, lotions, oils and potions are constantly being advertised as stretch mark miracle formulas. They can probably keep your skin soft and healthy, but the odds of them reducing your stretch marks are slim. Tretinoin cream, on the other hand, does have a chance of reducing your stretch marks. This is a prescription formula that helps boost the production of collagen. When your stretch marks are less than six weeks old, you can use this cream to help regain your skin's natural appearance.
Step 4
Get zapped with a laser. The word "non-ablative" means "non-wounding." Pulsed dye laser therapy is a non-ablative treatment that uses a high-powered beam of light to reconstruct the damaged portion of the skin in the dermis. This is done through the stimulation of collagen and another skin-supporting substance called "elastin." This can be used if your stretch marks are old or new.
Step 5
Get your skin re-colored. Melanin is a pigment that gives your skin and hair their color. With excimer laser treatment, your skin is hit with the laser in the areas of your stretch marks and melanin production is promoted. The discolored skin then blends back in with your normal skin color, and the stretch marks become less noticeable.
