Skin Therapy for Bodybuilders by Dr. Mauro DiPasquale

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are tears in skin that turn into scars. They happen for various reasons, including certain diseases and the use of some medications.^1,2,3 However, the most common reason is when skin is overstretched due to weight gain. This happens when you gain weight faster than the skin can accommodate.

Although the skin is usually fairly elastic, overstretching it as a result of tissue growing faster than the skin layers can stretch results in small tears in the underlying layers of the skin. These tears or stretch marks, like any other trauma to the skin, heal with the formation of scar tissue.

An early sign of stretch marks developing is when an area of skin becomes flattened and thin with a pink color. They then develop into reddish or purplish lines that may appear indented and have a different texture from the surrounding skin. Although they vary in size, they’re usually around three or four inches long and up to half an inch wide.

As they heal, stretch marks usually turn lighter and become much less noticeable. However they don’t go away and are visible as glossy skin that appears streaked in silver or white with some degree of depression and wrinkling.

Who Gets Them and Where: Men and women can get stretch marks on several areas of their bodies, including the abdominal area, thighs, hips, chest/breasts, upper arms or lower back.

While anyone can get stretch marks, some are more susceptible to them than others. That’s because the susceptibility to stretch marks depends on genetic and environmental factors so that every person and situation is unique. Differences in skin strength and elasticity and ability of the skin to grow causing some people to be more susceptible to stretch marks than others.

In general, however, stretch marks, while more common in women than in men, and in adults, can happen to anyone at any time, with some factors increasing the incidence.

For example, people who are overweight often have stretch marks.^4,5,6,7,8 So do women who have gone through one or more pregnancies.

Power athletes and bodybuilders are prone to getting stretch marks, mostly around the upper arms, shoulders and chest tie ins, not because of rapid body weight and body fat gain, but because of rapid gains in muscle that these sports can produce.^9,10,11 As well, the use of anabolic steroids and even corticosteroids may make them more prone to stretch marks.

What Can You Do About Them?

While not harmful to your health, stretch marks can make you overly conscious of the way you look and can have a psychological impact, in some cases they can even be socially debilitating.

There are two different and complimentary approaches to dealing with stretch marks. One is prevention the other treatment. Cosmetic treatments often try to deal with both while surgical treatments usually deal with trying to get rid of them once they form.

It makes good sense to consider both sides of the equation since stretch marks are in essence scars and are extremely difficult to eradicate completely once they form. This is why prevention is so important.

InsideOut is meant to deal with skin problems regardless of the cause. That means it’s effective in dealing with various skin problems, aging of the skin, wrinkles, stretch marks and whatever ails your skin.

The reason it’s so versatile is that it’s meant to strengthen all the layers of the skin and supporting structures, and to increase its healing capacity. And it does this by influencing various pathways in the body that will lead to healthier, stronger skin that’s both more resistant to damage and heals faster from any damage that does happen.

So what’s InsideOut good for as far as bodybuilders? Actually it’s good for a lot of problems that bodybuilders might have with their skin. This includes problems that people in general have, such as eczyma, acne, dry skin, etc. As well it helps deal with the problems of aging skin, on a prevention and treatment level.

It’s especially useful in protecting the skin when tanning and for healing any photo damaged skin.

It also keeps the skin strong and supple, increases vascularity and gives skin a natural healthy glow and sheen. This is especially useful for those bodybuilders, whether cutting up for an upcoming competition or just for the sake of it, who are trying to minimize body fat and maximize muscle mass.

But aside all that it’s useful for various skin problems that are specific to bodybuilders and other athletes. That includes problems with acne (whether on anabolic steroids or not) and stretch marks.

:: Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale :: is one of the most influential voices on diet, performance and athletic training in the world. His innovative work in finding safe nutritional alternatives to anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs has won him praise from athletes, trainers and fitness experts around the globe. Dr. Di Pasquale was a world-class athlete for over 15 years, winning the World Championships in powerlifting in 1976 and world games in 1981.