Weight lifters. Skin advice.

[Ginsu]

..the strech marks, is there a way to prevent from getting them? I've been lifting free wieghts for about 2 years and last year I bought a bowflex, and from this I have developed noticable strech marks on my upper left bicep and now my right arm is starting its own collection. Any advice?

 

[catalyst]

Any product high in vitamin E will help, such as cocoa butter. However, genetic factors such as skin elasticity and melanin levels play a greater role.

 

[Ginsu]

Thanks for the advice. Cocoa butter...I'll remember that.

 

[SiteCR2]

are you dieting same time? cutting fat to go for the nice muscle shape?
if so, don't forget to take vitamins for your skin. whether rubbing it in and/or orally.
sorry but true genetics are huge here.
lifting and eating heavy same time will result in stretch marks as you go back to a tone up variety of lifting. you pushed your muscle mass along w/ other mass to stretch skin.

 

[KristiXP]

I think coconut oil has the same effect too? I remember my cousin using it to get rid of her streatch marks after pregnancy.

I'd take a vitamin E supplement too.

 

[jameseb]

So I see another weightlifter has that problem, eh?

Yes, Vitamin E and Coconut butter, so I've been told, can help prevent them. However, I wasn't aware that coconut oil could remove them after the fact...? That really works?

 

[catalyst]

No. Some people can minizmize the effect, but truly removing, no. Either they will go away because the amount of scarring was insignificant or they will not.

 

[DGB454]

I have them on my chest. I wish I would have known about Vitamin E and coconut butter back when I got them. Weird thing is back when I was getting them I thought it was cool. It meant I was growing. Now it just means I didn't pay enough attention to my skin. Fortunatly they aren't that noticable.

 

[Ginsu]

Ah I see... well there's always that mederma concelant cream heh.
well mine aren't that bad..perhaps a tattoo will cover em up hehe.

 

[brokenbananas]

I'm a bit late on this, but I used coconut oil during my pregnancy and have no stretch marks. I gained 40 lbs for my 2nd pregnancy (7 months ago). However, I would have to say that genetics may play a part.

My skin has improved greatly in the past 2-3 yrs, though. My diet has changed drastically. I drink plenty of water every day, try to watch my stress, eat very naturally and healthy, avoid too much sun exposure. I think these things have helped give me good skin.

Also as you gain weight slowly, hopefully you'll have fewer stretch marks.

~Doris

 

[Chilufya]

Olive oil works amazingly well on stretch marks.

You might smell like a salad, but it really does work.