What’s up with stretch marks from weightlifting?

By: All American Fitness

What are stretch marks?

Many people wonder why they get stretch marks, especially when weightlifting. “Stretch marks occur from rapid physical growth, usually from weight loss or gain. When this happens, the collagen in your skin — which helps keep its elasticity — can’t keep up with your stretching skin. The scars which form are called stretch marks.” (Heathline, Feb. 4, 2022) In regards to weightlifting, the “weight gain” would be the rapid muscle growth.

Who gets stretch marks?

Anyone is prone to getting stretch marks. It is completely normal and common to have stretch marks. If you have stretch marks, you might be concerned about fading their appearance or you may be wanting to prevent stretch marks while weightlifting. Many times adolescents will get them when they have growth spurts however, rapid muscle gain through weightlifting can cause them as well. Also, it’s common to hear of stretch marks with pregnant women. “Men, especially bodybuilders, when they’re doing a big anabolic push, growing a lot, doing two-a-days, putting on a ton of weight, tend to get them on their arms, chest, even backs,” Michael Swann says, a dermatologist in Springfield, MO. (Men’s Journal, n.d.)

Can you get rid of stretch marks?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for stretch marks. There are a lot of creams, oils and other products on the market that claim to help stretch marks. Stretch marks are from the deeper collagen level of skin so it is very difficult to reverse the damage. However, keeping your skin well hydrated with lotion, drinking water and eating a well balanced diet will help with your skins overall elasticity. Self tanning lotion can temporarily even out differences in skin tone appearance. Dermatologists also offer treatments such as lasers, Ultherapy (fractionated heat beam), microdermabrasion and prescription creams that may make a difference in the appearance of stretch marks. “Avoid Performance Enhancing Drugs and Supplements: Performance enhancing drugs like steroids and supplements like creatine will greatly increase the speed in which new muscles develop. If your skin is not elastic enough to support the rapidity with which muscle develops due to your performance enhancing drugs and your new exercise routine, your skin will stretch and tear, forming stretch marks. Plus, the hormone imbalance created by using these can also make one more likely to develop scarring.” (stretchmarks.org, n.d.) As hard as it is to wait, over time the appearance of stretch marks will diminish.

How to prevent stretch marks while weightlifting?

The best way to prevent stretch marks is to build your muscle mass slowly. When you are implementing a new weight training program, go slow and add on muscle gradually. You may try less weight and aiming for 10 to 15 reps. It is important to not just stress one muscle group like your chest or arms. Make sure you are switching muscle groups daily so that the same muscle group is not overly fatigued with too much weight. It is less likely to develop stretch marks if your body has well rounded muscle gain.