What causes bodybuilding stretch marks?
Simply, skin is made up of collagen and elastin fibers, a protein mesh in the skin that makes it flexible and able to stretch and recoil back to its original position. When bodybuilders are building muscle mass and putting on weight too quickly, the skin is over-stretched, damaging the collagen and elastin network. The skin tears and results in scar tissue known as “stretch marks”. Striae also often occur as the result of steroid type hormones released from the adrenal cortex naturally by bodybuilders. The use of steroid creams such as hydrocortisone has been demonstrated to cause them as well. How can bodybuilding stretch marks be prevented? First, try to not build too quickly, give your skin the chance to keep up. Losing fat as you build muscle will help to prevent over-stretching the skin as well. Take a good multi-vitamin daily and try to eat a diet rich in vitamins A, C and E and take a zinc supplement since it is essential in the production of collagen. Drink a lot of water, at l
