Stretch marks on men - how do you deal with them?
Are you a man suffering from stretch marks? Then you are far from the only one.
Many people think that only women are affected by them, but stretch marks in men are very common and men get stretch marks for many of the same reasons as women.
On this page, you can learn more about the phenomenon and find out what you as a man can do about your stretch marks.
Table of contents
How to reduce the visibility of stretch marks in men
There are no well documented treatments for stretch marks. But that doesn't mean you can't do anything.
There are many treatments to make stretch marks less visible that people have benefited from.
Although the scars are not dangerous, not everyone finds them particularly attractive - and this can affect their quality of life. For example, many people avoid wearing swim-shorts or short-sleeved shirts because of the stretch marks.
But you can do something to prevent stretch marks or reduce their visibility.
Read below to find out about treatment options to help you avoid the tiger stripes.
Spoil your skin
The cheapest and least drastic solution is good skincare, which can be the way to both prevent stretch marks and minimise their visibility.
Body Oil is a nourishing and moisturising skincare oil for stretch marks, scars and age spots. It moisturises and adds elasticity to your skin, making it elastic, smooth and beautiful.
The oil consists of a unique combination of softening and nourishing ingredients that pamper your skin and penetrate quickly without greasiness.
With active ingredients such as Tea Tree Oil, Almond and Sunflower Oil, Vitamin E and Squalane, are guaranteed to:
- counteract bacteria
- soften the skin
- improve skin health
- smooth out stretch marks and scars
- provide you with moisturised and healthy skin
75% of test subjects with stretch marks have seen an improvement in the appearance of the marks.
Apply a few drops of oil twice a day on your back, thighs or wherever you have stretch marks. Massage the oil in well and let it dry before getting dressed.
It's always good to moisturise your skin so it doesn't dry out, so a moisturising body oil can never hurt and won't cost you a fortune.
Laser treatment
If you are upset about your stretch marks, you can talk to a dermatologist about laser treatment. This will try to get the skin to stimulate the production of cells in the connective tissue to replace damaged fibres and restore elasticity.
But be aware that because the marks are a cosmetic problem, laser treatment will be at your own expense.
Movement and diet
Exercise and good dietary habits are always a good recommendation when it comes to your body. Therefore, it might also be good for you if you want to get rid of your stretch marks.
A healthy and balanced diet with vitamins and vegetables is good for the body - and therefore also for the skin. It is therefore worth a try to see if it makes a difference.
If you lose weight and exercise, your skin will tighten up - so you may be lucky enough to see an improvement in the appearance of your stretch marks. However, don't do it too quickly or your skin won't be able to keep up.
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are called striae in Latin and are damage that occurs in the elastic centre layer of the subcutaneous tissue called the dermis. The dermis is the thickest layer of your skin. If cracks appear there, a stretch mark is formed.
Stretch marks often appear as purple, pink or blue stripes on the skin and do not disappear on their own. Over time, they fade and become lighter in colour.
Stretch marks form when the skin is stretched rapidly and forcefully. When the skin is overstretched, it disrupts the production of collagen, the important protein in your connective tissue that keeps the skin taut.
The skin therefore lacks the necessary support and forms scars - known as stretch marks.
A good example is during pregnancy, when your belly gets bigger and your weight increases.
But there are other causes, and below you can read more about how stretch marks affect men and what you can do to minimise their visibility.
Why do stretch marks occur in men?
Your skin is very elastic and can withstand a lot without cracking. But with rapid weight gain, weight loss or growth, for example, it can't always keep up. The skin is under extraordinary pressure in such situations as it's being stretched more than it is used to.
This is true for both men and women of all ages.
If the elastic fibres in the skin are overstretched, the fibres lose their elasticity. Therefore, the damage is mostly permanent because the fibres do not regain this elasticity.
Here we have tried to list the most common causes of stretch marks.
Hormonal changes
When you are pregnant, you undergo a change in hormonal balance, which also has an impact on the appearance of stretch marks.
The same happens in boys, because during puberty there is an imbalance in hormones - and this can cause stretch marks.
Growth
Stretch marks are actually becoming more and more common in boys, even if you wouldn't think so at first glance.
In addition to hormonal imbalances, puberty is a time of rapid growth and the skin can't always keep up. This increases the risk of stretch marks because the skin has to be stretched more than usual.
Therefore, pregnant women are again at risk of getting stretch marks, where the belly grows faster than the skin can keep up.
Weight-lifting
Stretch marks in men can also be caused by weight-lifting.
If you are an active man who often lifts weights, you are likely to have stretch marks on your body.
Rapid weight gain stretches the skin too quickly, breaking down the elastic fibres. Bodybuilders and other athletes often get the familiar tiger stripes because they have either lost weight or gained muscle mass faster than the skin can adapt.
Are you losing weight fast because of an effective diet - or have you gained a lot of weight because of a poor diet? Then your skin is also losing weight too quickly, and stretch marks are forming instead.
Where on the body do stretch marks occur?
Stretch marks in men can appear on many parts of the body - just like in women.
If you exercise a lot, you are more likely to get stretch marks on your shoulders, thighs, back, calves or chest. Many adult men find that the marks are particularly common around the buttocks or abdomen.
Depending on the cause, the location of the marks on the body can vary.
