Stretch marks from bulking.. [Forum Archive]

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Stretch marks from bulking..

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Posted by: Wolfpack22

I basically worked out for a year bulking and put on about 50 pounds. A little too much I guess because I have stretch marks under my left arm pit pretty bad, just a little mark under my right. I guess the weight in my chest caused it? If I cut up and lose weight what will happen to the marks? They are red right now. I'm really pissed about them. Thanks for any advice.

Posted by: titans1854

my friend had the same thing. he said it was from creatine. i'm not sure if that's true or not though.

Posted by: Randy

I doubt they were caused by creatine

Posted by: bandaidwoman

Stretch marks occur when the tissue under your skin tears from rapid growth or stretching. When the skin is over-stretched, it produces too much collagen deposits under the skin .

This is not too uncommon in body builders because of the rapid body changes that body building can produce. Obesity can also lead to stretch marks. The most common condition is pregnancy, which also is a rapid change in body composition and mass.

At first, your stretch marks are reddish or purplish lines, but they will turn lighter (whitish or flesh-colored) and almost disappear over time. My stretch marks from pregnancy have mostly disappeared two years after the birth of my daughter but I have some residual ones left.

I would not stress out over them since there is a high liklihood your stretch marks will usually fade and become less noticeable over time.

Although there are tons of products on the market that claim to eliminate stretch marks, the truth is you can't make them go away without the use of a form of plastic surgery called microdermabrasion. If you are concerned about your stretch marks, talk to a dermatologist. (They charge alot less than plastic surgeons )

Posted by: P-funk

As far as I know you can't get rid of stretch marks, you have them for life. I have them across my biceps and under my arm near my arm pit also.

Posted by: Trump

Take them as a sign you are doing something right

They will fade.

Posted by: plouffe

Quote:

Originally posted by bandaidwoman
Stretch marks occur when the tissue under your skin tears from rapid growth or stretching. When the skin is over-stretched, it produces too much collagen deposits under the skin .

This is not too uncommon in body builders because of the rapid body changes that body building can produce. Obesity can also lead to stretch marks. The most common condition is pregnancy, which also is a rapid change in body composition and mass.

At first, your stretch marks are reddish or purplish lines, but they will turn lighter (whitish or flesh-colored) and almost disappear over time. My stretch marks from pregnancy have mostly disappeared two years after the birth of my daughter but I have some residual ones left.

I would not stress out over them since there is a high liklihood your stretch marks will usually fade and become less noticeable over time.

Although there are tons of products on the market that claim to eliminate stretch marks, the truth is you can't make them go away without the use of a form of plastic surgery called microdermabrasion. If you are concerned about your stretch marks, talk to a dermatologist. (They charge alot less than plastic surgeons )

I like you, you are very smart.

Posted by: KataMaStEr

Oh man I have had stretch marks under my arm pit for so long, but they are going away. Slowwwwwly but surely. I remember they used to look almost like if I had a cut on my skin. Now most of them look like scars, still have some red on a few of them. The only thing I know of that will slowly take away stretch marks is time.

Posted by: once was fat

Yeh they will eventually fade over time. When I was overweight I had them really bad on my love handles. The are still there but since I have dropped my weight they are begging to fade slowly but surely. They used to be very bright red and now they are starting to fade away.

Posted by: Tha Don

I got them where the inside of my left arm meets my chest, like just above my armpit

for some reason its only on my left side and not my right side

the skin is all stretched and there are 2 red marks (about the width of a pencil) in the middle of that area

had em for about a year now, have faded very slightly but are still most definatly visible when i lift that arm

thing is i ain't even that big... suppose its proof of how damm skinny i used to be

peace

Posted by: tjwes

Stretch marks are just "battle scars" from training.Most of us get them,and they`ll fade over time.Be glad you don`t have more of them.Some people get ridiculous amounts.

Posted by: titans1854

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy
I doubt they were caused by creatine

well i think the way that it could be associated with stretch marks is the water retention plus the quick size and strength you get when first start taking it.

Posted by: Randy

I just don't see that the size gain is that substantial from creatine that it would cause stretch marks... But hell if I grow that well...bring on those stretch marks

Posted by: HoldDaMayo

I think maybe the women here can back me up... but if you keep your skin well moistorized, you don't have to worry about stretch marks... If you feel you are growing quickly, use alot of lotion on your skin...

Posted by: Randy

Yeah, and take vitamin E . That is supposed to be good for your skin. You can even rub the E oil on your skin too

Posted by: Flex

you guys wanna talk about stretch marks?

i probably have the worst marks outta anyone. they're in the "normal" spot that many people have them (where the pecs meet the inner part of the shoulders).

but mine are thick, numerous and a reddish-pinkish.
they literally look like claw marks. there's about 4 or 5 on each "armpit". it looks like Wolverine took a few swipes at me....they're that bad.

oh well, they don't bother me....

Posted by: Randy

Yeah that was a hell of a night the other night Flex

hoooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwl

Posted by: Randy

Sorry, couldn't resist... You did mention wolf

Posted by: QuestionGuy

OK, I have to agree with that asshole Randy, (for the first time)
I never heared that creatine can cause that, he probobly said that to have a scapegoat for eating to much.

.... but i got those at the same spot under my arms and i think its because they are expanding so much, but you can hardely even see my stretch marks so i dont worry about them

Posted by: bandaidwoman

Quote:

Originally posted by HoldDaMayo
I think maybe the women here can back me up... but if you keep your skin well moistorized, you don't have to worry about stretch marks... If you feel you are growing quickly, use alot of lotion on your skin...

lots of women have superoiled, supermoisterized their skin during pregnancy in an effort to ward them off. It doesn't work. I know women who did absoulutely nothing and had no stretch marks and those who depleted the lotion industry who got stretch marks.

Posted by: katie64

Quote:

I used crisco, lol, all over with my first pregnancy, but nothing except lotion with my 2nd & 3rd, I have no stretch marks except 4 deep ones right above my pelvic line, I don't think oils. lotions or anything else helps, I think it has to do with the type of skin you have, not sure though

but it may help with moisture which may help with less stretch marks, I wonder what bandaidwoman thinks about this, again I agree, very nice to read post from a smart lady

BAW, you might want to check out Avant Labs you would find it refreshing................but "IM" of course is the best

Posted by: Randy

Katie, you seen that movie too "Big Mamma?"

Posted by: Mudge

Supposedly the "thinner" the skin the more apt for stretch marks. Since skin is pretty much the same thickness within humans, subcutaneous fat is the only thing that differs (statistically asians actually do have thicker skin, according to my reading).

Posted by: Mudge

Quote:

Originally posted by Flex
but mine are thick, numerous and a reddish-pinkish.

4 or 5, crybaby! Mine are pretty well healed (not red any longer) but I have them all over my biceps and pec area from a huge 'growth spurt' almost 10 years ago, using a very high volume training program.

Posted by: Randy

Mudges high volume training program =

Posted by: Randy

Just teasin ya Mudge

Posted by: katie64

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy
Katie, you seen that movie too "Big Mamma?"

HAHA, I think that came out after my crisco phase

Posted by: Uthinkso

Quote:

Originally posted by once was fat
Yeh they will eventually fade over time. When I was overweight I had them really bad on my love handles. The are still there but since I have dropped my weight they are begging to fade slowly but surely. They used to be very bright red and now they are starting to fade away.

Amen , Brother Once preach on!!

I too am in the recovering fat guy boat, and the stretch marks do fade.

I almost single handedly kept Muscletech in business in 98-00, and then the injury came. With the injury came a cease fire on my workout and diet program, and an open invite to the pizza man.

Thus I have stretch marks from upper body growth, and then I also have them on the fron of my stomach and love handles. The ones on the front of my stomach started to appear as I lost weight, but I'd rather deal with a few stretch marks than keep the weight on.

So don't fret, they will eventually fade to a point where you can hardly see them. I also found that when I am tan in the summer they are practically invisible.

Posted by: Randy

Ahhhh So they got that from you Katie

It is like a man with a hammer and screwdriver, there isn't much we can't do without it

Quote:

Originally posted by katie64
HAHA, I think that came out after my crisco phase

Posted by: katie64

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy
Ahhhh So they got that from you Katie

It is like a man a hammer and screwdriver, there isn't much we can't do without it

Posted by: Randy

Posted by: Randy

uggg oh Katie, I think I just got a stretch mark from laughing so hard

Posted by: QuestionGuy

Hey Randy,...........,..........? ok?

Posted by: bigD

First I want to say I'm glad I found some bodybuilders who share in my torment with these unsightly things. They have been the cause of living hell for me and still are. I used to be a major bodybuilder, built up just as I wanted, then I started doing other
things and didn't work out at all. This went on for over a year
and combined with depression and overeating I gained weight and the red stretch marks that were once here and there appeared everywhere very thickly and unsightly. It appears that these things formed deeply in all
the key areas I worked out, my obliques and abs are heavily torn
in multiple slashes all around with swollen spots that make the
marks even worse looking. Red marks across my chest, across
my biceps, triceps, and under my arms, godawful heavy tears. Even some
on my legs. I tried ketogenic dieting to get rid of the weight but
each time I lost only 25 pounds only to gain back that 25 x 2
each time I went on and off the diet making me heavier than I was before and of course worse off. I'm guessing the lack of
workout and the diet and gain effect is what caused this.

Anyway, this condition has ruined my life in pretty much every
way. No hope, no pride, just shame. Since I know ketogenic
dieting is partly the cause of this and I can no longer try it even
out of desperation due to heavy kidney pain resulting from trying no-carb/low-carb, the only thing I know to do is go back to full-time bodybuilding, get back in shape
and never stop my routines ever again since I know what hell
awaits if I should ever stop. I'd like to overcome my problem with
my once loved routines, but is this really the best thing to do? I
feel like I have no other options, but if I tried to go back I might
only end up giving myself even more marks and I don't want that.
Plus I'm guessing the imbalance of fat between the stomach and the back from failed ketogenic dieting has created serious back
pain making every step I take in life tedious since it could result
in deepening the pain and working out seems like a definite way to hurt my very sensitive back. I'm hoping if I can slim down and replace the muscle and the stretch marks and back pain will be gone and any traces of the marks can be taken away with surgery.

If anyone has any tips on what I should do let me know. Thanks.

Posted by: CowPimp

I've got them under my arms too, although very mildly (I went from 160-165 to 190-195 in 6 months). It's a pretty common thing; a friend of mine got them much worst in the same spot because he went from like 120-130 to ~180. At least you know you're growing nice and quickly.

I have heard that drinking more water can help prevent further stretch marks because it helps improve elasticity of the skin. However, I have not confirmed this myself. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can confirm/deny this?

Posted by: LAM

being deficient in zinc will allow stretch marks to develop

Posted by: Randy

I don't have any stretch marks here (neener neener neener)

Posted by: willus72

my girlfriend and mother bother used cocoa butter after each of their pregnancies(each have had two kids) and the swear by it. while they could not prevent the stretch marks they said that the cocoa butter lightened them signifigantly hand help heal them faster. after my girlfriends last child (1 1/2yrs) the hospital reccomended cocoa butter in a stick(looks like a glue stick) and i stopped noticing the stretch marks in about six months(still there but you really have to look to see) she loved it. she is sitting here and she says you can get the stuff at a beauty store. the stretch marks wont go away but they turn the same color as the skin so you cant see them unless you really look

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Stretch marks from bulking..

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