Stretch marks appear when the skin has stretched beyond its elastic limits. This generally affects people that grow too quickly or lose or gain weight faster than their skin can adapt to the changes. These marks can appear on the upper arms, breast or chest, abdomen, hips, thighs and back of the knees.

Generally, women are more susceptible to stretch marks. But, men can also develop them especially extreme athletes. Bodybuilders, for example, are a group of athletes that are especially susceptible to developing stretch marks.

They work on "bulking up", which causes their skins to stretch excessively in a short period of time. It is common for bodybuilders to develop stretch marks in their thighs, lower abdomen, and on their biceps and pectorals. For this reason, several bodybuilders are concerned about stretch marks and stretch mark treatments.

Treat Stretch Marks

Stretch mark removal isn't really an option for bodybuilders because they don't have excess skin that can be removed. Surgical options are much more adequate for people who have lost a great deal of weight and have loose skin and stretch marks. Nevertheless, bodybuilders do have other treatment options.

New stretch marks can be treated with stretch marks creams and other stretch mark products, like rose hip seed oil, however, as they get older it may not be possible to eliminate them completely. Rose hip seed oil is very effective in dramatically reducing the appearance of stretch marks but not in eliminating them.

Perhaps the best solution for bodybuilders is to cover up their stretch marks. There are three basic ways of covering up these bothersome striations: clothing, makeup and self tanners. These solutions can also work on people that don't practice bodybuilding.

Covering Up

Clothing is probably the easiest and most hassle-free way of covering up your stretch marks. You can use jackets and long sleeve shirts to cover the stretch marks on your arms while the stretch marks on your abdomen can be covered up using a top or shirt. However, since bodybuilders compete they need other options that will help cover up stretch marks. In this case body makeup or self tanners can come in handy.

Body makeup is thick and more wear-proof than traditional foundation. This is an ideal option for people that have stretch marks in areas that are difficult to cover with clothing.

Another alternative for covering up stretch marks is spray on tans or self tanning lotions. Real tanning will only darken the skin around the stretch marks and make them stand out. However, self tanners will help cover the skin evenly and keep you from having to expose yourself to the damaging sun rays.