Male Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a skin condition which effects men as well as women. However, it is most commonly found in women. Though men don not have to worry about things such as menstrual pimples, stretch marks can be very troublesome. Studies show that nearly 40% of all men develop stretch marks. Some doctors also believe that stretch marks may be genetic, and is passed down through the family. Men of certain skin types are also more likely to get stretch marks than others.

If you have skin which is naturally dry, it will have less elasticity than skin which is smooth. Because of this, there is a good chance you will get stretch marks. The actual cause of stretch marks is still debated by doctors and scientists. However, there are a number of things which are known to cause the condition in men.

Men who are bodybuilders have a higher chance of getting stretch marks than men who are not body builders. The reason for this is because many men who undergo extreme workouts stretch their skin too far. Whent the skin is stretched farther than it should be, the dermis layer of the skin could be torn.

The tears in the dermis will heal with time, but will leave scars in the form of stretch marks. While this can explain why some men get stretch marks, there are many men who are not bodybuilders who still get them. Another theory is being put forth that hormonal activity in the body is the primary cause for stretch marks. This theory has a lot of weight, because a number of young men going through puberty get them. A particular hormone which is the subject of study is called glucocorticoids.

This hormone is released  by the adrenal glands. When a male lifts weights or goes through puberty, the production of glucocorticoids is increased. This is also true for men who are overweight. Because of this, many think that having high levels of glucocorticoids in the body is the primary cause of stretch marks. However, this remains to be seen.

 It is also interesting to note that taking oral steroids has also been shown to cause stretch marks. In addition to oral steroids, other medications are known to cause stretch marks as well.

While many men who exercise see stretch marks as being "battle scars," they could be a source of annoyance for others. Stretch marks are known for being a source of low self esteem, and many men find them unattractive to look at.

There are two recommended stretch mark creams for male stretch marks (after all you don't want to be seen as using "girly" products.

One is Trilastin-SR which seems to work the best in males you can find it here - EC Research Corp.

The other is a natural stretch mark cream and is used by bodybuilders and can be found here - Revitol