Stretch marks are a natural part of life for millions of men and women across the United States. While they are often associated with pregnancy, stretch marks can also be caused by weight gain, strength training, some medications, and rare genetic diseases. Fortunately, there are a number of safe, effective exercises that can help you get rid of unsightly stretch marks.
Stretch Mark Causes
Stretch marks are caused when skin is placed under a shearing force. This causes the collagen in the skin to extend. While stretch marks usually aren't harmful to your health, it's important to be aware of your current health conditions. If you are strength training at a gym, stretch marks may be unavoidable. Likewise, stretch marks associated with pregnancy and obesity are normal. However, if you develop stretch marks without a known reason, it's important to visit your physician as soon as possible. Some serious adrenal diseases are correlated with an increased risk of developing stretch marks.
Beneficial Exercises
To reduce the appearance of stretch marks, you will need to focus on exercises that reduce the volume of adipose cells underneath your skin. The best way to jumpstart this process is through regular cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercise improves circulation in the body and can help people with excessive subdermal adipose cells.
Yoga is extremely helpful for those suffering from stretch marks. Since yoga places your body in a variety of different positions, the skin is exposed to a variety of forces from different angles. This increases the elasticity of the skin, allowing stretch marks to fade over time.
Swimming is also a great exercise for those with stretch marks. Swimming in cool water can help to open pores in the skin. In addition, swimming improves blood flow to the dermal layer, allowing areas with stretch marks to rebuild their collagen reserves.
Detrimental Exercises
Most important of all, it's essential to avoid lifting weights. Weightlifting can put the skin under very high levels of stress. Weightlifters will often develop significant stretch marks around their shoulders, arms and neck. While the appearance of these stretch marks may diminish with time, they can be very unsightly.
Importance of Diet
While exercise does play a critical role in minimizing the appearance of stretch marks, it's also important to follow a healthy diet. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help give the skin a soft, supple feeling. Vegetables, fruits, and other antioxidant-rich foods can also give the body the nutrition it needs for natural healing.
