Stretch marks
 

I've been lifting for a long time now, and while I'm still pretty small I've noticed I've been getting some stretch marks in my upper arm, armpits, and chest area.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to reduce the chances of getting them? I've been rubbing skin lotion into that area and it hasn't helped much at all.

get some mederma onto the stretch marks and they'll clear up in a few weeks.

where does one get mederma, and what is it?

I've heard that Vitamin E helps when massaged onto stretch marks. But I cannot confirm that myself.

It's a cream that removes scars and stretch marks, though it does take time. I had some big success using it to remove stretch marks on my back. Ask at your chemist to see if they've got it. If not, they should be able to order it in for you.

It would probably be advisable to go see a doctor as well and make sure that it's not dermatitis or some other skin condition. Even with fast muscle gain, there's no real reason that stretch marks should appear.

i have stretch marks on the tissue connecting my inner arm to my chest. when your muscles get big, some of the softer skin will stretch and scar. nothing you can do about it. dermatologist appointment would be best if you want them gone or want to reduce your chances of getting them.

I had lines in my armpits too when i started lifting...but they were not stretch marks.

minor tears in the skin that left lines that looked like stretch marks...more like a contusion. same thing happens on my shoulders when I use a calf machine that has a seem OR my shirt has a seem (or both)

Well, whatever they are, they're streaks of red that don't fade completely. I'll look into the mederma, thanks for the suggestion. I'm open to others, of course.

Over time they'll fade and become less noticable. I don't think there is a quick and easy way to get rid of them.. but using self tanners makes them a lot less noticable too.

For the lifting, your body is getting bigger and your skin can't keep up. I would either take it easy for a while or slow down a bit. If you can't do that, I would talk to a dermatoligist. They might have a few products to try. Good luck!

I also have heard that a good Vitamin E cream is supposed to help but I haven't ever tried it myself.

Take two vitamin E every day, for six months, then just one every day after that.
It will take some time to get rid of them, but then again, you didn't get them overnight either.

Dude, stretch marks from lifting aren't a bad thing, that just shows you've grown, its the stretch marcks from being fat that you want to avoid! Wear them proudly! but if you really want them gone, vitamin E is the way to go...

I think most women who've been pregnant probably know the secret to this. My wife used to rub something on her belly to avoid marks. But I can't remember what it was. Might of just been lotion?? I dunno.

Rather than take artificial Vitamin E tablets, eat a handful of Almond kernals a day. Much better.

There's prescription cream containing about 12% lactic acid (I'll double check that in the morning) that I hear works fairly well. The problem with creams that I've tried (I grew a foot in four months and have marks all over form it) is that unless you remove the cause, the marks won't go away. If you have a few grand to blow, laser surgery similar to the procedure for tattoo removal does wonders.

I have stretch marks on my bicep area and side of chest..

Is mederma a common ointment? Meaning its available everywhere?

Walgreens carries Mederma, about $30 for a little tube though...

I dont think you can do anything about it. if so, nobody would have any scars.... especially women after giving birth....

i can say from experience that vitamin E cream does work. i used it at night before i went to bed so it would have a chance to work at night. stratch marks faded significantly.

I've had success with vitamin E on scars...

Wow, luck is on my side.. i was just noticing some stretch marks the other day on my chest..

so the overall opinion is Mederma, huh?

Vitamin E ointment seems to be the method with the most success...

I recently found some stretch marks on my thigh and Antagony pointed me to this thread. After reading about the suggestions, I've decided I probably can't afford Mederma and so I googled for "stretch marks vitamin E" and came up with this site:
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/03/03jul07a.cfm

It seems to have all the common home remedies for stretch marks.

I remember reading once that while such creams help a little, what really does it is the rubbing motion inwhich you apply it.

Don't quote me on it, though, it's been a very long time since I've looked up info on it. I've got some stretch marks on my stomach from when I used to be overweight. I really should try to do something about them...

correct.

Yeah my wife used something called Belly Butter. But she lost em and now looks goooood.........

Even lessened her C-section scar quite a bit.