Is it Normal for Men and Boys to Develop Stretch Marks?

Stretch Marks — By admin

Absolutely! Men and boys may actually be more susceptible to stretch marks than women for a variety of reasons. Women tend to use sweet smelling soap that has a moisturizer included, while the greater majority of men would not be caught dead using a moisturizer let alone a “girly soap”. Fact is your skin knows no gender and when placed under pressure will essentially crack, causing a stretch mark. This is even more likely to happen if your skin is not adequately moisturized!

Moisturizing your skin is essential for men and women alike. Finding a moisturizer that is manly enough should be easy, not all lotions and moisturizing soaps smell like a field of wild flowers! Also, young boys are more likely to become dehydrated due to sports and soft drinks, and this too plays a major role in the development of stretch marks in men and boys. Ensuring that your body is hydrated from the inside out is just as important as applying a moisturizer. So you must be sure to drink water and plenty of it, usually 6-8 glasses a day. However, I realize that the busy schedule of a teenage boy will make this request somewhat difficult, so just be sure to drink as much WATER as possible…specially if you play sports!

The idea that stretch marks are thought of as a female affliction really makes me chuckle at times, this is because the hormones that are thought to make conditions more favorable for the production of stretch marks are typically higher in a males than a females. These hormones are called Glucocorticoids; basically these are a whole group of steroid based hormones. These hormones are present in a woman’s body, but they are more prevalent in a man’s. Researchers have linked the over production of stretch marks, and the under production to collagen to high levels of these hormones. Combine high levels of these hormones, dehydration, and dry skin, and you have a recipe for disaster! There is one more reason why boys and men are typically more susceptible to developing stretch marks, and that is rate of growth.

During puberty boys tend to go from boys to men in a very short period of time, sometimes in a matter of months. This rapid rate of growth in the arms, legs, and trunk area of the body places a great strain on the skin, thus leading to the development of the stretch mark. Sometimes preventing these stretch marks is impossible, but moisturizing and keeping yourself adequately hydrated will keep the marks minimal. Men on the other hand generally develop stretch marks due to rapid muscle development, or a sudden weight gain, either way same rules apply to men as boys…moisturize and drink plenty of water! No matter what, remember that stretch marks are very common in men, and although they don’t talk about it chances are all your friends have them to some extent themselves!