Table of contents:
- What are stretch marks?
- What causes stretch marks on the shoulder?
- How to deal with stretch marks on the shoulders
- 1. Pay attention to exercise intensity
- 2. Keep your weight
- 3. Fulfill your intake of vitamins and minerals
- 4. Use a moisturizer
Hearing the word stretch marks, you may immediately imagine the lines that often appear below the stomach, thighs, or hips. However, please note that stretch marks can appear not only on the lower body, but also on the upper body such as the shoulders. You must be wondering, what causes stretch marks on the shoulders and can they be removed? Come on, find out more details through the following reviews.
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are lines or strokes that are long, thin, and protrude more than the rest of the skin. So when you touch it, it will feel like scratches or uneven skin. The color of the stretch marks themselves is red, but they usually fade to white.
This condition is indeed a very common problem for women, especially for those who have given birth. But make no mistake, both men and women can experience stretch marks on any part of the body, you know! One of them is stretch marks on the arms and shoulders.
Stretch marks usually appear on the areas of the skin that store fat, such as the abdomen, thighs, hips, breasts, buttocks and lower back. However, these thin strokes can also appear on the shoulder and often interfere with appearance.
What causes stretch marks on the shoulder?
Basically, the cause of stretch marks occurs when the skin no longer grows or stretches normally. This is usually caused by pregnancy, drastic weight gain or loss, to puberty.
So, you may be wondering, if stretch marks on the stomach often appear due to pregnancy, then, what causes stretch marks on the shoulders?
The causes of stretch marks on the shoulders are not much different from the causes of stretch marks that appear on other parts of the body. Yes, this is caused by the rapid increase in muscle mass or fat, either due to intense exercise or drastic weight gain.
When muscle mass or fat in the shoulders increases, the collagen in the skin will find it more difficult to maintain its elasticity so it doesn't stretch. The faster the increase in muscle mass and fat in the shoulder area, the skin will easily stretch and cause scars called stretch marks.
Before stretch marks appear on your shoulders, your skin will usually look thin and pink. The skin looks wrinkled and the raised skin lines tend to be reddish or brown in color. Over time, the lines will fade and turn white. Well, this is what we call stretch marks.
How to deal with stretch marks on the shoulders
Even though they are often covered by clothes, stretch marks on the shoulders still interfere with our appearance and make us less confident. Unfortunately, until now there is no single method that can permanently remove stretch marks.
But calm down first! The stretch marks on the shoulders will slowly fade over time. In addition, there are several ways you can prevent stretch marks on the shoulders, namely:
1. Pay attention to exercise intensity
Excessive or heavy exercise is the most common cause of stretch marks on the shoulders. To prevent this from happening, you should pay attention to the intensity of the exercise you do.
The faster the muscle growth in the arm and shoulder area, the greater the risk of developing stretch marks. The key is not to force yourself to grow the muscles in the arm area quickly.
If you are used to lifting heavy weights, try replacing them with lighter weights but done regularly. The goal is that your body muscles grow slowly, do not stretch the skin, and reduce the risk of stretch marks on the shoulders.
2. Keep your weight
Drastic weight gain or loss is also a common cause of stretch marks on the shoulders in society. Therefore, the most important key to preventing stretch marks on the shoulders is to pay attention to your own muscle mass and body fat. Don't let your arm or shoulder muscles get bigger in a short time, huh.
Also avoid using steroid injections to build muscles. Although they can build muscle and improve physical abilities, steroids can also stop the skin from growing, which can lead to stretch marks on the shoulders.
3. Fulfill your intake of vitamins and minerals
To disguise the stretch marks that have appeared on the shoulders, be sure to always eat nutritious foods. Especially foods that contain zinc, antioxidants, and vitamins.
In addition, also consume more fruits and protein sources such as chicken or nuts. The protein content will help build body muscles in a healthier way without causing stretch marks.
4. Use a moisturizer
The use of creams or moisturizers will not remove stretch marks permanently. But at least, a moisturizer that is used regularly can help soften and supple the skin. It's good, use a moisturizer that contains vitamin A, vitamin E, or cocoa butter so that the skin remains supple and healthy.
