What Causes Stretch Marks

In order to fully understand the many methods that we are able to use to treat and prevent stretch marks we must first understand what causes them. These skin blemishes are some of the worst that are able to affect not only women – but also men. They usually appear for a few reasons.

• Rapid weight gain
• Exercise
• Genetic factors

The most common of these causes is the rapid weight gain. When people gain weight over a short period of time they are stretching the skin out and slowly losing the elasticity that is left in the skin. That is why pregnant woman are some of the most common people to deal with stretch marks. Also some teenagers will find smaller stretch marks along their thighs or inner arms when they hit a growth spurt.

The same is true for people who are exercising and why many men will have them. They are doing hard exercises and working out their muscles to such an extent that the muscles need to stretch the skin in order to grow. The more they stretch the more elasticity is being pushed to its limit.

There are some men and women who can be skinny and never have gained a pound or worked out a day in their life – but will still have stretch marks. This is caused by an inherited defect in their connective tissue. It is possible that if your mother or father has them that you will as well. It will also mean that should you gain weight rapidly you will have them much worse then some others.