While you cannot make them disappear completely, you can improve their appearance and make them less noticeable. This article explores how you can prevent stretch marks on the shoulders and hide them. Scroll down. Men usually develop stretch marks on their shoulders, biceps, and chest area. High testosterone helps men build muscle mass more rapidly. Hence, they are more likely to develop shoulder stretch marks. Women may develop shoulder stretch marks due to rapid weight gain (3). But there are ways to minimize their appearance.
How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks On The Shoulders
Though it may not be possible to eliminate stretch marks, we can make them fade with time. The process also depends on your skin type and how it is healing. Often, when you lose weight and the skin is no longer tight, the stretch marks become visible. As the results of the treatment depend on your skin type and its capacity to produce collagen, it is best to consult a dermatologist. The doctor can evaluate your skin and the marks and decide the right treatment for you. Here are a few treatment options that dermatologists may recommend (1), (2), (3):
Laser therapyi XA skin-improving technique that uses lasers to stimulate collagen formation in the dermis and epidermis Microneedling Microdermabrasioni XA light cosmetic treatment that extracts the top layer of dead skin cells from the epidermis with a mechanical medium. Radiofrequencyi XA skin-tightening procedure that stimulates elastin, hyaluronic acid production, and cutaneous collagen with radio frequency energy. Collageni XThe primary structural protein that the human body produces. It is composed of hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline. injections Acid peelsi XA procedure in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layer and smoothen the skin texture. Topical Creams and ointments
The doctor may recommend a single treatment or a combination of treatments for stretch marks. In severe cases, they may also recommend cosmetic surgery. However, you can take precautions to ensure your skin recovers quickly and the stretch marks become milder and barely visible.
Ways To Prevent Stretch Marks On The Shoulders
1. Follow A Proper Workout Routine
Avoid doing intense exercises to build your muscles in a short span. Follow a routine that supports gradual muscle gain. This will give your skin ample time to adjust to the changing muscle mass. It will also minimize the development of stretch marks to a great extent.
2. Avoid Taking Steroids
Steroids and related supplements can boost your muscle mass quickly. However, your skin cannot keep up with the pace, and you will develop stretch marks on the shoulders. Hence, focus on gradual muscle gain.
3. Eat Well
Following a balanced and healthy diet plan reduces your chances of sudden weight gain. Such diets are rich in essential nutrients and vitamins that keep your skin healthy. Eat lots of nutritious and whole foods. Avoid sugary and junk foods.
4. Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Moisturization is crucial to keep your skin hydrated and elastic. Dry skin develops stretch marks easily. Hence, regularly massage your skin with moisturizers, creams, lotions, cocoa, and shea butter, etc. You have to be patient with the process. Results often take time, and you cannot expect the stretch marks to vanish from your skin. They are going to stay. However, with time, the marks keep fading. If you want some quick fixes to hide your stretch marks while your skin recovers, here are a few ways you may try.
How To Hide Stretch Marks On The Shoulders
1. Hide Them With Clothes
Wear tees and shirts with sleeves. Avoid wearing sleeveless or racerback tops.
2. Use A Self-Tanner
Sunless tanners or self-tanners are available in the form of lotions, sprays, and creams. Do not apply the self-tanner only to your stretch marks. This will make them noticeable. Instead, apply it to the entire area with a cotton swab.
3. Use Makeup
You may use body makeup to hide your stretch marks. Use a waterproof concealer close to your skin tone for hiding the marks. Apply setting powder and setting spray can allow the product to stay longer. Do stretch marks go away? No. They may fade with time but never go away. Can stretch marks be surgically removed from my shoulder? Stretch marks cannot be removed. They can only be made to fade through surgical and laser treatments. Can retinol help stretch marks? Yes, studies suggest that retinol may improve skin metabolic rate and increase cell production. This may help in improving the appearance of stretch marks (4). Can Vaseline remove stretch marks? Yes, Vaseline is considered an occlusive, which prevents your skin from losing water and speeds up skin barrier repair. This may help in keeping your stretch marks moisturized and healing them quickly (5). Does Bio-oil work on stretch marks? Yes, scientific evidence indicates that topical application of Bio-oil may improve the appearance of stretch marks over time (6). Do silicone patches work for stretch marks? Yes, silicone patches may increase collagen production, which may help in fading the stretch marks on your shoulders (4). Does argan oil help stretch marks? Yes, a study showed that early application of a cream containing argan oil improves skin elasticity, which in turn may be instrumental in the early treatment of stretch marks (7).
