The last thing you want to see when you flex in the mirror is a purple mark?and then more purple scars?until you realise that all the hard work of you bulking up has resulted in something you didn't have before - stretch marks!

It is common for body builders to get stretch marks in their pecs, their legs, their arms and their shoulders.

Unfortunately, it is a very unpleasant side effect of bulking up.

Stretch marks affect different people from all walks of life for a wide variety of reasons.

Here are some of the more generally accepted ?hormonal? or endocrine ?causes?, or more accurately stated, contributing factors to developing stretch marks:

1. Negative emotion, depression or extreme unhappiness (emotions are neuro-peptides and affect the processes and organs in your body)

2. Developmental factors and stages, growth and puberty for adolescents and budding your adults, (both boys and girls)

3. Vitamins and nutrient deficiencies

4. Pregnancy

5. Rapid weight gain or weight loss

6. Sudden change in physical or environmental conditions

7. Medications and steroid use

8. Insufficient skin properties, building blocks and elements, like collagen and elastin (the main ingredients and connective tissue of your skin)

Stretch marks also vary in their appearance?from a slight pinkish red, pale skin-coloration, purple, to silvery white. These are reflective of the different stages of stretch mark development.

Worrying about your stretch marks does not mean that you are superficial, worrying for nothing, or vain. For most of us, stretch marks are a highly personal and intimate matter.

Thankfully, modern science, technology and advancements afford us great ways of addressing and even reducing the appearance and severity of stretch marks.

Medical breakthroughs and even laser-type surgery and treatments leave consumers with lots of choices and options (some easier to live with, less side effects, risk and cheaper than others!).

Some stretch mark procedures are more time-consuming and costly and their impact and consequences you might not always have bargained on, budgeted for or counted among possibilities or risks. This is highly unfortunate. Skin coloration and/or permanent scars are just some of these examples.

Peel-type treatments can be painful and have to be taken repeatedly and these treatments are outside the budgets of many household and personal budgets to be realistic and viable.

Plastic and cosmetic surgery and invasive procedures are still an upscale option for those who can scrape together the dollars to get the job done. The results however will vary and there are no guarantees. As things stand today, there is no ONE sure-fire way to totally prevent, correct or get rid of stretch marks.

If this leaves you feeling as if nothing can claim to work affordably, cheaply and effectively to help you get rid of your stretch marks thing again!

If you want and crave lasting results, naturally, for your stretch marks with home remedies for stretch marks, there are many wise words and remedies, approaches and techniques to recommend to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

There are home remedies for stretch marks - natural ways to treat, minimize and deal effectively with stretch marks and stretch mark removal.

There are, in fact, innovative ways and products (including stretch mark creams) that can assist you in dealing effectively with unsightly stretch marks!

You do not have to resort to drastic, extreme or expensive measures necessarily to get things done. Costly or painful procedures, mediocre results no longer have to be your stretch mark tale of despair. Instead turn your search for home remedies for stretch marks into a natural solution stretch mark success story!

There are lots that you can do to find ways to make the body's natural process, dynamics, features and qualities work for you and to your advantage, as opposed to against you! You now have the chance to take restorative control of your body and its processes and your skin will follow your guidance and directions! This is the philosophy and practice of naturally dealing effectively with stretch marks and stretch mark removal.

Of course the best way to deal with stretch marks is to try and prevent them in the first place. If you know that you are going to be bulking up then it's important to put a few preventative measures in place to avoid getting stretch marks.

You can combat stretch mark removal by eating right. Balanced nutrition, having less body fat and staying hydrated are all great ways to not only watch, lose and maintain your weight throughout your life, it also provides your body with the nutrients to speed up metabolism, ?manufacture? and optimize the collagen and elastin that you need to have a ?glowing? and healthy skin - all factors that help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Here are some simple ways to prevent stretch marks while bulking up:

Drink plenty of water. By keeping your body hydrated you are also keeping your skin hydrated.

Eat plenty of fresh produce, fruits and vegetables, healthy oils and low fat foods. Vitamins that are particularly great contributors to the appearance of the quality of your skin are Vitamins C, E, A and zinc - though foods rich in Vitamin A are best avoided during pregnancy.

Try not to gain TOO much muscle too quickly while body building. If you have a more steady muscle gain your skin will stretch slowly and naturally, thus lessening the chances of having stretch marks.

Make sure your diet is balanced and nutritional. If you believe your diet could be improved then be sure to take vitamins which are critical for your overall wellbeing but also your skin, hair and teeth. Avoid stress as much as possible. Making sure you have relaxing periods to yourself and reduce your stress levels will result in less stress on your skin. Of course a perfect time to experience less mental stress is while at the gym.

All of the above can contribute to your health, well-being but also the condition of your body and skin and ultimately lower your chances of getting stretch marks while body building.

Preventing stretch marks is a challenge for a body builder. Try avoiding large numbers of repetitions of the same lift if you are really concerned about body building stretch marks. Bear in mind too that steroids are said to influence whether you will form stretch marks or not.

Also pay particular attention to what fuel you put into your body. It is recommended that you bulk clean which requires a steady, slow and very controlled increase in your mass over time. When bulking clean your goal at all times is to carefully plan your meals towards minimizing any fat gains.

By following just a few of these tips you will be on your way to preventing body building stretch marks and helping you reduce the appearance of your stretch marks in the long term.

Copyright 2006 Karin Manning