Stretched

Men's Fitness, Dec, 2003 by Kearn Tse

Your magazine has helped me a lot. So much, in fact, that I gained 6 inches on my quads in one summer. But now I have stretch marks. What can I do to get rid of them?

--KEARN TSE

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

Kearn, they are the result of constant stretching in your dermis--the middle layer of skin--over time. The skin becomes less elastic, then the connective fibers break. Stretch marks are basically scars and never go away completely--but they can become less noticeable with time and treatment. Laser surgery is the most effective method. To prevent future stretch marks, try massaging your skin daily with a moisturizer to keep it supple (a word we'd normally reserve for use in conjunction with breasts) and eat foods high in zinc, silica, and vitamins C and E.