One of the attributes making modern bodybuilders extra freaky is their transparent, paper-thin skin. To comprehend how thin it is, pull the skin at the back of your palm. Now imagine having your entire body covered by skin that thin. Crazy, right? Yet this is how most professional bodybuilders look prior to a contest. Today, I will tell you how the pros achieve this effect.

IFBB Pro Frank McGrath showing his paper thin skin; image source: drwannabe.tumblr.com;

1. Low body fat levels

You can’t win a bodybuilding contest unless you are shredded. The standard body fat for a male bodybuilder ready for a competition is about 5-8%. If you are any fatter than that, you will lose many points.

Low body fat is achieved through dieting. I won’t go into details which diet is the best since this is a very controversial topic. In all cases, however, your diet will have to put you in a strict caloric deficit.

2. Anabolic Steroids & Growth Hormone

Believe it or not, drugs have an impact even on the skin too. There are different steroids that can make your skin feel, look and taste like silk. If you were to observe a drugged bodybuilder, you will notice that their envelope {skin} looks different and has a 3D effect.

Bodybuilders on drugs also use Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), clenbuterol and dangerous substances such as DNP in order to reach a low body fat level. Abuse of similar drugs can result in serious injuries and even death.

3. Diuretics

To enhance their definition even further, bodybuilders lose water weight prior to competitions. They achieve this effect with dangerous substances known as diuretics which can cause sudden death as in the case of the legendary IFBB Pro Mohammed Benaziza. Truth be told, diuretics are often more dangerous than steroids.

4. Manipulation of sodium levels

An excessive amount of sodium can cause water retention under the skin which can mask the muscular definition of a competitor. That’s why bodybuilders keep their sodium levels in check prior to a contest.

5. Water Manipulation

When your water intake is low, the body tends to store more fluids for survival needs. To fix that bodybuilders consume large quantities of water and cut all intake prior to a contest in order to enter a dehydrated state and increase their muscular definition.

6. Tanning and oils 

Prior to a contest bodybuilders tan and cover themselves in body oil. Again, the goal is to enhance the muscular definition even further.

7. The genetic factor

Some people are born with a naturally thinner skin – a gift for bodybuilding. At the same time, there are individuals who have really thick skin, and even with all the tricks in the book, they can’t match their rivals.

Of course, the drugs act as an equalizer. A good example would be Dorian Yates who in his initial years as a bodybuilder had a thicker skin working against him. As the years went by, Dorian became known as one of the most conditioned freaks out there. It goes without saying that the main reason weren’t sodium manipulations.

Can natural bodybuilders attain the paper thin skin look?

Naturals can become very lean but look too fragile at ultra-low body fat levels because they don’t carry as much muscle mass as a bodybuilder on steroids. The natural potential is just not that high.

If you have low body fat levels, your skin will look thin no matter what. However, reaching an insane transparency as a natural is unrealistic.