Proven Ways to Say Goodbye to Stretch Marks Naturally
With the joy of pregnancy comes the joy of body changes. For mothers experiencing hormonal and skin changes, stretch marks may appear first.
Stretch marks can be an unsightly surprise to even the most fit and prepared mother-to-be. Depending on various factors, these markings can range from light to dark and big to small.
Stretch marks are:
- Visible lines, often wavy, on the skin
- May be lighter or darker than your current skin tone
- Lines may begin as pink or red but slowly fade over time
- Have the feel of rubber
- Mostly on the stomach area but can be found in many other rounded areas of the body
- May be large or small
Stretch marks are caused by:
- Hormonal changes
- Sudden weight gain
- Sudden weight loss
- Sudden growth spurt
- Genetics
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Stretching of skin and weakening of collagen
- With weak collagen in the skin, scars appear under the epidermis layer of the skin
- Muscle building
- Use of medications and lotions
If your pregnancy stretch marks make you uncomfortable and embarrassed, there are quite a few ways to get rid of them.
These light-colored lines may be unsightly, but they are easy to nudge away with the right combination of ingredients.
With a little recipe from ingredients you have around the house, you can create a stretch mark concoction to rid yourself of unsightly lines.
How to get rid of stretch marks
- Exercise reguarly
- Work on muscle tone by lifting weights and firming your troublesome body areas
- Do not lose weight too quickly
- Do not gain weight too quickly
- Be sure to stay hydrated! Drink as much water as you can tolerate.
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
- Utilize minerals in Vitamin E to your advantage!
- Lower stress levels
- Have a doctor measure hormone levels and check for certain diseases that may trigger stretch marks
- Laser treatment
In addition to these simple lifestyle changes, you can try this recipe for an all-natural topical treatment:
Blend ½ cups of cocoa butter with a tablespoon of wheat germ. Add a teaspoon of tea kernel oil, 2 teaspoons of grated beeswax, and some vitamin E oil. Warm the mixture and massage it into the skin two or three times daily.
If you are a more conservative woman and prefer not to take drastic measures against your stretch marks, there are simple and natural ways to lighten the stretch marks and firm your skin.
Castor oil for stretch marks
Castor oil can be used as a moisturizer for stretch marks and to treat wrinkles, age spots, and fine lines. With its moisturizing properties, this all-natural ingredient makes the perfect all-purpose skin product.
To use castor oil to remove stretch marks, simply use a circular motion massage with the oil on the affected area for five minutes or more, depending on preference.
Put a thin cloth over the oil and perhaps a heating source such as a heating pad or warm washcloth. After half an hour of treatment, you will feel the moisturizing results. If used daily for a month, you should notice a decrease in lines.
Aloe Vera for stretch marks
Aloe vera is another all-purpose skin treatment you may have at home. It can be used for many ailments.
One of the best things about aloe vera is that you can grow an Aloe plant in your home and continuously access the chemical properties that heal your skin and soften your lines.
Exfoliate! Exfoliating your skin is recommended for many skin ailments, especially stretch marks.
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and brightens the skin underneath. Removing skin cells and smoothing the underside help restore skin stretched to its limit.
Sugar is a great, natural exfoliant.
- A tablespoon of sugar can be mixed with a carrier oil or with a few drops of almond oil and lemon juice. Massage sugar onto the skin before a shower and watch your skin begin to renew.
Potato?! Yes! You can use potatoes to cure your stretch marks!
- Use a potato slice as a massager. Rub the inside of the potato slice onto your lines. When the moisture from the potato has dried, rinse the area.
Water is a tried-and-true method of reducing stretch marks, regardless of the area in which they are laid.
- Drinking water allows the skin to remain hydrated and have the elasticity needed to adapt to the body changes. Drinking water also removes toxins from the body, helps regulate hormones, and cleans the pores of your skin.
Lemon juice can be massaged onto the stretch marks like potato slices, then rinsed well when dried.
- Lemons contain antioxidants and minerals to clear skin scars and injuries; the product works well on stretch marks.
Olive oil has properties similar to lemon juice in that it is full of antioxidants and minerals.
- Olive oil can warmed and applied to the skin to improve skin tone and feel.
Cocoa butter is the most trusted method of stretch mark relief.
- Passed down from generation to generation, this wonderfully scented lotion helps prevent and treat stretch marks while also providing the all-over moisturization mothers need.
Alfalfa leaves! These leaves are not just for your furry friends.
- Alfalfa leaves have been found to contain amino acids that aid in skin repair. The leaves also aid in detoxifying skin, which hasten the healing of epidermal scarring. Mixed with the essential oil of your choice, preferably lavender, alfalfa leaves can be used as a natural remedy twice or thrice daily.
References
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/how-to/how-to-get-rid-of-stretch-marks-fast.html
http://www.homeremedyshop.com/17-home-remedies-to-heal-stretch-marks-fast/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stretch-marks/basics/treatment/con-20032624
Another great post, thank you for all of the information! Have you personally tried these techniques that you mention in the post? I’m just curious which one have you had the most success with? I used coconut oil during my pregnancy, and it didn’t stop me from getting stretch marks. I know others did have success with this. Which one (if any) of these techniques would you recommend for well after pregnancy? Can anything help? Thank you so much!
There are a lot of remedies worth trying here. When I got pregnant I got stretchmarks on my stomach area. My stomach got huge. My stretchmarks were light, I used coconut oil everyday of my pregnancy and afterwards. My stretchmarks are pretty much gone now even though I still have a little loose skin on my belly. I didn’t know castor oil was good. I’m going to try that out.
A potato? Oh wow, I never would have thought of that one. But I’m definitely going to keep that in the back of my mind for if I ever get pregnant, because I ALWAYS have potatoes in the house. Luckily, my only stretch marks on on my chest area, from when I gain and lose weight too quickly, but since nobody sees those they’re not too concerning for me. But my best friend is currently 6 months pregnant and she is concerned about getting stretch marks, so I’m definitely going to share this article with her. Thanks!!
Stretch mark can be somewhat annoying and embarrassing at the same time. i am amazed by the number of home remedies available for getting rid of stretch mark. After giving birth, my sister tried honey with some mixture i cant really remember, it works but didn’t get rid of it totally. i have some on my hips, i’ll try the remedies and see the one that works for me.
I was working at a dermatologist’s a few years ago after my last pregnancy and I had really horrible stretch marks on my thighs and I asked how to get rid of them…She told me that I could have a chemical peel and essentially have some of the damaged skin sanded down, or have it actually removed, stretched and pulled and stitched back, but then I’d have a long line of sutures. Neither sounded appealing, and I had nothing done. These tips will definitely get rid of stretch marks naturally without all that chemical process! Thanks for an interesting read!
For pregnancy stretch marks this is the best solution to get rid of unwanted stretch marks. My sister in law had stretch marks recently before giving birth, she tried many creams to get rid of them but nothing had actually worked but by reading this interesting article I gave hints to my sister in law about these remedies which actually worked for her. She is very happy it worked just because of this very useful remedies.
I have stretch marks on my hips from my growth spurt when I was a teenager, and I didn’t realize that they could also be caused by hormonal changes – definitely an issue during puberty and my growth spurt!
I have *never* heard of using potatoes to lighten the stretch marks, so I really wanted to try it, and it seems to be working. I decided to try one thing at a time and do the potatoes first, then use lemons, then go back to potatoes. So far it seems to be working for me! I also have started drinking a lot more water during the day, and start with a big glass in the morning to get me started off right. Hopefully this will help prevent more stretch marks!
Ok, first of all, I am impressed. Who knew potato is a remedy for stretch marks?. This is the largest collection on how to get rid of stretch marks I have ever seen online. I am so bookmarking this site, I have a feeling I am going to need the information contained here very soon.
Wow!!!!
What a straight forward and in-depth article. Stretch marks are a normal part of puberty for most girls and guys.
Now i have added to my knowledge and know where solution lies.
Thanks for the post.
I love this! I am currently 8 months pregnant with baby number 3 and I have been working on everything I can think of to prevent more stretch marks! I have tried the store bought creams in the past and wasn’t impressed, so far I am loving the Olive Oil suggestion! Oh and the sugar scrub smells amazing!!
I have a friend who always has stretch marks after pregnancy and she applies creams to help remove them but reading this article has made me realize that there are other methods of eliminating it.Thanks.