Home Remedies For Stretch Marks That Work Surprisingly Well

One more common and annoying problems among young adults and adults are stretch marks or striae distensae. Stretch marks are commonly caused where the fat is stored mainly like abdomen, thighs, hips, upper arms, lower back, and breasts. They can be seen in men, women, boys and girls as well.

Most likely these stretch marks are developed in the pregnant women having fair color.

Poor diet, stress, type of your skin and sudden change in the environment also causes the stretch mark. Probably genetics also play a major role in developing stretch marks, if your mother is having stretch marks there is a chance that you get stretch marks.

Cause of stretch marks:

Stretch marks appear mostly occurs due to performing intense physical activities, bulking up phase of building your body, obesity, puberty, pregnancy and Cushing’s disease. Using low potency topical steroid creams or ointments that drive deep into the skin and oral steroids also cause stretch marks.

In this process increased hormones in the bloodstream prevent dermis from forming collagen and elastin fibers which causes skin to overstretch where elasticity and strong underlying support is needed which is not present, thus the dermal layer tears up flattens the epidermis and leaves red surface marks. They are nothing but bands of elastin broken underneath the skin. When these tears are healed the collagen fibers are unable to line up which results in formation of white marks unevenly on your skin called stretch marks. These stretch marks cannot be healed if once formed on your body as the damage is in the dermis which is far below the surface of the skin.

Stretch marks do not need any medical treatment as they are harmless, they heal normally but the appearance stays striated even if stretch marks are gone as the texture remains which remains different from normal skin.

Steps to fade stretch marks:

A simple way to get rid of stretch marks is patience and a little diligent self maintenance. Trying all painful, invasive and expensive procedures which don’t even show results is of no use.

Initially the multi-layered skin inside which is effecting should be taken care of with good nutrition and exercise. All natural and chemical free ingredients that are present in your kitchen can heal these marks instead of wasting money on expensive creams. Massage, oils and exfoliation helps skin from outside. You should keep up the hope after starting the treatment of the red scars and patience is must. These are some methods to replenish the skin from inside.

Water:

Water is an internal moisturizer which keeps your skin soft and elastic by keeping the production of the collagen levels normal. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water everyday helps in hydration of your tissues. Follow with a glass of water after having tea, coffee or soda.

Nutrition:

Vitamins A,C,D,E,K helps replenishing your skin and nourishing your body, making a habit of taking food rich in fatty acids, zinc and silica also helps your skin from stretch marks. Eating low fat dairy products, fish, meat, liver, citrus fruit, tomatoes, almonds, pumpkin seeds, carrots, spinach, green cabbage, kale, Swiss Chard, turnip greens, broccoli, collards as your routine diet helps in replenishing the skin. Harmful hormone therapies, Stress and medicines depletes the essential nutrients in your body which are important for your skin health. Good diet always maintains your health and balances your body.

Biochemistry/tissue salts:

To restore elasticity to muscles, connective tissue and skin and to maintain body’s water balance Calcium floride, Natrium Muriaticum and Calcium Phosphate are essential.

Exercise:

Exercise should be performed regularly in order to reduce these marks, dry brushing or exfoliating on the stretch mark areas also helps. Stretch marks appear worse on flabby skin than on toned or firm flesh.

Apply lemon juice to fade the scars:

Let your skin dry and moisturize generously with oils that are mentioned below. In order to increase your blood circulation massage vigorously.

Prefer moisturizing after having shower so that your pores will be able to soak up the oil that is applied. Cover the saturated stretch marks with plastic wrap and place hot towel, hot water bottle or a heating pad for 30 minutes. Wipe off the excess oil so that your clothes will not get spoiled after removing the wrap.
Just stick to the general principles like exfoliate, moisturize and massage. Any oil can be used that suits your body, no oil is bad.

Let us have a detailed look:

Exfoliate:

Dry brushing or exfoliating softens the skin and makes it look fresh by removing the dead skin. Some marks that are difficult to reach can be massaged making possible ways, some sensitive Exfoliator or loofah that is homemade with sea salt, oatmeal, baking soda, ground coffee or apricot scrub, with a wet washcloth. Making a paste by adding any one of them to olive oil and massaging on stretch marks for few minutes in circular motion while having bath helps you reduce these marks.

Exfoliator can also be made with 5 tablespoons of scrub, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
1/2 teaspoon vitamin E, 1 teaspoon cocoa butter
Rinse off after sometime.
Lemon juice helps stretch marks fade. After drying it should be rinsed off with hot water and dried with towel gently.

Using a derma or a skin roller, before moisturizing help oil to penetrate deeply into the skin.

Moisturize and hydrate:
Your skin becomes better if it is infused with moisture.
Any natural oil can be used to massage stretch marks. Massage regularly and vigorously which improves circulation and promotes rejuvenation.

Skin will be expanding if you are pregnant which make you feel ticklish, your nails should be kept short as scratching may tear dermis. Gently rub on the area with a cloth to relieve the itch.

Packaged remedies for stretch marks contain dangerous chemicals which are harmful if you are pregnant. They should not be applied to your abdomen.

Use natural organic oils as the fragrances in the baby oil dry out the skin and petroleum jellies moisturize your skin when applied.
• Aloe vera
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K cream
• Rose hip oil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Vitamin E oil
• Jojobo oil
• Castor oil
• Emu oil
• Lanolin oil
• Cocoa butter
• Natural shea butter
Combine these oils and massage, ideal oil also gives good results.

Vitamin E oil:

Antioxidants called Alpha Tocopheral, Squalene that is present in Vitamin E helps in promoting the growth in cells which helps skin to regenerate and enhances the effect of Vitamin E.

Break open the capsule and discard it, rub the oil on affected areas to obtain Vitamin E. Mix this oil with castor oil, avocado oil. It can be combined with cocoa butter.

Paste can be made using Vitamin E rich oil, olive oil or castor oil with aromatic herbs like mint, lemon grass, lavender, thyme, and massage for few minutes before sleeping.

Essential oils:

Applying one ounce of carrier oil like avocado, sweet almond, jojoba, grape seed with lavender and few drops of chamomile on the affected areas or directly to the scars helps in fading these marks or scars caused by injuries.

Vitamin K cream:
Vitamin K cream can be applied to stretch marks based on the skin type, their severity and activity level; you can observe the results in 1-2 weeks.

Cocoa butter:

The best home remedy for stretch marks which keeps the skin soft and pliable is cocoa butter.
1/2 cup cocoa butter
1 teaspoon apricot kernel oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 teaspoon grated beeswax
This mixture is to be heated to melt the beeswax and is stored in a airtight container in refrigerator and then applied to stretch marks

Cocoa butter when first applied will be dry and becomes oily when rubbed; this is the reason mostly cocoa butter is used for reducing stretch marks.

Olive oil:

Olive oil is massaged onto the scars by warming it in the microwave and left for 15-20 minutes.

Olive oil and coconut oil are mixed in equal ratios and lemon juice with it, this mixture is applied onto the parts of the body where you find stretch marks followed by cocoa butter.

Stick to the oil that suits your skin best.

Olive oil, Aloe Vera gel and cod liver oil, half tea spoon each helps in anti-aging.

Flaxseed / linseed oil:

Applying mixture of equal amounts of olive oil and flaxseed oil is good for any type of scars.

Adding flaxseed oil to yogurt, shakes or salads gives excellent results.

Castor oil:

Castor oil combined with rose hip seed oil, tea tree oil and vitamin E oil and applying it onto your stretch marks including warts, moles, dark spots and wrinkles for 30 minutes helps reducwe them, also works as laxative and detoxifies your lymphatic system.

Some of the following creams are to be applied:
200 ml unscented aqueous cream
20 ml collagen cream
10 ml olive oil
5 ml coconut oil
5 ml tea tree oil
Mixture is left in sunlight before one day for natural effect. This mixture is good for Eczema sufferers if applied two times a day.

Aloe vera gel:

Aloe Vera gel is well known for its healing power and soothing properties.
1/2 cup olive oil as your base
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
Oil from 10 vitamin E capsules
Oil from 5 vitamin A capsules
Mixture is stored in airtight container in refrigerator after blending. It is rubbed onto your skin until it is absorbed.

Vicks Vapor Rub:
Vicks can also be applied onto the stretch marks. Combining lemon juice, aloe vera gel and Vicks and heating for 5 minutes and applying it to scars leaving it for ten minutes and rinsing it off using cocoa butter helps your stretch mars disappear.

Hide them:

Hide your stretch marks with your clothes a swimsuit offering more coverage, a self-tanning cream or body makeup till they are faded completely. They appear more emphasized if your skin is tanned.

Conclusion

Flogging stretch mark creams cannot prevent or reduce stretch marks. Beware of such creams.
Being self conscious about these marks and taking comfort that most people also have them makes you feel better and helps you learn to live with them. You should be proud of your body which is an appealing quality.