Remedies For Stretch Marks
What
are Stretch Marks?
Stretch
marks are the off-coloured stripes or streaks formed on the skin as a result of
swift stretching of skin or weight changes. They mainly appear on abdomen due
to pregnancy or obesity. In dermatology, they are termed as Striae. They are formed due to hormonal changes related to
pregnancy, puberty, hormone replacement therapy, etc. Stretch marks can be
commonly seen on waist, thighs, lower backs, hips, breasts, arms, and buttocks.
How are these stretch marks formed? The skin of the human body consists of
three main layers:
- Epidermis (the outer layer)
- Dermis (the middle layer)
- Hypodermic (the deepest and third layer)
When
the connective tissue is stretched due to the expansion and contraction of
skin, the stretch marks starts developing on the dermis or the middle layer of
the skin. With the stretch in skin, the collagen gets weak, and the elastin fibres start tearing. Due to this, its normal production
cycle gets damaged or interrupted. This results in the formation of fine scars
under the epidermis or the top layer of the skin. Initially, they appear red or
pink, but gradually, they turned into thin silvery line.
Causes
Stretch
marks are not a disease, which infects the human body, but are the scars formed
due to contraction and expansion of skin. They are basically caused by
stretching of the skin. Their appearance depends on the type of skin. These
ugly stretch marks are caused due to:
- The physical
stretching of the skin at the end of pregnancy.
- Extraordinary weight
gain, specially on arms, thighs, etc.
- Use of certain
medications, including lotions, pills, Corticosteroid creams, and steroids.
- Adrenal gland diseases, Cushing’s syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Hormonal changes
during puberty
Symptoms
What
are the signs of stretch marks? No one would ever like to have stretch marks on
their skin. They commonly appear on the places where a large amount of fats is
deposited. Some of the symptoms which help to recognize the development of stretch
marks are as follows:
- The skin becomes
pink, flattened and thin before the development of stretch marks.
- Development of red,
pink, or purple lines on the skin.
- Affected area
becomes soft in touch.
- At the initial
phase, these lines appear wrinkly and somewhat raised.
- With the passage of
time, these lines convert into silver or white in colour.
- They may also appear
in patches of parallel lines.
Home
Remedies for Stretch Marks
It
is natural that every woman will develop stretch marks at some point of time in
her life. Although they are natural, but have truly ugly looks. No woman would
like to have stretch marks on her skin. What to do if, they have risen on the
skin? How to get rid of stretch marks? Every woman tries some, or the other
thing to reduce stretch marks from skin, including surgical treatments. But,
have you heard of natural or herbal remedies for stretch marks at home? Here
are some quick home remedies for stretch marks, which will undoubtedly reduce
or remove the scars from the affected area
Sugar
is used as a natural exfoliant for skin. It is one of the best home remedies to
get rid of stretch marks. Take a tablespoon of sugar. Add some drops of almond
oil and lemon juice in it. Stir it well and apply directly on the stretch
marks. Rub it for 8-10 minutes and then, take a shower. Continue to use it in affected
area.
Natural Remedies to Remove Stretch
Marks
1.
Apricot Mask to Remove Stretch Marks
Many
people use apricot scrub for rapid removal of stretch marks from their skin.
However, I am giving you the recipe of a mask made from apricot that you have
to apply on your stretch marks daily for at least a month or more.
Get
these things:
• Apricots- 2-3
• Lukewarm water- enough to wash off your skin having marks.
Do
this:
• Cut open the apricots and remove their seeds.
• Crush the fruits to get their paste.
• Apply this apricot paste on your stretch marks.
• Leave for about 15-20 minutes.
• Now wash off with warm water.
• Repeat everyday (you may initially do it twice a day) for a month.
2.
Aloe Vera to Remove Stretch Marks
Benefits
of aloe vera are now very popular among the fans of home remedies. This herb
has in it the plant collagen which excellently repairs human skin too. Use, as
far as possible, the fresh aloe gel taken from the leaves instead of using
store bought gel.
Get
this:
• Aloe
vera leaf
Do
this:
• De-thorn
the aloe vera leaf and remove its outer skin.
• Take out the sticky gel from the inside of the leaf.
• Apply this fresh aloe gel on your stretch marks.
• Now forget it for two hours.
• Wash off with water after this couple of hours.
3.
Oils to Remove Stretch Marks
Natural
oils are excellent emollients and they have these capacity to treat all scalp
and hair problems as also skin issues including stretch marks. You just need to
identify the right type of oil for the very purpose. You should ideally gently
massage your skin having stretch marks with oil for about half an hour daily.
However, just applying oils to the marks (something near to soaking them in
oil) can also do wonders. If doing so, you need to apply oil for about three to
four times a day. Olive oil, with all its antioxidant properties and loads of
nutrients, is considered one of the best oils for removing stretch marks but
there are many other oils that you can use. They too are good when it comes to
curing stretch marks. Here is the list.
• Olive
oil
• Lavender oil
• Rose oil
• Frankincense oil
• Myrrh oil
• Geranium oil
• Helichrysum oil
• Chamomile oil
The best
thing will be to mix certain oils and then apply to the marks. Here’s the
recipe.
Get
this:
• lavender
oil- ½ tsp
• Chamomile oil- ½ tsp
• Almond oil- 2 tsp ( you can use any other carrier oil like avocado oil, jojoba oil etc. in place of almond oil)
Do
this:
• Mix
lavender, chamomile oils with almond or the other carrier oil that you are
using.
• Mix them well.
• Apply this oil mix to your stretch marks daily.
• Do this preferably thrice or four times a day.
4.
Potato Juice to Remove Stretch Marks
This is
the cheapest and one of the rapid home remedies for stretch marks. Potato is a
super food due to its many components like essential fatty acids and a variety
of phytochemicals, like carotenoids
and polyphenols. It also has loads of vitamins and minerals including
Vitamin-C, B-complex, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and zinc.
Because a potato is capable of stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis, it
can effectively restore skin cells fading away your stretch marks.
Get
this:
• Potato- 1 (medium sized)
• Knife- to cut potato
• Lukewarm water- to wash off
Do this:
• Cut the
potato into thick sized slices.
• Take a slice and rub it gently over your stretch marks. Ensure to apply its
juice all over your marks.
• Leave it for 5-10 minutes.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.
5.
Lemon Juice to Remove Stretch Marks
Lemons
have been recognized as fine natural bleaching agents beyond doubt. The alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) and vitamin C in lemons can efficiently remove
the dead skin and make your stretch marks disappear fast.
Get
this:
• Lemon- 1
• Warm water- to wash off
Do
this:
• Cut the
lemon into 2 halves.
• Take a half piece of lemon and gently rub it on your stretch marks.
• Feel its juice soaking into your skin.
• Do this for at least 10 minutes.
• Then wash off with warm water.
To make it
a superfast remedy for stretch marks, you can mix lemon juice with
other ingredients in equal quantities (for example 1tbsp lemon juice with 1
tbsp other juice):
• Lemon juice with cucumber juice
• Lemon juice with potato juice
• Lemon juice with tomato juice.
6.
Cocoa- Shea Butter Homemade Cream to Remove Stretch Marks
If
you are fed up with all the stretch removal creams available in the market,
make your own at home. You’ll be using some very commonly available ingredients
for this homemade cream- those that have been recognized as most skin friendly
ingredients by all – cocoa butter, Shea butter and vitamin E oil. The natural
antioxidants and emollient properties of cocoa butter lends it excellent
moisturizing ability which penetrates deep and fast into the skin repairing it
and removing stretch marks. The fatty acids of Shea butter, which has been used
by Africans since ages, aids cocoa butter in repairing the skin further. As
Shea butter melts at body temperature, it can be absorbed by skin very fast.
Vitamin E in your cream is a powerful antioxidant which will penetrate through
the layers of your skin and assist its natural wound healing process while
removing the scars on it.
Get
this:
• Cocoa
butter- 2 tsp
• Shea butter- 2tsp
• Vitamin E oil- 1 tsp
Do
this:
• Melt the Shea butter and cocoa butter.
• Add vitamin E oil to the melted butters.
• Mix well.
• Store in a container.
• The cream will get into solid state once it cools down.
Each time
when you apply this cream on your stretch marks, it will melt as soon as it
comes in contact with your skin. Apply this cream at least twice a day after
having bath.
7.
Egg Whites to Remove Stretch Marks
Egg
white contains 40 different proteins. You can understand why it is so
beneficial for skin health. Egg whites are also rich in collagen and vitamin A
and thus can treat scars or burns too effectively. So go ahead with this remedy
and apply egg white on your stretch marks. It’s as simple as this-
• Take out
the egg white by separating the yolk from the egg.
• Beat the egg white a little with a fork
• Apply on your marks.
• Leave for 15 minutes
• Wash off with water.
Apply some
moisturizer or oil (like olive oil) after you pat dry the area.
8.
Alfalfa to remove Stretch Marks
Rich
in amino acids, vitamins E and K, this herb, Alfalfa is used by many to fade
the marks away. You may also give it a try as they are said to be great skin
toners.
Get
this:
• Alfalfa
Powder- 1 tsp
• Chamomile oil- few drops to make paste
Do
this:
• Mix
alfalfa powder with chamomile oil and mix well.
• Apply the paste to your stretch marks.
• Leave for 15 minutes.
• Wash off with water.
• Do this thrice a day.
9.
Drink Water for Hydrated Skin to Aid Removal of Stretch Marks
No
remedy will work effectively if your skin is not always hydrated and full of
suppleness. Drink enough water (if enough means 8-10 glasses for you, have at
least this much!) Not only hydrated skin detoxifies your body but also restores the lost elasticity of the
skin.
10.
Eat Well to Remove Stretch Marks
Apart
from keeping your skin well hydrated, you also need to keep it well nourished.
Lack of nutrients inside your body can never give you full benefits of creams,
lotions, oils, masks or any other thing that you apply externally on your skin.
- Have a good amount
of proteins daily. Beans, fish, egg whites, yogurt, nuts and seeds like
those of pumpkin, squash, and watermelon seeds, peanuts, almonds etc.
- Have foods high in Vitamin C and E
to encourage growth of skin tissues. Peppers, guavas, dark leafy greens,
broccoli, gooseberries, papaya, oranges, strawberries are high in vitamin
C. Spinach, nuts, kale, olive oil, tropical fruits like papaya and kiwi,
wheat all are rich in Vitamin E.
- Have seeds and nuts
rich in mineral content (especially zinc) during your pregnancy. This
tones up your skin well.
- Avoid saturated fats
in your diet as they make you gain weight and obesity can cause stretching
of the skin giving you those ugly stretch marks.
11.
Physical Exercise
One
must regularly do physical exercises, like abdominal crunches, sit-ups,
swimming, etc., which tone the underlying muscles and remove the ugly stretch
marks. Here are some exercises, which are beneficial to remove stretch marks:
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