Stretch marks are a skin reaction that happens when your skin changes shape rapidly due to growth or weight gain. They usually aren’t a sign that anything is wrong with your health. Anyone can get stretch marks, regardless of gender. Pregnancy and puberty are the two most common times in life to get them.
Research tells us there is no secret cure-all ingredient for stretch marks — at least not yet. But they are home remedies that can help minimize the appearance of stretch marks and could help them fade more quickly.
1. Sugar
Don't be surprised, sugar is a popular exfoliator. The small crystals gently scrub away dead skin and leave you feeling smoother. This home remedy for exfoliation seems worth a try. You might already have the ingredients at home.
To make a sugar scrub:
Combine 1/2 cup sugar with a softening agent, like almond oil or coconut oil. Mix the oil into the sugar, a little at a time. Your scrub is ready when it looks like wet beach sand. You may need to add up to 1/2 cup of oil in total.
Gently rub the mixture over the part of your body where the stretch marks are.
Repeat 2 or 3 times per week while in the shower or bath. Rinse with warm water.
Make small batches of the scrub as needed. You can store your sugar scrub in a sealed container for a short time, but if it starts to look or smell off, start fresh with a new batch.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera has a long history as a natural skin treatment. The jelly from inside the leaves of the aloe vera plant can be applied directly to the skin to soothe and moisturize.
Aloe vera helps skin heal from burns and wounds and stretch marks are a type of scarring from damaged skin, aloe’s skin-repairing properties might help with stretch mark prevention or fading.
Clinical evidence exists for aloe vera as a stretch mark cure, pure aloe vera may be worth trying because it can soften and heal the skin.
Apply pure aloe vera from a plant to your stretch marks daily after your shower.
3. Vitamin A
Vitamin A in skin care products is referred to as a retinoid. Retinoids can make skin appear smoother and more youthful. They’re used in many over-the-counter (OTC) topical cosmetic creams.
However, researchers found that tretinoin helped stretch marks appear smaller and less severe.
Vitamin A products can sometimes irritate the skin, so it’s best to follow instructions carefully if you try this ingredient. Because there are known risks to use retinoids during pregnancy, you should not use them if you are:
pregnant
lactating
trying to become pregnant
4. Coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil has some known benefits for the skin. It can help maintain your skin’s protective barrier. Coconut oil improves dry skin and some skin infections. Coconut oil also helps skin wounds heal faster.
That said, it’s possible that the action of gently massaging your skin could prevent stretch marks. A gentle daily massage of your stretch marks with coconut oil would help and it’s not likely to cause harm.
Of course, if you’re allergic to coconut, you’ll want to avoid this ingredient.
5. Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful ingredient for moisturizing and skin healing. It’s often used in creams, lotions, and serums.
The visible appearance of stretch marks comes along with invisible changes to your skin. These changes make skin less elastic, in part because collagen isn’t doing its usual job of strengthening the skin. To try it, apply a hyaluronic acid product to the affected area each day.
6. Centella
Centella Asiatica is an herb very popular and important ingredient in Korean beauty (K-beauty) products.
Products containing Centella are sometimes used as scar treatments or to help calm and repair sensitive skin.
Centella helps reduce inflammation and promote collagen production. Creams containing Centella may help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy and improve how they look.
Keep in mind that any skin care treatment can occasionally cause allergies or sensitivities. This includes home remedies and natural approaches. So, if you notice a reaction, stop using the ingredient.
You must be logged in to post a comment.