Natural home remedies for stretch marks

Learn How To Treat Stretch Marks Naturally At Home?

Stretch marks which are commonly referred to as Striae in dermatology are basically scars on the skin. Stretch mark can appear on boys and girls, men and women , usually on the abdomen , thighs , hips , breasts and upper arms or lower back, where fat is stored. Stretch marks happen when your body grows faster than your skin can keep up with. This causes the elastic fibers just under the surface of the skin to break, resulting in stretch marks.

get rid of stretch marks

Pregnancy is the is the biggest reason behind stretch marks, approximately 90% of pregnant Caucasian women develop stretch marks, with women of color fairing slightly better. While pregnancy is the main cause behind stretch marks, other reasons can be sudden gain or loss in weight, rapid growth, heredity factors, stress and changes in physical conditions. Your genetics also plays a role, so if your mother has stretch marks, you probably will too, other reasons may be stress, poor diet and sudden environmental change.

Despite their harmlessness, stretch marks are never pleasant to have and their presence often discourages confident people from enjoying swimming and other activities that expose their bodies. So in order to prevent social embarrassment one has wide ranging options of home remedies to choose from. The best treatment as always is found in nature so here we will show you best natural treatments and herbal home remedies to fade your stretch marks. 

The regimen we look at entails repairing your multi-layered skin from the inside with water, good nutrition and exercise; and from the outside with exfoliation, massage and oils. All the natural, herbal chemical free ingredients are conveniently found in your kitchen or local health store, generating better results than other expensive creams and saving you a lot of money. 

The earlier you start treatment on red scars, the faster they heal; you must be proactive about treating them as soon as they occur, but do not give up hope, there is still a lot you can do for older white scars. Instead of trying expensive, painful, invasive procedures which may or may not work, with just a little diligent self-maintenance and patience your marks will fade dramatically. 

Natural treatments for repairing your skin from inside:

1) Water
Keeping your body well hydrated helps protect the skin from many kinds of problems. Well-hydrated skin results in regular detoxification of skin pores and restores elasticity, which will help a lot in getting rid of stretch marks. Try to drink one to two glasses of water several times during a day. Experts say a minimum of 10 glasses of water per day is the best way to keep the body hydrated. It will also make your skin soft and help maintain its elasticity. It is advisable to avoid coffee, tea or soda as they can cause dehydration.

2) Nutrition
Eating foods rich in essential fatty acids, zinc, silica and vitamins A,C,D,E,K nourishes the body and replenishes your skin. Include oily fish, eggs, liver and lean meats, citrus fruit, tomatoes, almonds, pumpkin seeds, carrots, spinach, green cabbage, kale, Swiss Chard, turnip greens, broccoli, tomatoes, collards and low fat dairy products in your diet.

3) Exercise
Because stretch marks are caused by rapid skin stretches, any physical exercises that tone the underlying muscles (such as swimming, sit-ups, and abdominal crunches) will help them fade. Physical exercises focusing on crunches of abdomen also serve to tone muscle thereby contributing indirectly to reducing stretch marks because excess gain or loss of weight contributes to the formation of stretch marks.

Herbal home remedies for stretch marks:

1) Almond oil
Almond oil is quite effective in treating stretch marks. Apart from its high Vitamin E content, Almond oil serves to moisturize the affected areas. Moreover it can be a safe option to be exercised during pregnancy. Vitamin E adds to the development of elastin and collagen content of the skin; thereby serving to ease the stretch marks.

2) Aloe vera gel

Aloe vera is a classic remedy for many skin-based ailments, including sunburn and acne, aloe vera is arguably the greatest cure for stretch marks due to its impressive levels of vitamins C and E. Simply apply some aloe vera gel to the affected areas every morning, ensuring it has time to soak into the skin and dry. The gel's healing properties will help discolor the marks and, in time, possibly remove them altogether.

3) Lemon juice

Lemon juice is nature's bleach, and works to reduce the dark coloring of a scar while working as an acid peel at the exact same time. Since lemon juice increases collagen production in the skin, it is a great choice for stretch mark discoloration.

Lemon juice is either applied directly over the skin in a circular motion for about 10 to 15 minutes to treat stretch marks or a mixture of lemon juice and cucumber juice can also be used in the same procedure stated above, to get rid of stretch marks. It is considered as one of the simplest way to lessen the ugly scars which are present on the skin.

4) Olive oil
Olive oil contains a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that help improve various skin problems including stretch marks. Massage slightly warm pure olive oil into the affected skin area. This will improve the blood circulation and reduce the stretch marks to a great extent. Leave it for half an hour so that the vitamins A, D and E present in the oil are absorbed by the skin.

You can also mix olive oil with vinegar and water and use it as a night cream. This will keep your skin stay moisturized and also exfoliate the skin.

5) Cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is another beneficial ingredient that can be used in treating scars. It can be either applied directly over the stretch marks two times a day for at least two months or a mixture can also be made by using cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, grated beeswax, apricot kernel oil and vitamin E oil all together and heating the mixture until it melts. The mixture then has to be cooled and thereafter applied over stretch marks three times a day. Cocoa butter not only removes stretch marks but also hydrates and smoothen the skin.

6) Sugar

Natural white sugar is one of the best natural remedies to get rid of stretch marks. You can use the sugar to exfoliate your skin. Mix a tablespoon of raw sugar with some almond oil and a few drops of lemon juice. Mix it well and apply it on the stretch marks and other skin areas. Gently rub the mixture on the skin for at least 10 minutes every day before taking a shower, continue this for a month or so and watch your stretch marks become lighter.

7) Potato juice

Vitamins and minerals present in potato are responsible for the restoration and foster growth of the skin cells which thence results in the removal of stretch marks. Potato should be cut in thick slices which are then rubbed gently on the marks for 15 minutes. Make sure that the potato slices should be thick and the liquid which comes out of potato should cover the area affected by stretch marks. Leave the area to dry after massaging and then after 10 minutes when the potato juice has dried up wash it with lukewarm water. Follow this procedure everyday for a month to get rid of stretch marks completely.

8) Apricoats

Gentle scrubbing of the parts affected with apricot scrub also helps in healing stretch marks. Cut and remove seeds of 2-3 apricots, crush them to paste, apply this paste on the marks, leave it for 20 min, wash it off with lukewarm water, repeat this regularly for 1 month.

9) Alfalfa leaves

Leaves of Alfalfa are known for their use in various skin products which helps to provide us with glowing and healthy skin. Alfalfa leaves contain eight essential amino acids which are good for overall health of the skin. They are also rich in protein and vitamins E and K, which help in restoring and increasing body tone. The anti-fungal agent present in alfalfa leaves alkalizes and detoxifies the skin, which helps minimize scars including stretch marks. 

Mix some alfalfa powder with a few drops of chamomile oil to form a smooth paste. Massage the paste into the affected area two to three times a day. Repeat this daily for one week and you will notice great improvement.

10) Use Coffee

Coffee is an excellent stretch mark removal component. Grind the beans of coffee in an unsmooth texture. Make a paste by mixing the powder with water and apply this paste over the scars. Keep this scrub over the skin for two minutes and then wipe it off with a warm cloth. Rinse the skin with water thereafter and apply oil or moisturizer for effective results. Repeat this remedy for a month to get rid of stretch marks entirely.

These natural remedies can help stretch marks fade, Be wary of promises made by those flogging stretch mark creams. No cream can truly prevent or remove stretch marks. You can always see your doctor if you are greatly concerned about the appearance of stretch marks on your skin.