Stretch marks or striae are long, narrow streaks or stripes that develop on the skin due to a being stretched too quickly. Some of the common causes of stretch marks include puberty, sudden weight gain, and pregnancy. Common places you may find stretch marks include – thighs, stomach, buttocks, hips, breasts, and upper arms. To help, we have come up with a few home remedies to get rid of stretch marks.
While both men and women can develop stretch marks, most occurrences usually happen to women. Even if you used all the creams and lotions, drank your weight in water everyday, ate super healthy and even wore the right clothing, such as maternity jeans, maximum hold bras, compression stockings, tummy holding in pants, stretch marks are still likely to take hold!
Some people turn to skin care products to alleviate skin problems such as stretch marks, but I much prefer to make my own at home. Partly because that way you know what’s going into the product so you can be as natural as possible but also, it’s kinda fun to make your own concoctions.
Prior to its onset, people may feel their skin getting more itchy than normal. If you can, try to avoid itching this area as much as possible as this can be what make the stretch marks more obvious. Over time, the stretch marks will begin to show which can either look red, purple, or pink depending on the skin colour. Eventually these marks will fade and turn into a silvery colour over time which becomes less noticeable. While stretch marks are not dangerous, many people may feel anxious about their appearance which can affect their overall self-esteem. While stretch marks cannot be completed removed (as far as I’m aware), you can help speed up the process of making them less noticeable over time with these natural home remedies…
Lemon Sugar Scrub
Lemons are natural anti-bleaching agents that helps remove noticeable marks on the skin. Sugar, on the other hand, is a wonderful exfoliant that helps remove dead skin cells, speeding up the process of rejuvenation. Combine these ingredients with a natural softening agent like coconut oil to help revitalise your skin’s appearance!
Things you will need…
– 1 cup sugar (organic)
– 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
– 1 cup of lemon juice (freshly squeezed from 1 whole lemon)
– 1 small mason jar or any small plastic container
Instructions
– In a small mason jar, mix 1 cup of sugar with tablespoons of coconut oil. Mix them well. Add in freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix until contents form into a paste.
– Apply mixture on areas with stretch marks. Gently rub the mixture around in circles for 8 minutes. Rinse well with water.
– Apply mixture on skin 3-4 times a week.
Rosehip oil
Rosehip oil is a natural rich source of essential fatty acids like omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. This type of oil is extracted from the seeds of the rose bush and is commonly used in various skin care products. Rosehip oil is also abundant in Vitamin A, C, E, and various antioxidants which makes it an ideal treatment on skin. The Vitamin C found in rosehip oil stimulates the production of collagen fibres, making your skin more elastic. Its Vitamin A properties help heal damaged skin tissues which makes it ideal to treat stretch marks.
This powerful oil is used for skin conditions like acne, eczema, sunburns, and even heal scarring and is great for all skin types (even sensitive skin). What’s more, users don’t have to use a lot during application.
Things you will need…
– Rosehip oil
Instructions
– Clean and dry the area of where you will apply the oil. Make sure to avoid using creams or any other product prior to application. Use rosehip oil at its full strength without diluting it with any other substances.
– Apply rosehip oil on marks. Gently massage the area to help stimulate faster absorption into the skin. You don’t need to use cotton balls since rosehip oil can be easily absorbed into the skin.
– Apply 2-3 times a day. Results usually appear within a few months so be patient!
*Note: Prior to applying rosehip oil, try to do a patch test to see whether there are any side effects.
Black tea
Black tea contains various vitamins and antioxidants that greatly benefit the skin. One example is that it is abundant in Vitamin B12 which controls skin pigmentation.
Things you will need…
– Black tea leaves or black tea bag
– Hot water
– Pinch of salt
Instructions
– Prepare tea as instructed, add salt into mixture. Allow the drink to steep in the water for 3-5 minutes and remove the leaves or bag.
– Let it cool until it reaches room temperature. Using a cotton ball, apply mixture on marks and massage until tea is completely dried up.
While these are only some of the natural treatments for stretch marks, it is important to remember that stretch marks are a result of various factors like growth, pregnancy, and sudden weight gain. While we cannot avoid their appearance entirely, we can still apply natural moisturisers and toners to help fade its appearance over time. Additionally, to relieve some anxiety it also helps to accept your body throughout its changes and show some confidence even when you bear these scars. After all, you’re like a tiger with proud stripes.
What are your go to home remedies to get rid of stretch marks?
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