Home Remedies for Treating Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are small scars which can affect both men and women. They can be caused by growth spurts during puberty, sudden weight gain or a quick increase in muscle mass during exercise.

Stretch marks occur often, varying in size and severity. Although there are no proven treatments to completely remove them, there are several natural remedies that could help you reduce their appearance.

Check out these natural approaches to reduce the appearance of stretch marks!

At a glance:

• 10 home remedies could help reduce the appearance of stretch marks
• Some can even be found in the kitchen
• Some can help soothe the symptoms
• Others could help stimulate collagen production

Aloe vera – for soothing skin regeneration

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with several medicinal properties. Above all, its gel has skin regeneration properties and is used as a natural moisturising, soothing and cooling agent^[1–3].It contains antioxidants such as vitamins A and C, and has anti-inflammatory properties^[4]. A 2018 study showed that aloe vera, together with sweet almond oil, reduced the itching of stretch marks^[1].

Sweet Almond and Coconut Oils – for moisturising

As mentioned above, sweet almond oil together with aloe vera has been shown to have an effect on the itching of stretch marks^[1].  Many effective cosmetic stretch mark cares contain these ingredients.

Sugar – for exfoliation and microdermabrasion

Sugar can be used as a natural body scrub for exfoliation and microdermabrasion, believe it or not. It can help remove dead skin cells and increase circulation, thereby helping improve the appearance of your skin.

Vitamin A for good skin

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin important for the growth of all body tissues, including hair and skin. It also supports the production of oil (sebum), and maintains the skin’s moisture.

The best way to get enough vitamin A is by eating a healthy, balanced diet. Vitamin A is present in many foods where it comes in two main forms:^[6,7]

• Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is present in animal products such as fatty fish, organ meat, eggs, and dairy products.
• Pro-vitamin A (carotenes) is present in dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, turnip greens, zucchini, and peppers. It’s also found as carotenoid, the orange pigment of fruits and vegetables such as oranges, papayas, mangos, carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes.

Hyaluronic acid – moisture booster

Hyaluronic acid naturally occurs in the body and helps with things like hydration, wound healing and tissue repair^{[8, 9]}. It has an ability to increases collagen deposits.^[9] You can get more hyaluronic acid in your diet by eating egg whites, or taking supplements in the form of capsules or extracts.

Argan Oil – for skin elasticity

Argan oil is extracted from the kernels of the argan tree and contains the antioxidants vitamins A and E, as well as fatty acids. Extracted from the argan tree grown mostly in Morocco, it makes a tasty dip for bread. More commonly though it’s applied to the skin -. a 2016 study showed its positive effect on skin elasticity[^11] .

Lemon juice – won’t sour your complexion

Lemon juice naturally contains Vitamin C, an antioxidant and skin brightener which helps improve skin tone^{[12, 13].} Applied alone or mixed with cucumber juice, it makes a refreshing and soothing skin mask.

Rosehip oil – found in moisturisers

Rosehip oil is rich in the antioxidants vitamins A and C. Vitamin C is also a natural skin brightener which helps improve skin tone. For this reason, rosehip oil is a common ingredient of moisturisers. Rosehip oil has been shown to reduce the visibility of fresh stretch marks^[14].

Centella asiatica or Gotu Kola – ancient secret to good skin

Centella asiatica, also known as gotu kola, has a long tradition in East Asian and Indonesian folk medicine. It is known to have anti-inflammatory and collagen stimulating properties and has been shown to be effective in treating small wounds, burns, psoriasis, and scleroderma^[15]. It has been shown to contribute to skin elasticity and strength,^[15] as well as on the appearance of stretch marks^[14] .

Egg white – rich in amino acids

Egg whites are rich in amino acids and proteins, which are thought to support skin hydration^[16]. Applying egg white to your skin, therefore, could help reduce the appearance of stretch marks by tightening and plumping the skin. Whisk two egg whites and apply the foam to the stretch marks. Let the foam dry and rinse it off.

These home remedies for stretch marks are easy enough to track down – you may already have some of them sitting in your cupboards! You can improve the appearance of stretch marks with a variety of specialist products including some from the Mederma range – visit our store to find out more.

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