Stretch marks develop when your skin rapidly changes shape through growth, weight gain, or weight loss. Having stretch marks doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your health so it’s important to remember that. What it might mean is that you need to monitor your weight (if you’ve finished growing).

Anyone can get stretch marks although they tend to occur mostly in pregnant women and during adolescent years as a result of puberty.

Stretch marks will usually have a different texture to the rest of your skin and may look a little like scars. They’ll also often be a slightly darker shade than your natural skin, although the color tends to fade over time.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks

Whilst many home remedies for stretch marks won’t eliminate them completely, they can significantly reduce their appearance.

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is great for helping the skin to appear more youthful and smoother. It often occurs in a number of cosmetic creams and lotions. It also occurs naturally in foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes. Eating a diet that’s full of these vegetables can really help to nourish your skin and reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks whilst also preventing the formation of new marks.

2. Sugar Scrubs

Sugar scrubs are a great home remedy for stretch marks. They act as a form of microdermabrasion which helps to exfoliate the skin, removing old, dead skin cells. try mixing a cup of sugar with some almond of coconut oil to make a paste. You can also add some lemon juice to help. Scrub the paste into the area where your stretch marks are for around ten minutes before rinsing with warm water.

 

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has a reputation as both a healing agent and skin moisturizer. Together, these abilities make it ideal for treating stretch marks. Apply natural aloe or aloe vera gel to your skin each day after showering and you should start to notice a difference.

 

4. Soy-based Foods

Soy-based foods are high in hyaluronic acid which is key to great skin care. The acid stimulates collagen production which gives skin its structure. By producing more collagen you help your skin to look fuller and younger, thus reducing the appearance of stretch marks.

 

5. Broth Made from Animal Bones

By boiling the bones left over from your roast meats you can create a broth that’s great for your skin. This is because by boiling the bones you drain them of their natural stock of hyaluronic acid, which we already know is great for making skin look great.

 

6. Potatoes

Potatoes are naturally high in hyaluronic acid which automatically makes them a great home remedy for stretch marks. But they also have another string to their bow. Whilst not immediately considered a ‘juicy’ vegetable, the moisture or ‘juice’ from potatoes could be the key to reducing your stretch marks. The nutrients contained in this moisture can promote the growth of new cells and the restoration of damaged cells.

Try cutting a potato into thick slices and rubbing these slices over your stretch marks. Try to rub the skin for a few minutes so you give them a thorough coating. Let the juice dry into the skin and then rinse with warm water.

7. Citrus Fruits

Another great source of natural hyaluronic acid. Citrus fruits can be used in a very similar way to potatoes in order to see a reduced appearance of stretch marks.

 

8. Leafy Greens

The natural sources of hyaluronic acid are everywhere. Leafy greens like spinach are also a natural source of this collagen stimulating acid.

 

9. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been renowned recently for its vast number of health benefits. One of which is its use as a home remedy for stretch marks. It’s known to help skin wounds heal faster. As stretch marks are caused by stretching damage to the skin, it makes sense that it could help reduce their appearance. Apply a small amount of coconut oil to your stretch marks each day and you should start to see a difference.  

10. Cocoa Butter

When used both during and after pregnancy, cocoa butter can significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Massage the butter into your skin each night and over time you should see your stretch marks fade in color. The texture of your stretch marks should also improve as you moisturize your skin with the cocoa butter.

 

11. Cucumber and Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has a natural acidity which is great for healing skin and reducing scars. When combined with the cooling and soothing effect of cucumber the pair can leave your skin feeling fresh and healed. Mix equal amounts of lime juice and cucumber juice and let it soak into your skin. After around ten minutes you should rinse the mixture off with warm water.

12. Almond Oil

You can use almond oil in conjunction with coconut oil to really reduce the appearance of your stretch marks. Massage the oils into your skin on a regular basis and you’ll see an improvement in the appearance of your stretch marks. Because this remedy is totally natural it has virtually no negative effects, which is a double bonus.

 

13. Apricots

Apricots are great natural exfoliants which means they can remove dead skin and this reduces the appearance of stretch marks. Take out the seeds and slice up two or three apricots. Crush them up to make a paste and apply generously to the affected skin. Leave the paste on your skin for around 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. The oils in apricots also have a natural ability to rejuvenate the skin. This makes them doubly good at improving the appearance of your stretch marks.

 

14. Castor Oil

To really improve their texture and appearance, stretch marks need moisture. They can look dry and shriveled if they’re left unmoisturized which can make them seem worse. Massaging castor oil into the skin can help add moisture and improve the appearance of your stretch marks. Do this each night to keep your skin moisturized and stop your stretch marks becoming worse again.

 

15. Vicks Vaporub

Vicks Vaporub is easy enough to get hold of and it makes a great home remedy for stretch marks. It’s essentially made of a number of natural oils like eucalyptus, cedar leaf, and turpentine oils. These oils are great for adding moisture to the skin to make it softer. Covering your stretch marks in Vaporub and then covering the area overnight with cling film is a common method of use. The method has seen a noticeable difference in the stretch marks of women across the world!

 

16. Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is a common occurrence in cosmetic creams and lotions designed to help reduce the signs of aging. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. This makes it great at nourishing your skin, which is exactly what stretch marks need. You can get the oil from vitamin E capsules.

Simply cut the capsules open and crush them gently to get to the oil. Apply this oil directly to your skin and leave it for a few minutes before rinsing. Repeat this method two or three times a day each day. You could also try consuming the capsules as a daily supplement. In doing this, you may notice fewer results as the oil won’t directly impact your stretch marks when swallowed.

17. Olive Oil

Olive oil has a rich vitamin and nutrient content. It also contains plenty of antioxidants. All of these elements are great for moisturizing your skin and reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Apply olive oil to your stretch marks twice a day and let it soak into the skin for the best effects.

18. Coffee Scrub

Although too much caffeine isn’t always good for you, a coffee scrub can be great for your skin. The caffeine can penetrate the skin and stimulate the degradation of fats. It also has antioxidant properties which are great for improving skin health.

Try mixing the coffee grounds with a little water to make a paste. Scrub the paste over your stretch marks in small circular motions. Keep scrubbing for around three to five minutes before rinsing with warm water. Do this daily for the best results.  

 

19. Baby Oil

Baby oil contains a whole host of nutrients which are vital for the nourishment of the skin. It can reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks and help to lessen the risk of new marks developing. Apply plenty of oil to your skin after showering to lock in moisture. Let the oil absorb into the skin before getting dressed to ensure it doesn’t get on your clothes. Waiting will also ensure you get the most out of the oil.

 

20. Baking Soda

Like many of the home remedies for stretch marks on this list, baking soda is an exfoliant. It removes layers of dead skin cells which therefore helps to lessen the color of your stretch marks.

Combine a small amount of baking soda with lemon juice and apply the resulting paste directly to your skin. Wrap the skin in cling film and leave for 20-30 minutes. Once you’ve removed the cling film you should rinse your skin with warm water. When done every day this method should provide noticeable results.

 

21. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is known for having many benefits, but one of its lesser known ones is its effect on stretch marks. It has a natural ability to decrease the appearance of stretch marks and other scars. This is most likely due to its natural anti-inflammatory qualities.

Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a few tablespoons of a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and rub it on your stretch marks. Doing this regularly can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

22. Argan Oil

Argan oil appears in the ingredients for a number of cosmetic products. This is largely because of its rich vitamin E content and antioxidant properties. As a result, it can help to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

Argan oil also helps to stimulate the production of collagen when applied to the skin. After applying argan oil to your skin you should find it absorbs easily and shouldn’t need rinsing off.

 

23. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is rich in a number of natural acids which help to lighten the appearance of stretch marks. Apply the vinegar to your stretch marks and let it air dry. Try to do this every night to really see the benefit.

 

24. Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the best home remedies for stretch marks. It’s packed with antioxidants which are great for your skin. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities and can help to lighten the skin if your stretch marks are darker in color.

Try making a paste with turmeric and water. Apply this paste to your skin and leave to dry for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Do this twice a day for a few weeks and you should notice your stretch marks fade significantly.

 

25. Jojoba Oil

Like many oils, jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory qualities which work wonders on your skin. Start applying jojoba oil as soon as you notice your stretch marks developing and you’ll stop them getting any worse. The oil will help to nourish your skin and stimulate the growth of new, healthy cells.

 

26. Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oils provide a great source of antioxidants and vitamins A and E. All of these substances help to stimulate collagen production which makes your skin supple and smooth. It also contains a number of fatty acids which help to improve healing of the skin. Apply just a few drops of oil to your stretch marks in a circular motion and let it dry.

27. Stay Hydrated

Stretch marks will always seem worse if your skin is dry and dehydrated. Make sure you drink plenty of water to prevent this from happening. Staying hydrated will also help the skin retain some of its elasticity which will reduce the appearance of your stretch marks and prevent new stretch marks from occurring.

28. Gelatin

Gelatin is hugely important for keeping your skin healthy. It contains key amino acids like glycine, which is key for collagen production. It’s also fun to get into your diet as it can be found in treats like certain types of gummy bears. Although that probably isn’t the healthiest way to get collagen and should be done responsibly. You can also get gelatin by making a broth from animal bones.  

 

29. Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are key to producing collagen and keeping your skin looking healthy. Try to balance your intake of omega three to six and supplement excess omega six with cod liver oil supplements. Cod liver oil is high in the healthier omega three and also contains vitamins A and D. This means its great at reducing the effect of free radicals. Omega three is also key to strengthening the cell membranes of skin cells. This improves their elasticity and prevents stretch marks occurring in the first place.

 

30. Consuming Enough Sulfur

Sulfur is another essential part of collagen production. Research has suggested that animals who eat diets which are low in sulfur produce less collagen than those who eat plenty. Sulfur can be found in meats, eggs, and vegetables like kale and cabbage.  

 

31. Egg Whites

Egg whites contain plenty of amino acids and proteins which help to repair skin which has been stretched or damaged. Separate the yolks from the egg whites and whisk the whites together. Keep whisking until a small peak forms in the foam. Using a small sponge or makeup brush you can then add the whisked eggs to your stretch marks and let it dry. Once it’s dried completely, rinse off the egg whites with cold water. For the best results, make sure you moisturize after rinsing off the egg whites.

Like many things, the best way to treat stretch marks is actually to prevent them. Keep your skin hydrated as this will help retain the elastin in your skin and prevent scarring. You can also use creams and oils to help keep your skin moisturized at all times to reduce the risk of stretch marks forming. It’s important to remember that most stretch marks will fade over time of their own accord. In most cases, they won’t stay as visible as they are when they first appear.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-stretch-marks#takeaway

https://www.dermstore.com/blog/foods-high-in-hyaluronic-acid/

https://food.ndtv.com/beauty/how-to-remove-stretch-marks-7-effective-natural-remedies-1453195

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/simple-home-remedies-to-remove-stretch-marks/#VicksVaporub

https://www.mamanatural.com/stretch-marks/

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Stretch-Marks-Fast