Home remedies for stretch marks

Stretch marks refer to skin lesions that occur due to stretching of the skin. The problem is basically caused by rapid increase in the body weight. There is a wrong conviction among most of us that stretch marks are related to women only as a post-pregnancy effect. But the fact is that the problem is not restricted to women alone. If we study, we shall come to know that stretch marks are very common among many people (irrespective of their sex), especially after resorting to fad diets and rapid weight loss medications.

 

 

 

Initially, the stretch marks appear with an angry red color. The skin starts appearing transparent due to excessive stretching. After some time, the blood vessels contract and the skin looks pale. This change in colour form red to pale white is due to the body fat that is visible through the stretched skin.

 

 

Pregnancy is the most common cause of stretch marks. This is because the skin gets pulled due to increase in the belly size. Another cause is puberty in teens experiencing a growth spurt. A side effect of obesity or of illnesses like diabetes also causes stretch marks. This problem is usually noticed on the abdomen and thighs.

 

 

Though stretch marks don’t vanish entirely, they do fade as the time passes. For this, you need proper treatment and diet. Here are some of the simple and effective home remedies for stretch marks: 
 

• Lavender oil is a highly recommended home remedy for stretch marks. Rub a few drops of lavender oil on the affected area twice a day. It helps the scars to fade quickly. 

• Applying olive oil on the affected area is also very good remedy for stretch marks. 

• Apply sandalwood paste on the affected skin area everyday. It would keep the skin moisturized, thus preventing it from stretching. This is a great preventive measure for stretch marks.

• Mix seven drops of lavender oil with a few drops of chamomile oil and an ounce of carrier oil (avocado, sweet almond or jojoba oil). Apply this mixture on the affected area and massage.

• Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, liver and dairy products.

• Another extremely effective home made remedy is applying aroma oil on the stretch marks and massaging the affected area well. 

• Rubbing apricot scrub on the affected area would remove the stretch marks gradually. 

• Treat your stretch marks with cocoa butter. Apply it twice a day over the affected area. 

• Another upcoming home remedy for stretch marks is shea butter. Natural shea butter is a very good source of Vitamins A and E which are essential for good skin health. Rub shea butter on your stretch marks for 2 to 3 times in a day in order to get quick effective results. 

 

 

A healthy well-balanced diet is another important aspect in the treatment of stretch marks. Eat foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in Vitamin A, C and D. These are good for your skin. They help in improving your skin tone and minimizing blemishes. Foods rich in zinc such as nuts and fish are very effective in diminishing skin scars. Along with the above diet, it is extremely important to drink lots of water every day.

 

Adopting the above remedies together with some changes in your lifestyle would help to cure the stretch marks quickly and more effectively. You need to spare at least 30 minutes for exercise on a daily basis. It is a proven fact that exercise helps in toning and firming up muscles, eventually firming the skin. Yoga is also a very good alternative for curing the problem of stretch marks as it allows you to stretch and tone every muscle in the body.
 

Note: Avoid resorting to any of the above remedies in case you are allergic to them. Consult your doctor in such a case.