Stretch Marks
Natural Remedies

Stretch Marks - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Jan 10, 2025
Add New Post Comments

A result of the stretching of the skin, stretch marks form as a result of several factors. While the marks are not considered a health concern, many individuals consider the marks a cosmetic concern. A variety of home remedies are effective for treating and preventing stretch marks.

What are Stretch Marks?

Also called striae, stretch marks are generally pink, red or purple streaks that appear somewhat indented and form on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs. The appearance of these marks varies and may also include bright streaks that fade to light pink, white or gray.

Caused by the literal stretching of the skin, stretch marks are generally the result of substantial weight gain. Contributing factors include pregnancy, adolescence, weightlifting, medication use and certain diseases.

Home Remedies for Curing Stretch Marks

While most stretch marks fade naturally over time, home remedies can be applied to speed the fading of these marks. Natural remedies also help prevent future striae by nourishing and strengthening the skin. Coconut oil, vitamin E and shea butter are among the most effective treatments for stretch marks.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is considered a health super-treatment as it is effective for treating so many conditions. The oil contains a high concentration of fatty acids including lauric acid. These fats function to replenish the skin and restore the collagen in the body, which helps diminish stretch marks.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant that protects and repairs the skin. As an antioxidant, vitamin E neutralizes the effect of free radicals and other collagen-damaging substances on the skin. This vitamin also functions to moisturize and revitalize the skin, reducing the appearance of stretch marks.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is an important part of a healthy skin regimen and is particularly effective for treating stretch marks. Shea butter promotes the natural elasticity of the skin with a potent amount of vitamin A. The butter also contains a high concentration of fatty acids and other vitamins including vitamins E and F.

While not a grave medical condition, most individuals affected by stretch marks consider the striations unattractive. Treatments including coconut oil, vitamin E, shea butter and others help naturally diminish the presence of stretch marks by replenishing the skins nutrients.


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Baking Soda, Lemon Juice and Turmeric

Posted by Pnvatcha (Lahore, Pakistan) on 04/11/2015
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Baking Soda, Lemon Juice and Turmeric for Stretch Marks and All Sorts of Skin Cancers or Diseases

Make a thick mixture of the three ingredients. Cut a lemon into half and squeeze it on the baking soda. The mixture will sparkle, and then add turmeric. Apply the solution to your skin. If the mixture becomes dry keep squeezing lemon. The color will change from yellow to orange and then it will turn into red until it is maroon or dark brown. You should not worry about the changing color. Just leave it on your skin overnight. You will see a tremendous improvement after the first application. You must continue applying the mixture until your marks disappear.

Turmeric heals all skin infections and muscular ailments. After the first few applications leave out turmeric only mix baking soda with lemon juice and use. This should get rid of the most stubborn stains if you use it regularly.


Castor Oil

Posted by Kbear (Langdon, Alberta) on 02/14/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have had stretch marks since my pregnancy 13 years ago. I have tried many things and they have not faded even one little bit. The are very deep and dark and purple in color. I stumbled on a remedy for them when I used a castor oil pack to help with a kidney infection. I had the piece of wool saturated in castor oil and applied it to the right side of my abdomen and around my side then I wrapped it in plastic wrap and applied a heating pad to it for about an hour. When I removed it I noticed that the stretch marks on that side were signifigantly lighter in color than the other side of my abdomen. They were a light pink color. I was amazed so I started researching castor oil and there is a lot of info about it on the internet for use in skin care. I started applying a castor oil pack daily with heat for about an hour every day. Within a week the stretch marks were reduced to a very very slight pink color and the wrinkled saggy skin on my abdomen seemed to tighten up a bit as well. It was kind of an inconvenience having to go through all the steps of using a castor oil pack and heating pad for an hour every day so I started just applying a thick layer of castor oil after my morning shower, wrapping that in plastic wrap and putting my clothes on over it and leaving it there as long as possible. This is not noticable under my clothes so I can even go out and run errands and work with this is place, although it took some time to get used to the feeling of it. I have been doing this for a total of 2 weeks and the improvements I have seen are as follows: The marks around my sides, hips and lower back have all faded to white but I have not yet noticed a signifigant reduction in the size. The marks closer to my belly button (about 2 inches surrounding my belly button on either side) are still pink in color but about a 50% improvement in the color since I started. The marks below my belly button have improved in color by about 70%. The wrinkled sagging skin on my lower abdomen has improved by about 50% as well and is signifigantly smoother and tighter. This is truly a miracle as I thought I would have them forever. At this rate I will be proud in a bikini this summer!

On other areas of my body I have been rubbing a mix of 50/50 castor oil with jojoba oil into the stretch marks after my shower and they seem to be fading a bit but these are areas that would not do well wrapped in plactic such as my inner thighs, back of my arms (armpit crease area) and chest.

Other noted improvements I have had using castor oil is as a face wash. I have heard about the oil cleansing method and had tried it with great results but if you follow the directions on some websites it takes forever to do it so instead I just rub the castor oil into my face before I get in the shower, massage for a minute or two and then leave it on while I wash myself in the shower. The last thing I do in the shower is rub my face with a face cloth while letting the water run over it. It is a lot easier than the oil cleansing method found on other websites. The skin on my face has never been so beautiful I've always had problem skin and had moderate acne since I was 12 years old. My face was covered in pimples, blackheads, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, small red veins, overall redness and enlarged pores. Since using the castor oil to wash my face, my pores have reduced almost completely (probably 95%), my blackheads are completely gone, the broken capillaries (or small veins) are reduced by 95% (i only have one tiny visible vein left) and my acne has completely cleared up 100%.

Since the castor oil worked so good on my stretch marks I decided to try something different on my face with the castor oil to see if it would reduce my acne scars, fine lines, crows feet and expression lines across my forehead. So after my shower, I will slather my face with a thick layer of castor oil mixed 50/50 with jojoba oil and cut small pieces of plastic wrap to put over my face (Leaving holes where my nostrils, eyes and mouth are) I even cut small pieces to fit over my eye lids and directly under my eyes as close to my eye as possible. Then I leave this on while I get ready for work or while I am doing housework for about 30 minutes to an hour. After I remove the plastic wrap I just lightly pat it with a clean dry cloth to remove the excess oil and apply my mineral powder over that.

Within 2 weeks of doing this the crepey skin on my upper eyelids has firmed up, my dark circles are completely gone, my acne scars are completely gone with the exception of a small area on each cheek where they are almost gone but not 100% yet. The lines on my lips have filled in and my lips are smooth and plump looking, my crows feet and smile lines around my eyes are reduced to the point where they are only barely visable when I'm actually smiling, , my eyelashes and eyebrows are growing in thicker and darker, the expression lines on my forehead are almost gone (there were three lines before horizontal across my forehead. The one on the top and the one on the bottom are completely gone and the middle one is fading. ) My skin has never looked this good before. Even the over all tone of my complexion is a nice creamy color and I can actually go out with no make up on for the first time in years! A few days ago a new girl at my work said that she is envious of my skin! She said that she always stares at my skin because its so beautiful looking! ME!!! I never though ever in my life I would hear those words. I actually cried, and this girl is 5 years younger than me.

Another added bonus since I started using castor oil on my body and face is that the eczema on my hands has started clearing up and it's almost gone. It's only been 2 weeks!

Sorry for the long essay here but I am just so excited. I want to share this amazing oil with other women who may be suffering from skin conditions like I was and now I am so happy with my skin and my body this is the happiest and most optimistic about my appearance I have ever been in my life. I hope this information can help someone out there as much as it has helped me. God Bless!



Advertisement