Herbal Home Remedies

How To Use Oils For Stretch Marks

Stretch marks occur when the outer surface of the skin gets stretched excessively due to rapid weight gain or loss. It is very common in adolescent girls and boys, as their bodies grow very fast during this stage. Pregnancy also causes enormous stretching of the skin around and below the abdomen and in the breast region, and hence causes stretch marks to appear. These marks first appear as thin reddish lines on the skin and later turn white with the passage of time. Stretch marks are permanent in nature so they cannot be removed completely, but they can be diminished by following a few simple home remedies:

• Massage the affected areas with olive oil or vitamin E oil every day to reduce stretch marks.

• Another oil mixture that is highly beneficial to reduce stretch marks is a mixture of one ounce of carrier oil, which includes jojoba, avocado and sweet almond oil, and a few drops of chamomile and lavender oil. Regular application of this oil mixture helps make stretch marks less prominent.

• Rub the skin with aroma oil every night before going to bed in order to reduce stretch marks.

• One of the most popular remedies for stretch marks is the local application of cocoa butter. Massage the affected areas with cocoa butter till it gets completely absorbed by the skin. Following this procedure daily lightens stretch marks visibly.

• Shea butter is another excellent means of treating stretch marks as it is a rich source of vitamin A and E, which prevent and reduce stretch marks.

• You can also mix a quarter of a cup of aloe vera gel, half a cup of virgin olive oil and the liquid extracted from 4 capsules each of vitamin A and E. After blending all the ingredients well, store this mixture in a container and use it daily to massage the affected areas. This will produce a marked reduction in stretch marks in a few weeks.

• Another easy way of reducing stretch marks is to use an apricot scrub on the skin every day to smoothen out raised marks.

• Application of vitamin K cream on the stretch marks also helps reduce them. Alternatively, you could include natural sources of this vitamin in your diet, such as tomatoes, leafy vegetables and dairy products.