Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

5 natural cures for stretch marks

By

This minor annoyance, called stretch marks, affects many women. Stretch marks are a common occurrence, especially during and after pregnancy. As the skin stretches and becomes taut, the quick expansion leads to stretch marks. The marks seem to linger even long after the first pregnancy—even if it was 5 years ago. However, did you know natural cures for stretch marks that are effective actually exist? This is most fortunate since women can turn to solutions that don’t involve synthetic substances or surgery. Furthermore, we have found five natural remedies for stretch marks that you can try at home. Likewise, their results just might surprise you.

Lady pointing out stretch marks
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What exactly are stretch marks?

Stretch marks resemble thin scars across the skin. The lengthening of the skin’s connective tissues, along with a breakdown of the collagen, makes the concealed blood vessels more visible. Consequently, they transform into noticeable red or purplish streaks. As time goes by, the marks fade to a silver color after the blood vessels heal.

Recommended Videos

Although stretch marks do not cause physical pain, they sometimes itch, and any scratching can further irritate the skin. Unfortunately, stretch marks do not go away completely after their first appearance. However, you can resort to natural remedies for stretch marks that are affordable and readily available. Better yet, you’ll find them to be easy to apply.

Aloe vera leaves
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Natural cures for stretch marks that deliver results

You might find several creams and topical solutions that claim to make stretch marks disappear. While some products might provide relief from the itching or bring about the fading more quickly, they tend to fall short of expectations. Worse yet, they might cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, you can try these five natural ingredients you can use at home to cure stretch marks.

Related

Cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is a plant-based fat that is obtained from cocoa beans. If you use cocoa butter for stretch marks during and after your pregnancy, you might get rid of those marks completely. For optimal results, use cocoa butter at night. Massage it into the skin area and use it over a period of a few weeks until you see results.

Aloe vera

We often regard the aloe vera plant as the wonder fix, as we have used its healing properties for generations. The gel that’s extracted from the aloe vera plant also works well as a natural cure for stretch marks. Aloe vera can revitalize the skin tissues with its healing properties. You just simply massage the aloe gel into the areas with stretch marks, leave for 20 – 30 mins, and rinse off with lukewarm water. For the best results, repeat this routine daily.

Castor oil

Castor oil is an aromatic oil that is obtained from the beans of the castor plant. Castor oil will provide nourishment and moisture to the areas affected by stretch marks. Regularly massage castor oil into the skin to heal and smooth stretch marks over a period of a few months.

Almond and coconut oil

Almond and coconut oils, combined, provide natural remedies for stretch marks. Mix both oils in equal portions and massage into the skin area. This home remedy has no side effects and can be used regularly.

Lemon juice and cucumber

Have you ever heard about the healing properties of lemon juice and cucumber for various skin issues? Well, they work effectively on stretch marks as well.

The acidity in lemon juice heals and clears up scars, while the juice from cucumber gives a cooling, topical effect.

To create this concoction, you’ll blend the cucumber and lemon juice in equal parts, mixing until it forms a paste. From there, you’ll apply it to the affected areas. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing off completely.

More skincare tips to reduce the visibility of stretch marks

Along with these natural cures for stretch marks, you can take other measures to ensure your skin looks and feels its best. One is to stay hydrated inside and out. Applying moisturizer on a regular basis helps reduce the itch factor caused by stretch marks. Plus, when you drink enough water throughout the day (one of the golden rules of pregnancy), your skin stands a better chance of retaining its best qualities.

It is a common fact that getting rid of stretch marks may take time. However, with some patience and consistent use of these natural remedies for stretch marks, you’ll see them disappear.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Leslie Anderson
Leslie Anderson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leslie Anderson is a freelance writer/writing coach from Roswell, N.M. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping students…
Feeling movement down low? Here’s what it could mean for your pregnancy
Don't worry if your baby is kicking your lower abdomen
Woman making a heart with hands over Post partum belly

Feeling your baby kick is a major pregnancy milestone and is nothing short of awe-inducing. Although you'll start to feel those first few kicks sometime in your second trimester, they will grow in force and intensity as you go into your final trimester, and you might also feel more formidable pressure in your growing belly.

Pregnancy brings a lot of questions, including why you are feeling pressure in your lower abdomen. This may feel odd, but rest assured, there are plenty of logical reasons for this and you shouldn't panic over feeling the baby kicking low.
Why am I feeling my baby's movement in my lower abdomen?

Read more
Is your baby done with breastfeeding? Watch for these 6 signs
Clues to look out for that your baby is ready to move on from breastfeeding
Mother holding her baby in bed

When you make the decision to breastfeed, it is a whole journey you and your baby go on together. But as with all stages, breastfeeding, too, will come to an end at some point. It's better to know the clues and tells your baby will give to be prepared for the newest adventure. If you're doing baby-led weaning, these are the signs your baby does not want to breastfeed anymore, so you know when it's time to transition to the next stage of feeding.
Signs to watch for during feedings

The feedings themselves will sprinkle clues your baby is ready to ditch breastfeeding for good. If something feels off about the feeds, start paying attention each time you go to sit down for a session.
Feeding sessions become shorter
You know how long your baby eats at each session. When you notice your baby not wanting to feed for the usual time, you might start to worry they're not getting enough to eat. But your baby cutting down on the duration of each meal is a clue they might want to stop breastfeeding.
Baby skips feeding sessions
This is more than your baby finally sleeping longer and missing a feeding in the middle of the night. If you notice your baby refusing those additional snack time feedings, they may be telling you they don't want to breastfeed anymore. Offer a bottle or sippy cup or solid food and see how they react to taking those options. Once the feedings become shorter and then get skipped, your baby has sent strong signals they are over breastfeeding.
Baby gets more distracted during feedings
Babies love to look at everything and check out every sound, but when it comes time to eat, they usually mean business. If your little one is looking around the room, playing with their hands, or generally more interested in what's going on around them than eating, that is a sign they are done breastfeeding.
Other feeding signs to watch for

Read more
5 natural ways to boost energy while pregnant: It’s not that difficult
How to get through pregnancy fatigue
Pregnant woman on couch experiencing cramps

Any person who has ever been pregnant knows that pregnancy-tired is a whole other level of exhaustion. It's only natural that your body would be extra tired, after all, it's growing a little human being, which takes a lot of work. That doesn't make the sudden lack of energy any less annoying, especially in the first trimester, when you’re not sleeping as much, you may not be able to keep food down, your hormones are working overtime, and your body is using all of the nutrients possible to do this new job that you’ve tasked it with.

In your pre-pregnancy days, if you felt this tired you may have immediately reached for a cup of coffee or an energy drink. But since those are mostly out of the question now, how can you fight through the tired, so you can go about living your daily life?

Read more