During pregnancy, your body is going through rapid hormonal changes to accommodate the growth of your baby. As a result, you’ll likely notice stretch marks on your belly, breasts, and thighs.
However, these marks can fade or even disappear over time. Luckily, there are ways to help reduce their appearance and lighten their color.
1. Use Natural Oils
Pregnancy is one of the most dramatic changes a woman undergoes during her life, and it can leave behind some skin issues, including stretch marks.
The good news is that there are a number of natural ways to help remove stretch marks after pregnancy. These methods will help you to restore your skin to its pre-pregnancy condition.
Essential oils can also be used as a natural treatment for stretch marks. These oils contain antimicrobial, antioxidant, and skin-healing properties.
For example, lavender oil has wound healing properties and can promote granulation tissue, which helps the skin heal itself. It can help reduce redness and scab formation.
Another option is neroli oil, which has antimicrobial properties that may help prevent scab formation. It also helps to improve collagen synthesis and promote skin cell regeneration.
Frankincense is also known for its antioxidant properties and can be helpful to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It contains ferulic acids and vitamin E, which help to keep your skin soft and healthy.
To use it, you’ll need to mix 15 to 30 drops of essential oil with 1 ounce of carrier oil. Always start with a lower dilution to test your skin’s tolerance and work up as needed.
Cocoa butter is another great oil to use to treat and prevent stretch marks, especially during pregnancy. It’s high in fats, which can help to strengthen your skin and ward off new stretch marks.
It’s best to apply it regularly throughout your pregnancy to prevent and treat any stretch marks that occur. It can be found in a variety of skincare products, including lotions and creams.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive approach to treating your stretch marks, try using specialized creams that are designed to heal them. These creams can be purchased in stores or easily made at home.
2. Massage
Pregnancy is an incredible achievement and a journey that changes your body in so many ways. And while you may find it jarring at times, the good news is that all of these changes are absolutely normal and are nothing to be ashamed of.
During pregnancy, the skin undergoes many changes and stretch marks are one of them. These are dark and often red on pale skin tones, and occur in the dermis layer of your skin.
They’re not always noticeable, but they do occur and can get a bit irritated and painful as time goes on. Luckily, there are some simple, natural ways to minimize their appearance and keep your skin looking smooth and glowing.
First, massage is a great way to increase circulation and promote healing in the skin. The blood flow improves cellular nutrient delivery and waste removal, which in turn reduces the visibility of stretch marks.
Second, exfoliating the skin regularly helps to remove dead cells and encourage new skin cell growth. It also boosts your body’s ability to heal stretch marks by boosting cell regeneration.
Third, it can be beneficial to use a moisturizer that’s designed specifically for stretch mark recovery. Specialized creams, like Mustela’s Stretch Marks Serum and Body Firming Gel, are easy to apply and can help to minimize the appearance of stretch marks on your skin.
Fourth, a regular massage can help to break down the scar tissue that’s formed when stretch marks form. This can make them less noticeable over time, and it can also help to prevent future stretch marks from forming in the same area.
Before you start a postpartum massage, however, you can ask a board-certified dermatologist C. Rokhsar about the safety of it. If you’ve had a c-section, for example, then it may be best to wait until your wound has healed sufficiently before starting a postpartum massage.
3. Scrub
While pregnancy can be a truly beautiful experience, it also leaves the body bearing a lot of change. These changes include loose skin, and stretch marks that can appear on the stomach, breasts, thighs, and obliques.
These marks can be red, purple, or pink in colour, and fade to a paler streak over time. They tend to be more noticeable on the legs, hips, abdomen, and thighs.
The reason why these marks occur is that when skin stretches too far, it tears through the collagen. This is what gives your skin its elasticity and makes it look bouncy and full.
If you have stretch marks, you may want to try a scrub to help reduce the appearance of them. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells and improves the elasticity of your skin.
Scrubs are also effective in preventing the development of new stretch marks and improving the tone of your skin. They also increase the blood flow to the affected area, which speeds up the healing process.
Sugar is a natural exfoliator that can help remove dead skin cells and lighten your stretch marks. You can make a simple scrub using sugar, almond oil, and lemon juice.
Alternatively, you can prepare a scrub by mixing honey with salt and glycerin (a type of natural compound in the form of a liquid found in animal- and plant-derived fats). Apply the scrub to your stretch marks and leave it on until it dries. Rinse it off using warm water.
Another way to remove stretch marks is by applying a mixture of coconut oil and aloe vera gel. You can massage the affected areas with this mixture several times a day to get rid of them quickly.
4. Coconut Water
Coconut water is a refreshing, naturally low-calorie beverage that can help prevent stretch marks and soothe your skin. It contains nutrients that help your body heal itself, including calcium, riboflavin, manganese, and vitamin C. It also helps keep your blood pressure in check and improves digestion.
While the best way to drink it is fresh coconut water, there are plenty of canned options at grocery stores. Just make sure you are getting 100% raw, unpasteurized coconut water without added flavors or sugar.
Cold-pressured coconut water is another option that does not require refrigeration or pasteurization and is considered a safe drink for pregnant women. This method of processing uses pressure to kill bacteria, which does not involve high heat that damages vitamins and minerals.
This type of product is also a good choice for those who are trying to lose weight. It contains no fat, calories, or sugar and has a low glycemic load, meaning it will not cause an insulin spike.
The water has a high concentration of electrolytes, including potassium and sodium, which are needed to keep the body hydrated. It also contains dietary fibers that promote healthy digestion and lower cholesterol.
Several studies show that drinking coconut water can decrease systolic blood pressure in pregnant women by as much as 10 points. It can also help alleviate anxiety and stress, which often lead to a rise in blood pressure during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Unlike many other hydrating beverages, coconut water does not contain any alcohol, which can cause dizziness and jitters, so it is a great option for those looking to reduce their intake of alcoholic drinks. It also contains a healthy amount of magnesium, which can relieve muscle tension and improve sleep.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most effective natural remedies for stretch marks. It has antiseptic and skin-softening properties that make it a great way to heal the skin after pregnancy.
The stalky green leaves of an aloe vera plant contain water and nutrients that help to heal your skin. You can break off the tip of an aloe vera leaf and rub it on the affected area, or you can buy a good quality aloe vera gel that has been specifically formulated to help with stretch marks (such as Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Gel).
Rosehip oil is another natural remedy for fading away stretch marks. It contains vitamin A, which helps to smoothen and soften skin.
It also contains retinol, which many skin care products use to reduce the appearance of scars. It also has antioxidants that help to prevent inflammation.
Another natural ingredient that helps to fade away the look of stretch marks is lemon juice. The vitamin C and acidic nature of lemon juice helps to remove dead skin cells.
For best results, apply the juice of half a lemon over the stretch marks and let it soak in for 10 minutes. Then wash it off with warm water.
You can also massage a few drops of olive oil over the stretch marks to help them fade faster. It’s also a good idea to heat the olive oil before massaging it on your skin to improve blood circulation.
Castor oil is also a good treatment option for removing stretch marks. It contains ricinoleic acid, which is an excellent skin-conditioning agent that helps to smoothen and lighten the appearance of stretch marks. It can be used both before and after pregnancy, and it should be rubbed into the stretch marks on a daily basis.