What Are the Best Ways to Remove or Fade Stretch Marks Post-Pregnancy?

Posted by Sahir Momin on

*Photo by lucas mendes from Pexels

 

Contrary to popular belief, pregnancy stretch marks aren't limited to the belly. These stretch marks also appear on the upper thighs and breasts.

Before you start on this journey, let us tell you something important. The pregnancy stretch marks are likely to fade on their own.  Remember, the stretch marks will not fade instantly. It will take at least a year for them to become less noticeable.

Of course, there are measures that you can take to hasten the recovery. These measures can help you overcome the stress of the bothersome scars and feel more confident. 

Our goal here is to educate you about the stretch marks, their causes, preventing stretch marks, and recovering from stretch marks.

 

Causes of Stretch Mark:

During pregnancy, a woman's skin stretches to accommodate the growing baby. This constant stretching of the skin can cause stretch marks. Apart from that, you'll find that there are several creams and lotions known to diminish your skin's ability to stretch, causing stretch marks. Furthermore, disorders such as Marfan's syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, and Ehler-Danlos Syndrome can boost the amount of cortisone in your body, paving the way for stretch marks.

 

Pregnancy Stretch Marks: Color vs Texture

The appearance of stretch marks varies from person to person for quite a few reasons. From the above pictures, you can determine the difference between the appearance of stretch marks on dark skin and white skin.

 

On darker skin, the stretch marks appear a combination of white and dark coloured. On the lighter skin, they can be seen as red jagged marks.

 

Since darker skin tones are more elastic, experts believe that people with darker skin tones are less likely to develop stretch marks. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are avoidable.

 

Apart from the skin colour differences, stretch marks can also vary based upon their newness. When the stretch marks first occur, they are likely to be red or deep purple, easily noticeable. But over time, the colour fades and scars heal, but the texture doesn't disappear.

 

So, Do stretch Marks Go Away?

Healthline, a reputed health resource, reiterates what we already know. The texture of the stretch marks appearing as scars/raised ridges/jagged lines across your body will fade given time. They create an illusion that they have disappeared. But for most pregnant women, the stretch marks texture will probably remain. The only way to remove them is through expensive treatments, such as microdermabrasion, cosmetic surgery, and laser therapy.

Someone has wisely said, Prevention is better than cure. So, before we help you with tips to reduce or fade the stretch marks, let's take a look at what you can do during and post pregnancy to avoid stretch marks. If you already have stretch marks, skip the part and move on to the cure.

 

Tips to Prevent Stretch Marks During and Post Pregnancy:

Manage your Weight:

Controlling your weights sounds easier than done, but pregnancy can cause rapid weight gain, causing your skin to stretch and develop marks. You can consult a knowledgeable doctor who can guide you through your pregnancy by regulating your diet and exercise plan.

Stay Hydrated:

Compared to soft skin, women with dry skin have a higher chance of developing stretch marks. Water keeps your skin hydrated, making it soft. Avoid substituting water with caffeine. Although there is no scientific evidence, anecdotal evidence suggests that caffeine increases stretch marks.  If you must consume caffeine, you can balance it out with a proper intake of water or herbal teas.

Get on a Nutrient-rich Diet:

Getting on a  nutrient-rich diet will have benefits that surpass far more than skin health and stretch marks prevention, helping you deal with the stress of motherhood. Supplement your diet with unprocessed foods rich in zinc, protein, vitamin C, Vitamin D, and vitamin E.

Exercise to retain skin health:

Low-impact exercises such as pregnancy yoga, kegel exercises, and stretches can help your skin retain its elasticity, and at the same time, boost your blood circulation.

Tips to Remove and Fade Stretch Marks Post-Pregnancy:

Laser therapy and cosmetic surgery are two effective ways of completely ridding your body of the post-pregnancy stretch marks. But these procedures are often expensive and have side effects such as itching, redness, and swelling that can last for days after the procedure. Then there are dermatologist approved Anti-stretch mark products and creams that can help speed up the fading of stretch marks. These products can certainly help mothers who have too much on their plate.

 

There are also homemade recipes that you can prepare and use on your skin. We have given you a lot of options and homemade recipes that’ll not break your bank.

HomeMade Stretch Mark Removal Recipes:

We have prepared a list of homemade stretch mark removal recipes you can easily make.

 

Before you select a recipe, make sure that you aren't allergic to the ingredient.  If you don’t know what you are allergic to, test the mixture ore ingredients on a small portion of your skin.

 

1. Aloe Vera Homemade moisturizer

Ingredients:

  • Pur Aloe Vera gel
  • Wheat germ Oil
  • Olive Oil

 

Recipe and Application:

If you have dry skin:

Mix the ingredients in equal proportions to create a homemade moisturizer. Apply this mixture to the areas affected by stretch marks.

If you have oily skin:

Add clay to the mixture and apply it to the skin.

 

 

2. Beeswax Cocoa Butter Cream

Ingredients:

  • Half cup cocoa butter
  • 2 tbsp of Grated beeswax
  • 1 tbsp of Vitamin E oil
  • Wheat Germ Oil (Optional)
  • Apricot Kernel oil (Optional)

 

Recipe and Application:  Create a mixture of these ingredients and boil the mixture until the beeswax melts. You can store the cream into a container and refrigerate it. Apply the cool cream on the stretch mark affected area daily to see the result.

 

3. Egg White Peel

Ingredient:

2 Eggs whites

Recipe and Application:  Whisk the two egg whites until they are foamy. Before applying the peel to the stretch mark affected area, clean it with a gentle cleanser. Apply the foamy egg whites to stretch marks and leave it to dry for at least 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, gently wash the peel with warm water and pat the skin with a soft towel or cloth.

  

4. Pure Aloe Vera Extract:

Ingredient:

Fresh Aloe Vera Gel/extract

 

Recipe and Application:  Apply the gel directly on the stretch marks affected areas of your body. Leave it on for 15 minutes, after which you can rinse it off with warm water. You can safely apply it twice a day.

 

5. Aloe Vera Olive Oil Lotion:

Ingredients:

  • Quarter cup of Pure Aloe Vera Gel
  • Half cup of Extra-virgin Olive oil
  • 6 Vitamin E oil capsules
  • 4 Vitamin A oil capsules

 

Recipe and Application: Squeeze the oil from the vitamin A and E capsules into the mixture of aloe vera gel and olive oil. Once created, you can store and refrigerate this mixture for daily use. Massage the cool mixture on the stretch marks to see them lighten. Use the lotion daily for best results.

 

6. Alfalfa Chamomile Paste:

Ingredients:

  • Alfalfa powder
  • Chamomile Oil

 

Recipe and Application: Mix the two ingredients in equal proportions to create a nourishing paste. Apply this mixture to your stretch marks 2 or 3 times a day. Within a few weeks, you'll start noticing the effects of the paste.

 

7. Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice:

Ingredient:

Lemons

 

Recipe and Application:  Avoid using store-bought lemon juice. Use fresh lemons to squeeze the lemon juice. Apply the lemon juice on the stretch marks gently rub it in. After 10 minutes, rinse it off with warm water. Try this every day until you notice visible differences.

 

8. Sugar, Almond oil, and Lemon Juice Scrub:

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp Sugar
  • Almond Oil or Olive Oil
  • Drops of Lemon Juice

 

Recipe and Application:Prepare a mixture by adding the ingredients to a bowl. For quick results, apply the mixture to your body before you shower. Use a cloth to apply these scrubs to your body. Do this once every day for at least a month. 

 

9. Honey Scrub:

Ingredient:

Raw Honey

 

Recipe and Application: Apply the raw honey to a small soft cloth. Gently place the cloth over your stretch marks and leave it on until it dries. Once the honey dries, rinse it off with warm water.

 

10. Honey-Salt-Glycerin Scrub:

Ingredients:

  • Raw Honey
  • Salt
  • Glycerin

 

Recipe and Application:Prepare the mixture by combining the appropriate portion of three ingredients. Use a cloth to apply the mixture to your stretch marks. Once the mixture dries, remove the cloth, and rinse it off.

 

11. Oil Treatments:

We have already seen some oil-based homemade recipes for stretch mark removal. Now, we'll see how oil treatments can also be effective in nourishing your skin, helping fade stretch marks.

 

  • Olive Oil Treatment: Gently massage olive oil on the stretch marks half an hour before your bath daily.
  • Castor Oil Treatment: Gently massage the castor oil on the stretch mark affected area of your body. Continue the massage for 5-10 minutes. Then place a plastic sheet on the massaged area. Next, roll a hot water bottle over the plastic sheet. This action will help the oil penetrate the skin, healing the stretch marks in the process.

 

Daily oil treatments can improve skin's elasticity and soften the skin, helping you get rid of the stretch marks. For more benefits, you can also add essential oils to the oil treatments.

 

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