How To Remove Stretch Marks After Pregnancy 16 Home Remedies And Medical Treatments

Though natural methods may reduce stretch marks, medical treatments are also available.

Stretch marks after pregnancy are common since the skin is stretched during pregnancy. New moms may notice pregnancy stretch marks or striae gravidarum on the abdomen, breasts, hips, thighs, and arms. Every mother’s body changes after childbirth. It may be hormonal changes or sudden weight fluctuations, which can cause the skin to stretch and leave marks. These skin changes leave marks that can be purple or reddish and gradually turn white or gray. Most women get stretch marks during the sixth or seventh month of gestation.

Is It Possible To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks eventually get lighter with time but will never disappear completely. Though you may not get rid of them in a natural way, certain remedies might help in minimizing their appearance. You may consider some massaging creams, lotions, and oils that may turn your skin smooth and supple, but after consulting your doctor.

Over the months and maybe years, the marks gradually turn into fine lines which are almost closer to your skin tone. Though you may have to bear the natural ‘battle scars’, they become less visible in three to six months after delivery, write Janet Arenson and Patricia Drake in their book Quick Look Nursing: Maternal and Newborn Health.

Home Remedies To Remove Pregnancy Stretch Marks

There are certain effective home remedies you can try to reduce the appearance of postpartum stretch marks. Most of these remedies are from The Big Book Of Home Remedies, written by Samuel Billings (1).

1. Oil Treatment

Massaging the affected areas with oils make your skin smooth and help reduce the stretch marks. Some of the popularly used oils include:

Olive Oil: Olive oil moisturizes and exfoliates your skin. It also improves the blood circulation and removes stretch marks to a great extent.

• Take some oil in your palms and gently massage the area.
• Let it remain for 30 minutes so that the vitamins A, D and E in the oil are absorbed into the skin.
• Take a bath after the massage.
• Though it is a time-taking process, it gives you results when you follow it regularly.
• Or you can also prepare a mixture of olive oil, water and vinegar (or lemon juice), and apply at night.

Vitamin E Oil

• Extract the oil from vitamin E capsule.
• Mix with any moisturizer you use regularly and apply on the stretch marks.
• On regular usage, it gives effective results by fading off the marks.

Castor Oil

• Apply castor oil on the stretch marks and massage the area gently in circular motion for about five to ten minutes.
• Use a plastic bag to cover the area, roll a hot water bottle on it for about 30 to 40 minutes. The heat opens the pores and the oil gets absorbed into the pores.
• Clean the area and repeat it every day for at least a month to see good results.

Other Oils: Various oils like sesame, coconut, almond, avocado, castor and vitamin E can be mixed in equal proportions and applied on the skin. You can also use them to massage the region.

Essential Oil Treatment

• Take regular oils like almond, sesame, or coconut.
• Add a few drops of essential oils like rose, geranium, lavender, myrrh or helichrysum.
• Use this mixture to massage on the stretch marks for at least 30 minutes. It will help reduce the stretch marks quickly.

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera promotes healing and soothes your skin. Use fresh gel rather than the one available in the market.

• Rub it directly over the skin, leave for 15 minutes and wash it off using lukewarm water. Apply on the affected areas regularly.
• You can also prepare a mixture of one-fourth cup of aloe vera gel with oil from five vitamin A and ten vitamin E capsules. Rub it over the skin until it is completely absorbed. Apply it twice a day.

3. Honey
   The antiseptic property of honey works in reducing stretch marks.

Take a small cloth and apply honey on it.
Place the cloth on the affected area and let it remain until it turns dry.
Rinse off using warm water.
Or you can prepare honey scrub by mixing it with salt and glycerin. Apply it on the stretch marks, leave until it dries and rinse off using water.

4. Egg White

Egg white is rich in protein, which helps rejuvenate the skin and makes it look fresh.

• Beat two egg whites using a fork.
• Clean the affected area with water and apply a thick layer of egg white using a makeup brush.
• Let it dry and then rinse off using cold water.
• Apply some olive oil to keep the skin supple and moisturized.
• Repeat it every day for at least two weeks. It helps improve your skin tone, and the marks fade away slowly.

5. Shea Butter Or Cocoa Butter

Shea or cocoa butter can be used just like oil treatment. They are also the primary ingredients present in most of the body lotions.

Take some shea or cocoa butter and apply on the stretch marks regularly. Rinse off the area after some time.

This remedy improves the skin elasticity, prevents dryness, reduces the stretch marks and adds moisturization to the skin. Cocoa butter is an excellent moisturizer and helps nourish your skin.

6. Sugar

Sugar is one of the best remedies for stretch marks. It exfoliates your dead skin, and your stretch marks turn lighter.

• Take one tablespoon of sugar, mix with some almond oil and a few drops of lemon juice.
• Use it as a scrub before you go for a shower.
• Do this every day for a month.

7. Lemon Juice

The acidic property of lemon juice works in healing stretch marks.

• Rub fresh lemon juice on the affected area.
• Leave it for about 10 minutes so that the juice soaks into your skin.
• Rinse off using warm water.
• Apply every day for better results.
• Or you can also make a mixture of lemon and cucumber juice in equal proportions and apply it on the stretch marks.

8. Water

The skin should be well-hydrated to erase the stretch marks and other skin conditions. Consume at least 10 to 12 glasses of water every day to keep your skin hydrated and protected from toxins. It keeps your skin supple and restores its elasticity. Try avoiding tea, coffee and soda as they are dehydrating agents.

9. Apricot

• Deseed the fruit and cut into small pieces.
• Crush the fruit in a blender to make a paste.
• Apply on the stretch marks, leave for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse off with lukewarm water and repeat regularly.

10. Potato Juice

Potato contains phytochemicalsⁱ, polyphenolsⁱ, and carotenoidsⁱ, which improve the skin texture.

• Cut a potato into two halves and rub one-half over the stretch marks.
• Allow the juice to soak into the skin and let it dry.
• Then rinse off the area using lukewarm water.
• You can notice the difference in a few months.
• Or you can use potato juice or pulp.

11. Turmeric And Sandalwood

They are known for their ability to promote brighter and even skin texture.

• Prepare one spoon of sandalwood paste by rubbing sandalwood stick in a bit of water.
• Prepare a smooth paste of fresh turmeric root.
• Mix both in equal proportions and apply on the skin.
• Leave until it dries almost to 60% and then scrub your skin until all of it comes off.
• Repeat every day for at least six months to see the improvement.

12. Milk, Sugar And Green Coconut Water

Scrubs are effective in boosting the skin regeneration process, and they are one of best ways to remove postnatal stretch marks.

• Mix two spoons of raw milk, a few drops of lemon juice and cucumber juice, half a spoon of sugar.
• Apply on the stretch marks and scrub for around five minutes in a circular motion.
• Rinse off with water and pat the area dry.
• Apply coconut water in excess and allow it to dry until you can sense the stretch on the skin.
• Then apply shea butter or aloe vera gel.
• After some time, rinse off the area and then apply moisturizer.
• You can use this remedy three times a week to help remove marks and lighten the skin.
• Repeat not more than 3 times a week.

13. Alfalfa

Alfalfa leaves are a great source of protein, essential amino acids, and vitamins E and K. Their antifungal property detoxifies the skin and helps heal the stretch marks.

• Prepare a smooth paste by mixing the powder with a few drops of chamomile oil.
• Massage it all over the stretch marks.
• Apply two to three times a day and you can notice stretch marks fading away within a week.
• Alfalfa powder is available in food stores.

14. Home-Made Moisturizer

Moisturizer helps improve skin elasticity. You should choose it depending on your skin type. If your skin is dry, you should use the one with cocoa butter and if your skin is oily, use cream which contains aloe vera or a clay moisturizer.

• Mix olive oil, aloe vera gel and wheat germ oil in equal proportions.
• You can use it as a moisturizer if you have dry or combination skin type.
• The above mixture can be mixed with clay if your skin is an oily type.

15. Home-Made Lotion

• Take a quarter cup of aloe vera gel and a half cup of extra virgin olive oil.
• Extract oil from six vitamin E capsules and three to four vitamin A capsules.
• Mix all these ingredients, take in a glass bottle and store in the refrigerator.
• The natural stretch marks removal lotion can be applied every day.

16. Home-Made Cream

• Mix half a cup of cocoa butter, one tablespoon of vitamin E oil and two tablespoons of grated beeswax.
• You may add apricot kernel oil and wheat germ oil as well.
• Bring the mixture to boil until the wax gets melted.
• Store it in a bottle and refrigerate it.
• You can use it every day.