Natural Remedies for Stretch Marks
While there are many aspects of pregnancy that women thoroughly enjoy – like feeling the baby moving for the first time – there are also things most women are not crazy about. Stretch marks probably make the top of that particular list. The good news is, however, that for women who want to keep their skin intact even through all the physical changes that pregnancy brings with it. Some of the best are listed below.
Herbal Therapies for Stretch Marks
Fortunately, there are a whole array of herbal therapies available for women who want to treat stretch marks naturally. The best of these herbal therapies include:
• Calendula
Better known as “marigolds”, calendula has long been used as a skin tonic for a variety of dermatological conditions – including stretch marks. They are such a good treatment for this problem due to the fact that they stimulate collagen production to help repair the changes that pregnancy causes to the skin.
• Bilberry
Bilberry extract has excellent anti-aging and healing properties that make it an excellent choice for stretch mark treatment. This is due to the fact that it promotes healing through increasing capillary circulation and can also stabilize collagen in the skin to help preserve and restore it.
• Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter also has a long-standing history of use for skin conditions and is used even today in many lotions and other topical applications. It is valued for its anti-aging, anti-wrinkling properties and it also very effective at treating stretch marks when it is massaged daily into the skin: it moisturizes the skin deeply and promotes overall skin health.
• Lemon Juice
Lemon juice, in diluted form, has long been used to help decrease blemishes, scars and other skin conditions and is also a great treatment for stretch marks. This is largely due to its acidity. To use, apply it daily with a cotton ball, let it set for 10 minutes, and then rinse off.
• Aloe Vera
The soothing, cooling properties of aloe vera gel are good for skin health in general and stretch marks in particular. It not only reduces inflammation and irritation, it can also help to increase elasticity due to its high levels of collagen protein.
• Horsetails
An extract or tincture of horsetails is also a wonderful treatment for stretch marks because it is high in silica, a mineral which is needed to repair and protect the delicate connective tissues of the skin. It, like aloe vera, is also high in collagen which helps to promote elasticity and to support the health of the skin’s epithelial tissue.
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Best Oils to Use on Stretch Marks
There is also a great selection of oils to choose from to be able to treat stretch marks. Some of the best of these oils include:
• Castor Oil
Castor oil is commonly used to help naturally treat a variety of skin conditions like age spots, wrinkles, and moles but is also a great remedy for stretch marks. It is deeply moisturizing and promotes overall skin health, especially when it is used in combination with a heating pad or warm compress after being applied.
• Olive Oil
Olive oil is great for the skin during pregnancy because it is incredibly rich in vitamins, mineral and antioxidants. Because of its high nutrient value, it is good for other skin conditions as well. Massaging daily with olive oil can also help to reduce stretch marks by increasing circulation and promoting healing to the affected areas of skin.
• Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is used topically for a variety of skin conditions and is valued for its medicinal properties. Tea tree oils help with stretch marks because it reducing inflammation and can promote the general health of the skin. It can be massaged in daily, but it is best to dilute it in a carrier oil (such as almond or olive oil) to avoid irritating the skin.
So don’t worry – stretch marks might seem inevitable while carrying a baby, but any of the remedies listed above can help to greatly reducing them and promote elasticity and health of the skin and make for a beautiful pregnancy.
