Almost every woman will develop stretch marks at some time in her life. These small pink, reddish or purplish indented streaks often appear on abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs. These striations are particularly common during the last portion of a pregnancy. You may dislike these streaks on your skin, but they aren’t serious and usually fade over time. The best way to avoid stretch marks is to prevent them before they occur. If you’re reluctant to use synthetic products on your skin, there are a variety of natural remedies which will help to prevent stretch marks, and also help to get rid of them if you start as soon as the marks appear.
Cocoa butter and elastin cream applied over your body are good, natural methods to prevent stretch marks from forming. One home remedy recommends mixing one ounce of carrier oil (avocado, sweet almond, or jojoba oil) with seven drops of lavender and five drops of chamomile. Apply it daily for the best results.
Another recipe suggests mixing ½ cup virgin olive oil, ¼ cup aloe vera gel, liquid from 6 capsules of Vitamin E, and liquid from 4 capsules of Vitamin A. These may all be placed in a blender, and poured into a jar for storage in the refrigerator after they are thoroughly mixed. If you apply the mixture daily over all areas where stretch marks normally appear, you may prevent the majority of them. Recipes may be made with larger quantities in the same ratios so that you don’t have to make it as often.
Cocoa butter may be the best known home remedy for keeping your skin soft and pliable. A homemade cocoa butter cream may be made by combining ½ cup of cocoa butter, 1 tbsp. wheat germ oil, 1 tsp. apricot kernel oil, 1 tsp. Vitamin E oil, and 2 tsp. grated beeswax. Heat the mixture just until the beeswax melts. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Apply this cream to your stretch marks to provide moisture to the skin and lessen their severity.
These do-it-yourself creams are an inexpensive option to try before resorting to commercial products. However, if you find that home remedies aren’t effective, you may be ready to start shopping for a natural stretch mark cream. Revitol is one such product that has been shown to be successful at getting rid of stretch marks. It’s made from all natural ingredients and is safe for use during pregnancy, unlike so many other creams. The cream has a pleasant odor, and may be applied liberally twice daily to the most affected areas. Allow some time after application for the salve to penetrate the skin (especially before dressing.) Continue using Revitol for a few months after giving birth. It will help to lessen or remove even old marks from previous pregnancies. You can usually find the best price on Revitol at Amazon.com.
Lifestyle changes are one of the best ways to prevent stretch marks from appearing in the first place. Exercising to keep well toned especially during your pregnancy helps your skin to stay firm, preventing some stretch marks. Keeping yourself well hydrated also lessens the likelihood of stretch marks forming. Eight glasses of water daily provide moisture which helps keep your skin more elastic. A diet including the proper amounts of protein and foods rich in Vitamin C and E promote good tissue growth. Massaging your skin with olive oil or Vitamin E oil can provide extra moisture to facilitate some stretching of the skin.
All these natural remedies will help to some extent in reducing stretch marks without causing side effects from medicated creams that many doctors prescribe. They also have the advantage of costing much less than prescription medications. Hopefully you will find one cream which will help your stretch marks recede or disappear.