In the United States stretch marks are found on 55% of women and around 25% of men. Stretch marks are never a serious health concern, but they do affect those who have them. Self-esteem issues, stress, and just being an everyday annoyance cause many to look for solutions to rid stretch marks from their bodies.
Where do stretch marks come from?
Any women who have children will immediately answer from pregnancy. But there are numerous ways stretch marks from: pregnancy, weight gain, and weight loss being the most significant.
When your skin is put under too much pressure from stretching, your skin will scar and stretch marks form. The skin is torn and repairs, leaving those scars behind. Sometimes they are caused by hormonal issues and diseases, but this is not as common as physically tearing due to pregnancy for example.
Whatever problems stretch marks may cause for some, many are looking for new and healthy ways to get rid of their marks. The best way to get rid of stretch marks is different than you might expect. Using natural methods before any even appear will be most effective.
Here are five methods that might help reduce your stretch marks naturally.
Essential oils (including Rosehip Oil)
Certain essential oils have been shown to help reduce stretch marks naturally. Usually these are plant-based and extracted from the seeds into oil.
Rose Hip is the most well-known essential oil that is connected to naturally reducing stretch marks.
It’s main power is the large amounts of Vitamin A found in the seeds. The Vitamin A helps your skin regenerate faster.
Coconut Oil
Although an oil, it’s not an essential oil because it’s actually a food source (good fat).
Coconut oil has been used for years in people’s hair and on our skin. The best qualities of coconut oil lie in helping your skin regenerate, and also fighting off infection.
Aloe Vera
Used for decades for its skin moisturizing ability, this helpful plant is full of vitamins. Make sure you get pure aloe vera gel, with no added artificial moisturizers.
Also, it just feels good on the skin!
Cocoa Butter
Ask any American pregnant women their number one choice for reducing stretch marks and you will most likely hear this choice numerous times.
This is another healthy fat like coconut oil. It has tons of antioxidants and good fatty acids.
Again, make sure you get pure cocoa butter. The unheated, non-artificial ingredient pure product keeps more of the healthy fats that will help reduce your stretch marks naturally.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a super powerful vitamin that most people don’t know about.
It’s been proven to be effective in numerous studies. Vitamin K helps reduce scars and other cell damage.
Vitamin K is hard to get from most foods. The best sources of Vitamin K are brussel sprouts, bitter greens like dandelion greens and scallions, and also fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi are very high in vitamin K.
No matter how your stretch marks formed, what matters is how you help reduce them so you can feel better about your body and less stressed.
The prominence of your stretch marks is something you can control without having to have any invasive surgeries. Before you consider any option like that, try out one or all of these natural ways to reduce stretch marks first.