If you’re a new or expectant mother, bodybuilder, or simply someone who gained weight quickly in the past, you probably have stretch marks that you’d like to fade – and you’re not alone. In fact, pretty much everyone has stretch marks somewhere.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about how to get rid of stretch marks with stretch mark removal cream and home remedies, and answer a common question: what removes stretch marks quickly? Let’s dive right in.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Essentially, stretch marks are small bands of scar tissue that form when the skin is stretched past its maximum for too long. This can be caused by a number of conditions that result in rapid weight gain from fat, muscle, or just getting taller – not just pregnancy.
5 Home Remedies for Stretch Marks & The Verdict on Each
Are these home remedies for stretch marks all they’re cracked up to be? Let’s take a look.
#1: Sugar Scrubs
Verdict: works well, backed up by research
Sugar scrubs have been used for many different skin conditions, and they work well to exfoliate skin and stimulate scar tissue restructuring. Sugar scrubs essentially work like an at-home microdermabrasion session. Plus, microdermabrasion is well-documented to positively affect scar tissue.
#2: Fresh Aloe Gel
Verdict: may work well on new stretch marks
If you want something soothing and moisturizing to use after your sugar scrub, aloe gel is a great choice. We actually use aloe in many of our Rejuvaskin products due to its incredible ability to moisturize the skin and soften it to help the skin heal. Aloe will work best on new stretch marks where the early healing stages are happening.
#3: Coconut Oil & Other Moisturizers
Verdict: good for protecting the skin while it heals
With coconut oil, the main advantage is that it will keep your skin’s protective barrier intact, allowing the skin to restructure scar tissue more efficiently. After all, keeping the skin in tip-top shape while a scar is restructured makes sure that all of the skin’s efforts can go to that restructuring process – not to the upkeep of a barrier under constant attack.
Other moisturizers will have the same effects on fresh scars, like cocoa butter and shea butter. They help lock in integral moisture that helps the skin stay functional while it heals. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory effects that can help minimize irritation around the stretch marks.
#4: Onion Extract
Verdict: works well, backed up by research
An odd home remedy you might see online is onion extract. Though this might sound weird, this has actually shown real promise in peer-reviewed research. You can find over-the-counter products that contain this extract fairly easily. (We even use it in our Scar Esthetique Scar Cream!)
#5: Essential Oils Like Lemon & Frankincense
Verdict: might work, but be careful with dilutions
Essential oils like lemon oil have been touted for their all-purpose use, but how effective are they, really? Lemon oil can be a natural bleaching agent, so it might help with discoloration – it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try it, just make sure to dilute it properly so you don’t harm your skin.
Frankincense is another oil that has been associated with stretch marks, and frankincense is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. This, combined with its potential to stimulate cell turnover, makes it a good oil to try if you really want some holistic approaches.
What Are My Other Options For Stretch Mark Treatment?
But, what removes stretch marks quickly? After all, home remedies can take time to prepare and apply consistently.
Luckily there are over-the-counter and online stretch mark removal cream options that not only include everything you need but also contain products that you can’t get at home. You’ll find things like ceramides (which help the skin cycle and heal more quickly), polypeptides, cocoa butter, and shea butter. Creams like our Stretch Mark Cream, are designed to penetrate deep into the skin and stimulate collagen and elastin production.
So, grab a bottle of our Stretch Mark Cream, and watch those stretch marks fade!