There is a sure sign: to see stretch marks on the body - to the chagrin. Stretch marks, they are striae - these are long narrow lines that occur when our skin quickly stretches (or contracts).
Depending on your skin color, stretch marks can range from pink and red to purple and dark brown. They usually occur on the abdomen, hips, buttocks and chest, during puberty, following a dangerous diet, and during pregnancy. A study published in 2015 in the journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reports that stretch marks occur in 50% of all pregnant women.
But stretch marks are not a sentence for your body. They can be made practically invisible, and we will show you the most effective remedies for stretch marks on the skin, which have positive reviews on ECOgolik.ru and other resources devoted to beauty and health.
Important: Do not expect a quick result from any of the means described below. The effect manifests itself after a month or more after regular use.
The best home remedies for stretch marks on the skin
3. Stretch Mark Cream Recipe
Ingredients:
- 50 grams of unrefined coconut oil
- 50 grams of unrefined cocoa butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vitamin E oil
- 10 ml rosehip oil
- 10 ml almond oil
- 20 drops of essential oil of geranium, lavender and (or) incense.
Cooking method:
- In a water bath, heat coconut oil and cocoa butter until they become liquid.
- Pour into a glass container.
- Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Add other oils and mix using a hand blender.
- Close the lid and store in a cool dark place.
- Apply 2-3 times a day directly to stretch marks.
2. Apricot paste
It is not necessary to use expensive oils and creams when nature itself generously gives the best remedies for stretch marks. One of them is apricots containing vitamins A, C, E, H, PP, B vitamins and many minerals.
Mode of application:
- Grind 2-3 pitted apricots to a pasty state.
- Apply the paste directly on the stretch marks.
- Leave it on for 20 minutes.
- Rinse off with warm water.
- Repeat this procedure 1-2 times a week.
1. Castor oil
Perhaps this is the best remedy for stretch marks at home. It costs inexpensively (on average - 65 rubles), is sold in most pharmacies, and has a firming, moisturizing and anti-aging effect on the skin.
Castor oil contains three beneficial acids:
- Ricinole - softens the epidermis, gives it strength and elasticity, and protects from exposure to sunlight and other adverse external factors.
- Linoleic - has an antioxidant effect and antiseptic properties.
- Oleic - helps other components of the oil penetrate deeper into the layers of the epidermis, being a kind of catalyst for metabolic processes in the skin.
Mode of application:
- Apply castor oil directly to the stretch marks and massage in a circular motion for 15-20 minutes.
- After the massage, cover the treated area with a thin cotton cloth and heat a little using an heating pad or a bottle filled with warm water.
- For best results, do this as often as possible for a month.
Stretch Marks Prevention
3. Fish oil or linseed oil
Gone are the days when fish oil and linseed oil had to be drunk on a “spoon for mom”, grimacing from an unpleasant taste. Now there are many remedies that can be easily swallowed in one fell swoop. But the benefits of fish oil and linseed oil are invaluable to our body.
Nutritional supplements with fish oil or flaxseed oil help the skin stay hydrated and supple. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help restore the fatty layer of cell membranes and protect the cells themselves from oxidative stress. Rospotrebnadzor recommends consuming 0.8-1.6 g daily. omega 3 per day.
2. Drinking and diet
A proper drinking regimen is just as important as a proper diet.
- Consuming 8 to 10 glasses of pure water per day helps maintain skin elasticity and softness, preventing stretch marks.
- For the same purpose, it is advisable to include foods rich in vitamin C in your daily diet, such as berries, raw cabbage, citrus fruits, kiwi, melon, broccoli, pineapples and tomatoes. They help fight toxins and free radicals.
- In addition, flax seeds, chia seeds, salmon, sardine, cod liver, walnuts, soy, beef, tofu, shrimp and cauliflower, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, can also help to avoid stretch marks.
1. Gelatin
Edible gelatin contains several essential amino acids, but we are primarily interested in glycine, proline and alanine. They are necessary for the production of a protein called “collagen”, which, along with elastin, is the basis of the skin. He is responsible for ensuring its elasticity.
Bone broth (from chicken, lamb or beef) is an excellent natural source of gelatin in your diet. If the broth is not to your taste, then a portion of gelatin can be obtained from vitamins for hair and nails.
Remedies for stretch marks during pregnancy
3. Oil from stretch marks Bio-Oil
The average price is 299 rubles.
This remedy for stretch marks is suitable not only for pregnant women, it can be used in the prenatal and postpartum periods.
Use Bio-Oil daily to minimize stretch marks and scars - even if you have had them for several years. In one clinical study, more than half of the testers saw positive changes in the skin after two weeks of using this drug.
Bio-Oil contains natural ingredients such as calendula, lavender, chamomile and rosemary oils, and vitamins A and E, which moisturize the skin and improve its appearance.
2. Cream for the prevention of stretch marks Mustela Maternity
The average price is 1135 rubles
This product has been popular for pregnant women for decades, and it has received good reviews. In 96% of women who regularly used this product throughout their pregnancy did not appear stretch marks.
This is evidenced by the data of a clinical study conducted with 26 pregnant women.
Russian users on Otzovik and Irecommend speak positively about the action of Mustela Maternity, noting also the pleasant smell and delicate texture of the product. They can be smeared with not only the stomach and hips, but also the chest, which will help save on bust cream. It can also be used during breastfeeding.
The main active components of Mustela Maternity are:
- shea butter, which softens and moisturizes the skin;
- Japanese sophora with anti-inflammatory effect, narrowing the enlarged pores of the skin;
- avocado peptides that reduce skin tightness;
- larch extract, which helps maintain soft skin.
1. Sativa body and decollete cream No. 2 from Sativa
The average price is 1112 rubles
During pregnancy, many women prefer the safest cosmetics for stretch marks. And one of the best options for getting rid of stretch marks on the body and chest is a cream from the Belarusian brand Sativa.
It contains natural oils, extracts and organic ingredients that are safe for women in an “interesting position”. The cream can be used even while breastfeeding.
It has a pleasant texture, not a pungent odor, and is well distributed over the skin. And the skin after application becomes more elastic and velvety to the touch.
In the course of the analysis on a picky Ecogolic, the analysis of the composition of this product did not reveal any hazardous substances.
Remedies for stretch marks in adolescents
3. Souffle Dessert body cream against scars and stretch marks
The average price is 295 rubles.
The ChocoLatte brand is known for its inexpensive and high-quality cosmetic products, which are distinguished by a large number of natural components in the composition. And Souffle Dessert will not shame the honor of the producer.
In the first place in its composition are oils (shea, cocoa, avocado, wheat germ, coconut, etc.), as well as various CO2 extracts, a complex of organic acids, vitamins A, C and E, which are most important for the skin, as well as kelp extract.
This cream is suitable for skin care of all types, has a delicate creamy herbal aroma and can be used to care for the skin of the chest and abdomen.
The disadvantages include prolonged absorption, which is why it is better to use the product in the evening, after taking a bath or shower.
2. Nourishing Mangosteen Cream
The average price is 400 rubles.
According to users, this remedy for stretch marks very effectively fights against small stretch marks, tightens the skin and prevents the appearance of new striae. Its effect is noticeable after a couple of weeks after the first application.
Mangosteen Cream has a pleasant fruity aroma, has a dense texture and has to be rubbed intensively so that it is completely absorbed into the skin.
The biggest difficulty associated with this tool is that it is difficult to find in retail stores and pharmacies. This cream is usually sold in stores selling cosmetics from Thailand.
1. Body cream "Elastica"
The average price is 570 rubles
Replace your regular moisturizer with one that is rich in hydrating ingredients such as argan oil, grape seed, and baobab. In addition to these oils, “Elastika” contains extracts of honeysuckle, sea buckthorn, amaranth and wheat germ, as well as nim wax.
A large number of nutrients justifies the high price of this tool. It earned a high rating (4.8) on Ecogolic, due to the naturalness and safety of the composition.
“Elastica” has an optimal, not too greasy and not fluid consistency, but not all users like the smell and duration of absorption. But you can put up with these shortcomings, because the cream performs properly its main tasks - moisturizing, relieving itching and increasing skin elasticity.