Stretch marks, also called striae, happen when your skin changes shape rapidly due to growth or weight gain. They aren’t a sign that anything is wrong with your health.
Both men and women can get stretch marks. Pregnancy and puberty are the two most common times in life to get stretch marks.
At first, a mark will appear as a thin red or purple line on your skin that takes on a different texture than the surrounding skin layer. Eventually, most marks fade and take on a lighter or almost translucent coloring, and become shiny.
Getting rid of stretch marks in a completely natural way isn’t likely. They’re a type of scarring that rarely fades enough to become invisible. However, there are some remedies that can help minimize the appearance of stretch marks and help them to fade more quickly.
1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is referred to as a retinoid. Retinoids make skin appear smoother and more youthful. They’re used in many over-the-counter topical cosmetic creams.
Simply using a topical extract of vitamin A, or taking vitamin A orally, can contribute to your skin’s health and overall appearance. A diet rich in certain foods, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, might also help you increase your vitamin A levels.
In an older study in 1996, researchers identified retinoids as helping the appearance of stretch marks. Further research is still necessary to identify all of its effects on stretch marks.
2. Sugar
Some people swear by sugar as a naturopathic microdermabrasion method.
Microdermabrasion performed by a dermatologist is one of the few clinically proven methods to make marks fade. So this home remedy seems worth a try.
Rubbing a sugar scrub on the skin will exfoliate the area. To do this:
- Mix one cup sugar with 1/4 cup of a softening agent, like almond oil or coconut oil, before mixing to the consistency of wet beach sand.
- Add some lemon juice.
- Scrub the mixture on the part of your body where the stretch marks are.
- Repeat several times a week while in the shower, making sure to rub the mixture on for 8-10 minutes.
