Home Remedies & Ayurvedic Herbs to cure Stretch Marks

Home Remedies & Ayurvedic Herbs to cure Stretch Marks

One of the common problems that women face is that of stretch marks on the body. Stretch marks are fine lines on the skin that looks like cracks. These are ugly looking and make the skin look dull. In many cases, women have these marks on the skin from birth or else they develop it during the pregnancy phase. Thigh and the breast region are two of the major areas that can have these lines.

Now lets understand why these stretch marks occurs?
Stretch marks occur when the dermis, the middle layer of your skin, is stretched to a point where its elasticity begins to break down. Skin is made of 80% collagen and 4% elastin fibre mesh network . Elastin is the protein in the skin which gives it its flexibility and allows it to stretch. The elastin forms a fishnet-like network in the skin which allows our skin to stretch and recoil back to its original position. These elastin fibers are damaged in stretch marks, causing the 'scar' of a stretch mark. As the dermis is stretched, the outer layer of skin, the epidermis, also stretches making it translucent enough that you can see the reddish purple stretch mark forming.  As these marks heal, scar formation occurs, and you have a stretch mark. 

Excessive stretching of skin is often associated with rapid growth (e.g. puberty) or weight gain (e.g. pregnancy).

Although the skin is fairly elastic, rapid stretching of the skin will leave permanent stretch marks.

Heredity also affects the presence of stretch marks to a great extent.

Home remedies are a good substitute for any problem and so it is for stretch marks. Here is a list of the perfect natural solutions to your problem.

In a blender, mix ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup Aloe Vera gel, liquid from 6 Vitamin E capsules and liquid from 4 Vitamin A capsules. Store it in a container and place it in the refrigerator. Apply this mixture wherever stretch marks appear.

Prepare a mixture by adding seven drops of lavender oil and a few drops of chamomile oil to an ounce of carrier oil (avocado, sweet almond or jojoba oil). Use it to massage the affected area.

Cocoa butter is beneficial in treating stretch marks. Apply it two times a day, in the morning as well as in the evening, over the affected area. This would help remove the marks.

Aroma oil is beneficial in treating stretch marks problem. Apply some of this oil on the stretch marks and massage well.
Massaging your body with olive oil or Vitamin E may help.

One of the simplest, yet effective home remedies for stretch marks would be to apply lavender oil on the marks, three times a day.

Rub the affected area with apricot scrub. This is likely to remove the stretch marks gradually.

1/2 cup virgin olive oil. 1/4 cup aloevera gel. Liquid from 6 capsules of Vitamin E.Liquid from 4 capsules of Vitamin A. Mix all the ingredients together in a blender. After that pour the mixture into a jar and store it in the fridge. Apply the oil externally all over the places where the stretch marks commonly appear (abdomen, hips, thighs and breasts). If you do this consistently every day, you may prevent stretch marks.

Dairy products, tomatoes and green vegetables are some of the foods that are highly recommended for those who want to clean their skin from stretch marks.
Fresh Aloe Vera gel if applied on the marks everyday will gradually lighten them and soon wipe them off from your skin.
Last but not least exercise regularly. Toning the muscles of the body regularly is definitely a good idea to clean the skin of the dull marks. More than wiping them off, exercising will help in prevention of the same. 

Advice for Stretch Marks Prevention

Eat seeds and nuts that are rich in mineral content, especially zinc to tone up the skin during pregnancy.

Make sure in your diet you are getting plenty of protein and foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, they promote good tissue growth.

It is very important to exercise in order to get rid of stretch marks; toning your muscles helps your skin to firm thus preventing stretch marks.

Avoid saturated fats in excess, because they can cause excessive stretching of the skin, and also leads to Obesity.

Ayurvedic Herbs for Stretch Marks

The herbs used in ayurvedic medicine for preventing & treating stretch marks are:
Neem:
It reduces the stretch marks.
Tulasi:
Holy Basil prevents scars and stretch marks caused during pregnancy. A decoction of Tulasi leaves takes care of the skin.
Aloe Vera: 
Apply Aloe Vera gel on the stretch marks or any other scars. It is effective in curing such marks.
Brahmi: 
This herb is used as one of the main ingredients in cosmetic products for healing stretch marks. It also takes care of other skin problems.
Manjishtha: 
This herb is used in Ayurveda in treating the skin problems like stretch marks and also prevents skin ulcers.
Amla: 
It has rich source of Vitamin C which is good for healthy skin. Regular intake of Amla will help to have a good skin texture.
Shwet Chandanam: 
Apply the paste this herb (White Sandalwood) on the stomach during pregnancy. Its cooling effect protects the skin from stretching.
Turmeric:
It is very good for skin. It nourishes the skin giving it a healthy natural glow. It prevents many skin problems and reduces the inflammation of skin. Regular use of turmeric on skin can reduce stretch marks and provide a natural toning of the skin.