How long does coconut oil take to remove stretch marks

If you have recently lost those few extra pounds (congrats!), brought a little life into the world (congrats, again) or going through any kind of sudden body change, there’s a chance you are now blessed with the tiger stripes on your skin. Yes, we are talking about stretch marks! The lightened lines are an outcome of skin expansion and contraction, meaning skin stretch. Though it is a common condition in weight fluctuation and pregnancy, it can also be caused due to genetic factors, stress, and more. But the question remains—how to remove stretch marks?

They usually appear and are more prominent on thighs, forearms, waist, funnily (and frustratingly) enough, the parts worthy for in some skin show in summers. Stretch marks can really bring you down and keep you from wearing sleeveless and short dresses, which you don’t want. If you are fed up of the unsightly scars and are looking for some quick remedies to remove stretch marks, we have just the solution for you!

Here are, not one but 8 amazing home remedies that will help you get rid of stretch marks and flaunt flawless skin once again. Read on to know the amazing ingredients and how to get rid of stretch marks using them...

1. Vitamin A

Retinoids have been known to remove stretch marks and give you youthful skin. Vitamin A, retinol, helps repair the skin cells and makes the skin softer and younger-looking, and that is the reason why it is widely used in many skin care creams and lotions. Intake or use of Vitamin A can help make the skin firmer and fade away the stretch marks.

How to get rid of stretch marks permanently, you ask? Consume Vitamin A orally or extract the vitamin A oil from the capsule and apply it on the affected areas every night before hitting the sack. Also, you can include Vitamin A rich foods in your meal to heal the skin quicker such as milk, eggs, green leafy vegetables, tomato etc.

2. Sugar

Sugar is an excellent ingredient for homeopathic microdermabrasion. Since microdermabrasion is one of the most effective and dermatologist approved methods to lighten the stretch marks, you can employ a homemade sugar scrub to deal with the pesky stretch marks at home. Exfoliating the areas with a natural scrub made of sugar help regulate the blood flow in the area and also speed up the healing capacity of the skin. Mix 1 tablespoon of sugar and few drops of Vitamin E oil or any essential oil to make a paste, and exfoliate with it in a circular motion for a few minutes before rinsing.

3. Coconut oil and aloe vera

Both coconut oil and aloe vera gel are natural moisturisers and help hydrate the skin. While coconut oil has healing properties, aloe vera helps in restoring skin tissues back to health. If you're wondering how to remove stretch marks effectively, then here's a DIY treatment you must try. Take two tablespoons of virgin coconut oil and freshly extracted aloe vera sap and mix them together in a bowl.

Apply a small amount of the mixture on the stretch marks daily for the best results. In two to three you will notice that the stretch marks are starting to fade. Coconut oil also prevents stretch marksand thus it is recommended for expecting mothers to massage the abdomen with some coconut oil to keep scarring at bay. Because, well prevention is better than cure, after all.

4. Almond oil

Sweet almond oil is a wonder skincare ingredient and can get you rid of every skin woe such as dry skin, dark circles and stretch marks. With celebs like Hilary Duff swearing by this wonder oil after their pregnancy, we can safely say that it does the trick in no time. Rich in Vitamin E and other essential nutrients, almond oil deeply moisturizes the affected areas, supports cell health, reduces redness of the marks and eliminates stretch marks with time. Heat some almond oil and massage your skin with it in a circular motion and let it be absorbed by the skin. Repeat this twice every day and follow up with a moisturiser. 

5. Baking soda and lemon juice

Baking soda is a natural exfoliant while lemon has bleaching properties which lighten the skin. Baking soda helps remove the dead skin cells and thus remove stretch marks. Lemon reduces the redness and makes them less visible. The mixture of baking soda and lemon juice has proven to be an effective and quick way to remove stretch marks.

All you need is one tablespoon of baking soda, fresh juice of half a lemon and cling wrap. You can use kitchen roll for this. Mix both the ingredients and apply them on stretch marks. Cover it with the cling wrap and rinse after 20 minutes. If you have sensitive skin, it is better to first test it on your skin. Apply a small amount of the mixture on your arm and leave for 10 minutes, and if it doesn’t react or itches, then apply it to all the affected areas.

6. Tea tree oil

You know tea tree oil as a remedy to get rid of acne and heal acne scars, but it can do more than that. It can help remove any type of skin scarring, including stretch marks, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Also, regular use of tea tree oil prevents the occurrence of stubborn marks. Treat your skin with tea tree oil to make your stretch marks less visible over time. Another simple home-made treatment to get rid of stretch marks is to mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a half teaspoon of olive oil and massage the oil gently all over the stretch marks. You can also add some coconut oil or vitamin E oil into it. Leave it on all night and wash off the next day.

7. Glycolic Acid

You might be oblivious to this skincare ingredient but let us tell you that it does a stellar job at making the stretch marks disappear for good. Not a very popular but an effective method to remove stretch marks is to apply glycolic acid on them. It is natural fruit acid known as AHA, which moisturises the skin and boosts collagen, thus treating the stretch marks and making them less visible. For women who have pigmented stretch marks, like red or purple, this can help you big time.

It is safe for pregnant women and is easily available in the market. Apply a small amount of glycolic acid over the stretch marks at night before going to bed and wash it in the morning. Avoid going out in sun with this acid on your skin, since when exposed to sunlight, it can cause sunburn and thus is suitable to be applied in the night time.

8. Potato juice

An effective remedy to treat dark circles, potato juice can help you get rid of stretch marks too. Yes, that’s right. Potatoes are rich in starch and are full of other skin lightening enzymes that help to lighten scars and blemishes that are there on the skin. Also, catecholase is a bleaching agent present in potatoes which heals the scars and gives you brighter skin.

How to get rid of stretch marksusing potatoes, you ask? Grate a potato finely and extract juice by squeezing it. Mix the juice with the grated pulp and apply the pack over the stretch marks. Let it dry for 30 minutes and wash off with cold water. Regular application of potato juice will reduce the visibility of stretch marks and give you spotless, healthy-looking skin.

FAQs about how to remove stretch marks:

1. What is the fastest way to get rid of stretch marks?

A. First things first. Keep your skin well hydrated. Loss of moisture can slow down the healing process. Also, coconut oil can be your best bet in treating stretch marks quickly. Coconut oil moisturizes the skin and makes the stretch marks disappear. 

2. Can baking soda help remove stretch marks?

A. Thanks to its exfoliating properties, baking soda can be a great remedy in helping you get rid of stretch marks. Mix it with lemon and you have one of the best recipes for stretch marks-free skin. 

3. What foods can help remove stretch marks?

A. Foods rich in lutein such as broccoli, spinach and lettuce protect the skin and help reduce the stretch marks. Beans too can be of great help! Include beans in your weekly diet for effective results.

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