Stretch marks are tears in the collagen deep in the layers of the skin that fade into pink, silvery or purplish squiggles. They can emerge through a number of factors, including pregnancy, puberty and weight gain. While there is no quick-fix for stretch marks, folk remedies have included skin care routines using cocoa butter, herbs and nourishing oils for years as a treatment for stretch marks. Although there is limited scientific evidence to support these claims, there remains a large body of anecdotal evidence.
Step 1
Moisturize your stretch marks daily with a cocoa butter cream. Look for a cream that is made of mostly or all cocoa butter, since it is common to find "cocoa butter" creams that only have a small percentage of cocoa butter listed in the ingredients. Rub your stretch marks with cocoa butter both in the morning and evening, especially after a shower.
Step 2
Mix nourishing oils with essential oils. According to "The Natural Pregnancy Book," oils that are nourishing to the skin include almond oil, olive oil and wheatgerm oil. Add several drops of essential oils, which penetrate deeply into the skin. Recommended essential oils include orange, rose petals, comfrey and chamomile. Some essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and want to use essential oils to decrease the severity of your stretch marks, consult a licensed aromatherapist.
Step 3
Combine 1/2 cup of olive oil with 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel to create a stretch mark gel that is recommended by "The Complete Guide to Oils, Soaps, Creams and Herbal Gels for Your Mind and Body." Aloe vera is a well-known folk remedy for soothing burns and skin imperfections.
Step 4
Add beeswax to cocoa butter to increase the emollient-rich, moisturizing properties. Melt 2 tbsp. of grated beeswax in a double burner. Mix the melted beeswax with 1/2 cup of pure cocoa butter, 1 tbsp. apricot kernel oil and 1 tbsp. wheatgerm oil. Add five drops each of cedarwood and rosemary essential oils. Use this rich cream to spot-treat stretch marks daily.
Tips and Warnings
- In addition to using homemade stretch mark creams and oils, wash your skin using a gentle cleanser and exfoliate your skin daily using a loofah or washcloth.
- Do not use almond oil if you have a known nut allergy.
Things You'll Need
- Cocoa butter cream
- Wheat germ oil
- Olive oil
- Almond oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Essential oils
- Beeswax
- Aloe vera gel
- Double burner
