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Home > Skin & Beauty > Skin Conditions > 9 Natural Ways to Prevent and Reduce Stretch Marks

9 Natural Ways to Prevent and Reduce Stretch Marks

May 12, 2023
6 min read
By Sarita Sanke, MD | Dermatology

In this article:

  • Causes of Stretch Marks
  • Ways to Prevent or Reduce Stretch Marks
  • Who’s at Risk for Stretch Marks?
  • When to See a Doctor
  • Final Word

Stretch marks are streaks that appear on the skin due to weight gain, weight loss, exercise, pregnancy, or other conditions that may cause your skin to stretch. They are scars that may develop due to the rupture of collagen and elastin cells that bind the skin. (1)

natural ways to prevent and reduce stretch marks
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Some stretch marks fade with time, while others may last forever. They tend to be red, brown, or purple depending on your skin color. (2)

Take a deeper look at why they occur and how to treat them.

Causes of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks may occur due to a variety of reasons. The most common ones are:

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  • Growth spurts when you hit puberty
  • Excessive weight gain or weight loss
  • Exercising
  • Cushing’s syndrome or Marfan’s syndrome
  • Using topical corticosteroids for a long time
  • Pregnancy and giving birth (3)(4)

Ways to Prevent or Reduce Stretch Marks

Here are some ways to prevent and reduce stretch marks on your skin.

1. Apply aloe vera

Aloe vera gel is filled with antioxidants, such as vitamin C, and also contains many anti-inflammatory properties. It can help in skin regeneration and fading stretch marks. (5)  

Apply fresh aloe vera gel to your stretch marks by extracting it from aloe leaves. Wash it off after 15–20 minutes.

Alternatively, mix the gel with oil extracted from 5–10 vitamin E and vitamin A capsules. Apply this paste to the affected area, leave it on for 20 minutes, and then wash it off.

2. Try sweet almond and coconut oils

Oils extracted from nuts have potent moisturizing properties. They can help lighten stretch marks by moisturizing the skin and nourishing them with antioxidants and nutrients required for skin regeneration. (6)

3. Consume enough vitamin A

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient required for the growth and repair of body tissues. (7) It helps moisturize the skin and increase its oil content.

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Get vitamin A from your diet by consuming animal products such as organ meats, eggs, and fish; green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, and turnip greens; and fruits such as red bell peppers, oranges, and papayas.

aloe vera, sweet almond and coconut oils, and vitamin A to prevent stretch marks

4. Apply hyaluronic acid creams

Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide that helps stimulate collagen production and hydrate the skin. It helps increase skin elasticity and prevent stretch marks from forming. (8)

Use a hyaluronic acid cream to lessen stretch marks and prevent scarring. (9)

5. Apply gotu kola creams

Gotu kola is a herb known by different names around the world. It has been traditionally used in Asian medicinal practices to promote skin healing from different conditions.

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Gotu kola can increase collagen production and make your skin stronger.

Apply gotu kola-based creams to your skin directly. (10)

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6. Use egg whites

Eggs are rich in protein and amino acids, both of which can encourage collagen production in the skin and promote healing and repair. (11)

Take two egg whites and whip them till you see soft peaks. Apply this to your stretch marks using a brush or sponge. Let it dry completely before rinsing it off with cold water.

Moisturize your skin afterward, or massage a few drops of olive oil on the area.

apply gotu kola creams, use egg whites, drink water, etc. to prevent stretch marks

7. Eat foods that promote collagen development

Collagen is an essential protein required for healthy skin. It gives your skin the elasticity needed to prevent stretch marks and make it firm. (11)(12)

Your body produces collagen naturally, but consuming certain foods can help increase its levels in the body. These include lean meats, fruits that contain amino acids, and green leafy vegetables.

8. Drink plenty of water

Keeping your skin moisturized is necessary to avoid scarring and stretch marks. Healthy, hydrated skin tends to heal sooner. (13)

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Hydrated skin is also properly nourished, encouraging collagen growth, which supports skin health and prevents scars and stretch marks.

9. Keep your weight gain or weight loss slow and steady

maintain a steady weight gain/loss regimen

Rapid weight gain or weight loss is one of the leading causes of stretch marks. (1) If you are trying to build muscle or lose weight, follow a proper schedule and plan to change your weight slowly and steadily.

Who’s at Risk for Stretch Marks?

Certain factors can make you more prone to developing stretch marks. These include:

  • Pregnancy: Stretch marks may appear on a pregnant woman’s belly and breasts when they rapidly increase in size.
  • Weight lifting: Weight lifters tend to use supplements for muscle growth. This, combined with lifting heavy weights, can promote rapid muscle development and cause stretch marks in certain areas such as the buttocks and thighs.
  • Puberty: Teenagers tend to go through phases of rapid growth during puberty, which may cause stretch marks. 
  • Weight gain or loss: Rapid weight loss or gain can cause the skin to contract or expand quickly, leading to stretch marks.

When to See a Doctor

If you have spent a lot of money on OTC treatments and have not seen results, visit a dermatologist’s office for medical treatments that are more effective than gels or creams.

Final Word

Stretch marks are a very normal and common phenomenon. They tend to occur more often in women after pregnancy and childbirth.

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It is important to remember that your stretch marks do not make you less attractive and are not a defining feature of your body. However, if they make you constantly feel insecure about yourself, you can try the treatments given above to lessen them.

References
  1. Oakley AM, Patel BC. Stretch Marks. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436005/.
  2. Stretch Marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/scars-stretch-marks/stretch-marks-why-appear.
  3. Wollina U, Goldman A. Management of stretch marks (with a focus on striae rubrae). J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2017;10(3):124-129. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_118_17.
  4. Alageel RA, Bukhari AE, Alotaibi AS, et al. Perception of Stretch Marks Risk Factors Among Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2021;13(11):e19561. Published 2021 Nov 14. doi:10.7759/cureus.19561.
  5. Hajhashemi M, Rafieian M, Rouhi Boroujeni HA, et al. The effect of Aloe vera gel and sweet almond oil on striae gravidarum in nulliparous women. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018;31(13):1703-1708. doi:10.1080/14767058.2017.1325865.
  6. Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070.
  7. Gilbert C. What is vitamin A and why do we need it?. Community Eye Health. 2013;26(84):65.
  8. Ud-Din S, McGeorge D, Bayat A. Topical management of striae distensae (stretch marks): prevention and therapy of striae rubrae and albae. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016;30(2):211-222. doi:10.1111/jdv.13223.
  9. Bolke L, Schlippe G, Gerß J, Voss W. A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2494. Published 2019 Oct 17. doi:10.3390/nu11102494.
  10. Bylka W, Znajdek-Awiżeń P, Studzińska-Sroka E, Brzezińska M. Centella asiatica in cosmetology. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2013;30(1):46-49. doi:10.5114/pdia.2013.33378.
  11. Jensen GS, Shah B, Holtz R, Patel A, Lo DC. Reduction of facial wrinkles by hydrolyzed water-soluble egg membrane associated with reduction of free radical stress and support of matrix production by dermal fibroblasts. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016;9:357-366. Published 2016 Oct 14. doi:10.2147/CCID.S111999.
  12. Al-Atif H. Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: A Paradigm Shift in the Fields of Dermatology and Cosmetics. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2022;12(1):e2022018. Published 2022 Jan 1. doi:10.5826/dpc.1201a18.
  13. Junker JP, Kamel RA, Caterson EJ, Eriksson E. Clinical Impact Upon Wound Healing and Inflammation in Moist, Wet, and Dry Environments. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2013;2(7):348-356. doi:10.1089/wound.2012.0412.
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