How to Remove Stretch Marks Permanently at Home

Coconut and wheat germ oil are natural remedies that can improve skin elasticity and have been found beneficial in treating stretch marks. 

Learn how to remove stretch marks permanently at home with a simple scar treatment that promotes skin healing and improves skin texture.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks, also known as striae, are streak-like, narrow lines within skin tissue. 

When skin is stretched or pulled beyond its normal limits, collagen fibers can tear, which triggers scar tissue formation and the development of stretch marks.

Stretch marks typically have a different color and texture than the surrounding skin and can appear red, pink, or purple when they first develop and gradually lighten over time. 

Stretch marks can affect several body parts, including:

• Abdomen 

• Hips

• Breasts

• Upper arms

• Lower back 

• Thighs 

Watch the video below to discover how to reduce stretch marks at home.

What causes stretch marks?

Pregnancy and rapid weight changes are the most common causes of stretch marks. It’s believed that around 90 percent of women who lose weight after pregnancy show signs of collagen tearing and scars.  

While they can happen to everyone, some individuals appear to have a genetic predisposition and are more likely to develop stretch marks.

Other risk factors linked to stretch marks include corticosteroid medication, growth spurts during puberty, and rapid muscle growth.  

How to remove stretch marks permanently at home

While stretch marks fade and may become less noticeable over time, they typically don’t disappear without proper scar treatments. 

Some mild cases of stretch marks can be managed with over-the-counter stretch mark creams. However, these treatments may not work in more severe cases or can cause skin issues in sensitive individuals. 

Luckily, there are simple but effective home remedies that help improve skin tone and lighten stretch marks. 

Here’s how to prepare a simple homemade stretch mark treatment at home.

Ingredients

1 wheat germ oil capsule  

1 tsp coconut oil or coconut butter

Instructions 

1. Pierce wheat germ oil capsule with a pin and combine with coconut oil.

2. Use a handheld cellulite massage tool to gently massage the oil mixture into the affected area for two minutes to stimulate blood circulation and remove dead skin cells.

3. Repeat daily for one month.    

Research published in Dermatology found that vitamin E-containing oils such as wheat germ oil help break down existing scar tissue, promote wound healing, and significantly improve the appearance of stretch marks.   

Coconut oil has long been recognized for its benefits for skin health and may help get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy. 

Coconut oil moisturizes the skin, and its anti-inflammatory properties help lighten scars and reduce stretch marks. 

How long does it take to get rid of stretch marks?

How long it takes to get rid of stretch marks depends on the severity of the stretch marks and overall skin health. 

While early stretch marks can fade and disappear within one month of daily oil massages, more severe cases can take up to one year to improve.

Stretch marks are generally no medical concerns. However, stretch marks that develop suddenly and without apparent reason can indicate Cushing's syndrome, an adrenal condition characterized by elevated cortisol levels.

It’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider if you are concerned about stretch marks to evaluate potential underlying causes and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

How to prevent stretch marks

Supporting healthy skin and minimizing collagen breakdown during pregnancy or weight fluctuations can significantly reduce or even prevent the development of stretch marks. 

Here are four steps you can take to prevent stretch marks.

1. Stay hydrated  

Drinking water helps maintain skin elasticity, which reduces the risk of stretch marks.

Adding fresh lemon juice to your water boosts vitamin C, a crucial nutrient for collagen production and skin health. 

A study published in The Journal of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons concluded that “Vitamin C stimulates collagen production in the dermis by increasing fibroblast proliferation. It therefore seems likely that vitamin C can improve the appearance of stretch marks.”

2. Keep skin moisturized 

Keeping skin moisturized plays an essential role in preventing stretch marks. 

Regularly applying a moisturizing cream or lotion prevents dryness and locks in moisture, which helps get rid of loose and sagging skin and can lower the risk of stretch marks. 

Products containing ingredients such as cocoa butter, aloe vera gel, shea butter, olive oil, or almond oil are especially beneficial for stretch mark prevention.

3. Maintain a healthy weight 

Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important aspects of preventing excessive skin stretching and the formation of stretch marks.

Avoiding refined carbs and sugar while obtaining most of your calories from healthy fats aids weight loss and benefits your metabolic health.

“A nutritious low-carb, high-fat diet like Healthy Keto® shifts your body into fat-burning mode and forces your metabolism to utilize fat as a primary fuel source,” says Dr. Berg. “This explains why the ketogenic diet is one of the best dietary approaches to maintain a healthy body weight.”

4. Avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy 

Weight gain during pregnancy is natural and necessary to accommodate the energy needs of mother and baby. 

However, gaining more than the weight gain recommendations during pregnancy issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can significantly increase the risk of stretch marks. 

Consuming a nutritious diet low in refined carbohydrates and sugars during pregnancy can help avoid excessive weight gain and has been found to lower the risk of gestational diabetes.

Key takeaways

Regularly massaging a mixture of wheat germ and coconut oil into your skin helps remove stretch marks permanently at home.

These nutritious oils can break up scar tissue and promote healing, which improves skin elasticity and the appearance of stretch marks.

Staying hydrated, maintaining a healthy weight, and moisturizing the skin are effective strategies to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy or rapid weight changes. 

FAQ

1. What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks result from skin pulled beyond its normal limits, which causes a breakdown of collagen fibers and scar tissue formation.

Stretch marks appear in long, narrow lines or streaks and typically develop on the abdomen, hips, thighs, and upper arms.  

2. What are the causes of stretch marks?

Pregnancy, rapid weight gain, and growth spurts during puberty are the most common causes of stretch marks.

In addition, individuals taking steroid medications and those affected by Cushing's disease are at increased risk of developing stretch marks. 

3. Is it possible to remove stretch marks?

Removing stretch marks with regular oil massages and moisturizing is possible. However, this process takes time, and it may take up to twelve months to improve severe cases of stretch marks. 

4. How can I remove stretch marks permanently at home?

Regularly massaging a mixture of wheat germ and coconut oil into the affected areas for two minutes helps break up scar tissue and promotes skin healing, which can improve the appearance of stretch marks.

5. How do I get rid of stretch marks naturally?

You can naturally eliminate stretch marks by applying coconut and wheat germ oil to affected areas daily. 

Using a wooden cellulitis brush to massage the oil mixture into the skin helps promote blood flow, which is crucial to stimulate healing and collagen production needed to remove stretch marks permanently. 

6. Can you 100% get rid of stretch marks?

Yes, it’s possible to remove mild cases of stretch marks completely. More severe cases can be more challenging to manage, and it can take months or even years of regular oil massages to lighten stretch marks until they become unnoticeable.       

7. Do stretch marks go away fast?

Most stretch marks don’t go away quickly. While the appearance of stretch marks can fade over time, it can take months or even years of regular oil massages to improve their appearance. 

8. Can you actually get rid of stretch marks?

Some stretch marks disappear altogether with a daily routine of massaging and moisturizing the affected areas. 

Stretch marks on older skin can be harder to lighten due to the natural decline of skin elasticity and collagen production.  

9. How do you fade old stretch marks?

Fading old stretch marks can be more challenging than treating newer ones, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help improve their appearance over time.

Stimulating skin healing and collagen fiber formation with coconut and wheat germ oil has been found to improve skin elasticity and help fade old stretch marks.  

10. How long does it take for aloe vera to remove stretch marks?

How long it takes for aloe vera gel to remove stretch marks depends on the severity of stretch marks and overall skin health. 

While some people notice improvement after several weeks of consistent use, others may need months or years to fade and lighten old stretch marks.