Tuesday 3 March 2015

DEALING WITH SCARS AND STRETCH MARKS

Are you also sick and tired of "over the counter" lotions and lotions and creams that claim to get rid of stretch marks? No only are they futile they are very pricey and waste both our time and money.

For those who do not know stretch marks are a form of scarring on the skin as a result of rapid growth or rapid weight change.Stretch marks are better treated when they are fresh, with time stretch marks will heal but they leave a silvery white lines on your skin.These silvery lines are hard to treat and require expensive procedures like laser and surgical treatments but you don't have to worry because home remedies are a better option as they are cheap readily available in most homes.

 I put up a list of cheap affordable remedies that are popularly used but note that results will vary as we all have different skin types. These will not work if you do not hydrate so make sure you always apply moisturizer to your skin and drink lots of water.
Here is what you can try:


1.Consume vitamin K nutrients

Vitamin K prevents scars on the middle layer of the skin (dermis) so regular intake of this vitamin will help reduce and prevent scarring thus you will not have stretch marks. Vitamin K is present in green vegetables like cabbage,cucumber etc.

2.Sugar and lemon juice scrub

Sugar is one of the cheapest home remedies you can find. Mix a 1-2 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, or you just can add enough to make the sugar moist but don't add too much liquid as the mixture will become runny Gently rub twice daily on the affected area for a good 5-10 minutes and wipe off with a clean towel or take a shower. To save time make the scrub in a larger quantity and store it in the bath room that way you always apply it before you bath.

3.Oats scrub

Oats is a popular cereal in most kitchens so for those who do not like oats here is what you can do with it. Mix 2-3 tablespoons of oats with some hot water(not boiled) then apply a thin coat to the stretch marks, make sure you apply it while its still warm as this will open up your pores and wait till for at-least 5 minutes then wipe with a damp cloth or take a shower and apply some hydrating moisturizer after.

4.Raw potato juice

Ingesting fries may be bad for your waist but raw potatoes are very rich in vitamins and minerals which restore our skin cells. Grate a raw potato and squeeze out the juice then apply it over the stretchmarks until it dries off the wipe off with a damp cloth.

5.Olive oil,castor oil and tea tree oil

Especially if you have itchy stretch marks, wash the affected area with warm water and massage with any of the oils above to reduce more stretch marks from forming and also reduce the existing ones. You can create your own special oil by mixing the oils together or just using any of the oils to moisturize your skin.

6.Egg whites

Egg whites are rich in amino acids and protein which will help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Separate the egg and loosen up your egg whites with a fork then apply to stretch marks daily for at least two weeks. For better results you can do this twice daily until you get desired results.

7.Lemon and glycerin scrub

Mix two parts (2 tablespoons) of glycerin with one part (I tablespoon) of lemon juice and apply twice daily to affected area.

8.Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is the most effective stretch mark remedy and it is used globally. Raw aloe Vera is the most effective of all so cut a leaf and squeeze out the juice and store it in a nice container and rub daily to affected area for a minimum of 4 minutes and wipe with a damp cloth

Other useful remedies and tips you can try include the following

  • rub vicks or vaseline on the stretchmarks
  • avoid scratching the stretch marks when they are itching
  • drink water regularly (8-10 glasses daily)
  • eat foods that are rich in vitamin c, protein and zinc eg, milk,citrus fruits and fish
  • apply cocoa butter or shea butter regularly
  • apply apricot paste on to stretch marks twice daily
  • Use folic acid to reduce the appearance of stretch marks
Please note that it might take time to see results so do not give up. Please follow and share.Happy reading.

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photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99833874@N00/288481506">'allo vera!</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>