If you’re looking for a way to get rid of stretch marks, you might be wondering if essential oils can help. Read on to learn about the best essential oils for stretch marks and how to use them.
Best Essential Oils for Stretch Marks – The Basics
Stretch marks, also known as zebra stripes, can be a real pain both physically and emotionally. They’re unsightly and can show up at any point in your life. Although stretch marks pose no health issues, many people tend to be quite subconscious about them (for aesthetic reasons).
Women are more likely to suffer from stretch marks due to how quickly their skin has to stretch once they hit puberty. Also, stretch marks are a common occurrence during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They may also occur in the first few weeks after giving birth when the body is recovering from childbirth or changing rapidly.
Men aren’t immune to stretch marks, either. Men are most likely to get stretch marks if they’re losing weight at a rapid rate. Genes may also be another causative factor.
Essential oils have been used for several natural treatments – and that includes reducing the appearance of stretch marks. These natural oils are definitely worth the try if you are looking to get rid of stretch marks.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
According to Mayoclinic, stretch marks are caused by stretched skin. The severity of stretch marks depends on many factors, including your genetics and stress on the skin. Another thing that could affect their appearance would be cortisol – this hormone is secreted from adrenal glands which weakens elastic fibers in our tissues making them more susceptible to stretching accidents such as those found with pregnancy or weight gain/loss.
The most common places people tend to experience stretch marks are the Buttocks, Hips, Breasts, Thighs, Stomach and Upper arms.
Best Essential Oils for Stretch Marks
The right oils can make all the difference in reducing stretch mark appearance. You should always dilute essential oils before applying them topically and never use or consume them internally without first consulting a doctor or a certified aromatherapist.
The following list includes essential oils that may be effective at getting rid of stretch marks – just be aware that some people may react differently than others. So, be sure to do a patch test on a smaller area of your skin prior to using essential oils topically.
The best essential oil to reduce stretch marks are:
1. Lavender Oil
The amazing effect of lavender oil not only calms and reduces your anxiety, but it helps in wound healing and mark reduction.
Research has shown that it can reduce scars, facilitate wound healing and even lighten skin discoloration caused by these unwanted marks on the skin. The anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of lavender will soothe the skin while fighting future inflammation.
2. Neroli Oil
This amazing essential is made from the same tree that the bitter orange oil is made from. Studies have found that this awesome essential oil has powerful antioxidant properties – and along with this, it has great skin lightening properties. These paired together help reduce the visibility of stretch marks and allow skin cells to regenerate. The regeneration of cells will improve your skin’s overall appearance.
3. Bitter Orange Oil
This wonderful oil is extracted from an orange peel. Multiple studies suggest that this healing essential oil may condition and even tone your skin. Bitter orange oil is also said to prevent your skin from being too fragile. This means that you’re more likely to have a reduction in the appearance of stretch marks on your skin.
4. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense oil has been used for thousands of years and has stood the test of time at proving its beneficial properties.
This essential oil has great healing properties that can help your skin feel and look softer and healthier. Frankincense has been known to absorb much quicker into the skin than any other essential oil. It also has vitamins and ferulic acid that assist in providing antioxidant benefits to the skin.
5. Helichrysum Oil
Helichrysum essential oil has been used to treat a wide range of skin conditions, including acne and eczema – and is also a natural anti-aging treatment. It can be used to help prevent wrinkles and nourish dry skin/hair. The protein peptides found in helichrysum plants promote collagen production for a healthy-looking complexion!
Some people swear by using a combination of helichrysum and coconut oil to help treat stretch marks. Helichrysum has been shown in clinical trials as an effective ingredient for improving skin texture, elasticity, or appearance when applied topically on the skin surface.
6. Patchouli Oil
There are a lot of people who use patchouli essential oil as an ingredient in their favorite natural beauty products. It has been reported to have skin-healing, calming and antioxidant properties that help promote healthy-looking skin on the surface level or deep within the pores.
These benefits make it perfect for use on its own but it also works great when mixed with other oils such as lavender – which helps prevent acne breakouts and soothes redness caused by inflammation.
Other Important Uses of Patchouli EO
According to research published in Pubmed, patchouli oil is used in aromatherapy to help reduce tension, insomnia and anxiety. Its wine-like, intoxicating aroma functions as an aphrodisiac and helps to sharpen intelligence, improve concentration, and provide insight. Spiritually, it is used in incense sticks as it helps to create a calming atmosphere.
An aromatherapy oil blend of patchouli, with jasmine, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, rose and vetiver can definitely inspire clarity and a harmonious flow of energy that interacts with thyroid glands and balances hormonal secretion.
The vaporized mixtures of essential oils (patchouli, orange, ylang-ylang, rosemary, basil, peppermint, geranium, bergamot, rosewood, chamomile and jasmine) reduced disturbed behavior among 10 patients with dementia.
The physiological responses such as blood pressure, pulse rate, stress index and brain waves were reduced after sniffing patchouli oil odor. This suggests that patchouli oil odor improves mood and possesses curative effects when its fragrance is inhaled by humans.
Best Oils for Stretch Marks
1. Pomegranate oil
Pomegranate oil is an excellent way to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This great oil is believed to have good levels of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The antioxidants in pomegranate protect against free radical damage that can cause wrinkles and skin discoloration.
Researchers have discovered that when you add a couple of drops to your cream and use this on your skin twice a day, you’ll naturally increase your skin’s elasticity and thickness. These are essential when it comes to minimizing the appearance of stretch marks.
2. Argan Oil
The beautiful and famous oil that is made from the tree kernels. Researchers have found that this great oil improves the elasticity of your skin which may reduce the visibility of existing stretch marks or prevent stretch marks from developing.
3. Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is an excellent way to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It contains vitamins A and C, which help with collagen production and battles scars by improving skin elasticity. Vitamin A helps to reduce the appearance of scarring and evens out skin tone. Rosehip oil may also treat acne breakouts due to its anti-inflammatory properties that soothe redness caused by inflammation or irritants.
Essential Oils Safety
Many of these essential oils have been tried and tested by dermatologists and many of them do state that you should do a patch test before using any of these oils on your skin. Do a patch test for 24 hours to ensure that you’re not allergic to any of these oils. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before using any essential oils on their bodies.
Final Thoughts
There are many products on the market that can help with stretch marks, but not all of them work for everyone. It is important to find a product that works best for your skin type and one you’re most comfortable using. Fortunately, essential oils have been shown to reduce the appearance of stretch marks if used correctly and we have listed some of the best essential oils for stretch marks in this post. You may have to do some trial and error before you find the best oils for your skin.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stretch-marks/symptoms-causes/syc-20351139
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4880962/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25762161/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5954905/
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/rosehip-oil-for-face#firming
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5801908/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805555/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11902802/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7074153/