Sudden stretching of your skin will make stretch marks to appear. You see those marks because the lower layer of your skin gets ripped due to that stretch of the skin – the scarring takes place in your dermis layer. Since the scarring is a bit deeper, no cream is going to heal the issue completely. However, you can try certain home remedies to improve the appearance of those stretch marks, and something you can trust is coconut oil. Keep reading to learn the real benefits of using coconut oil for stretch marks.

Why Does Coconut Oil Treat/ Prevent Stretch Marks?

Something that makes coconut oil a great treatment option for stretch marks is that it can penetrate deeper into your skin. It prevents stretch marks and plays a role in their removal as well. Coconut oil contains saturated fats that strengthen the cell walls – it also fights free radicals to reduce the appearance of your stretch marks.

Coconut oil for stretch marks is a great option, and it works effectively in treating other skin conditions as well. It treats your skin burns quite effectively. You will have strong, shiny hair when massaged into your hair scalp. It means that along with using coconut oil for your stretch marks, you can use it to get other skin related benefits as well.

How to Use Coconut Oil for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are common during pregnancy. You can prevent those marks by gently rubbing coconut oil twice a day. It is a safe remedy for stretch marks to use during pregnancy. In fact, the use of coconut oil will help soothe, heal, moisturize, and clarify your skin during pregnancy.

If you have already acquired those unsightly stretch marks, you can slather warm extra virgin coconut oil on those marks before going to bed to reduce their appearance. Massage gently to ensure it penetrates deep into your skin. Use lukewarm water to rinse your affected area in the morning. Using this simple remedy for a few weeks will make you notice positive changes with a good glow on your skin.

Tips

Follow these tips to make coconut oil for stretch marks a lot more effective.

• Try to apply coconut oil to the affected area right after you take a shower because that's when your skin is clean and more capable of absorbing the oil.
• Take the right amount of oil to ensure it will absorb completely. You don't want to use too much of it especially when you have oily skin.
• You can also use cocoa butter, olive oil, avocado oil, Shea butter, and emu oil if coconut oil is not available.
• For better effects, create oil blends by combining different essential oils. Mix some cocoa butter, coconut oil, and Shea butter and melt it in a double boiler. Add some vitamin E oil and apply on your skin for better effects.
• Or try making a mixture of coconut oil and olive oil. Add four tablespoons of vitamin E to the mixture with six vitamin A capsules. Use this mixture to massage your skin.

Coconut Oil for Stretch Marks: Other People's Experience

Using coconut oil cannot ensure that you do not develop stretch marks, it just makes the condition less severe and you can combine with other oils to achieve the effect:

"I made a solution by mixing coconut oil, cocoa butter, and almond oil and used two times every day starting in the first trimester. I used it before going to bed at night and soon after taking a shower. It was perfect until my baby dropped and everything went out of control. I experienced itching with intense pain and stretch marks that developed suddenly."

"I used cocoa butter during the first six months of my pregnancy, but then I switched to coconut oil and started using it at least once every day. My tummy was just perfect until the last month. It changed everything and there were stretch marks as well. I still recommend using coconut oil because it feels and smells great. I will continue with its use and hope that it will help reduce the appearance of those marks."

More Tips to Treat/ Prevent Stretch Marks

Using coconut oil for stretch marks will definitely help, but you can try some other things as well to get good results.

1.   Use Castor Oil Packs

Using castor oil may help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Castor oil works quite well to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes, and spots. It helps your skin retain moisture and reduce the effect of stretch marks.

Apply a thick layer directly on your affected area and cover it well with plastic wrap. Use a heating pad to apply heat for 20 minutes. Repeat daily for a few weeks.

2.   Stay Hydrated

Dehydration will make it impossible to get rid of skin blemishes, including stretch marks. Whatever remedy you use, be sure to drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated all the time. This will also help maintain elasticity of your skin and heal scarring as well. You should try to drink at least two liters of water daily.

3.   Stick to a Balanced Diet

You should eat a balanced and nutritious diet that contains vitamin C, vitamin E, silica, zinc, and other nutrients as well. Vitamin C helps with regeneration of connective tissues, zinc helps in collagen synthesis, and silica encourages the production of collagen.  Add more of blueberries, strawberries, carrots, spinach, collard greens, green beans, seeds, and nuts in your diet to provide your body the nutrients it needs to heal your skin.

Also, eat food rich in Vitamin E because this powerful antioxidant prevents any damage to collage fibers and promotes skin elasticity. You will find vitamin E in foods like olives, almonds, avocados, sunflower seeds, spinach, and pumpkins. Vitamin E supplements may also help.