Stretch Marks

Stretch marks (Striae) commonly appear around the areas of the abdomen, thighs, breasts, buttocks, upper arms and buttocks but can occur anywhere on the body. They are a form of scarring on the skin and are usually caused by excessive stretching of the skin which disrupts normal production of the collagen (keloid scarring). They commonly occur during periods of growth spurts, weight gain and loss, hormonal changes, pregnancy or any area which expands quickly. Initially they are bright purple or red and they gradually fade over years and remain as silvery white streaks on the skin. They may never completely disappear, however there are many ways in which we can help them to reduce in appearance.

LIFESTYLE FACTORS FOR STRETCH MARKS

• Regular Acupuncture sessions to help disperse the scar tissue
• Dermal abrassion
• Skin brush using circular motions every second day. Skin brushing is a great way to stimulate lymphatic movement, break down scarring and promote skin health
• Massage nourishing oils into the area such as Coconut oil, sesame oil, Jojoba oil, Sweet Almond oil, Shea butter, Apricot kernal oil or Rosehip oil

NATURAL THERAPIES FOR STRETCH MARKS

There are many beauty treatments which claim to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, however the problem is difficult to manage and requires addressing over a long period of time as unfortunately there are no miracle solutions. The following are some recommendations which when used over a long period of time may help to reduce stretch marks:

• The essentail oils of Carrot, Calendula, Neroli, Borage seed, Orange or Tangerine when combined with one or two of the base oils above and massaged into the problematic area may help to reduce the stretch marks over time. These are highly nutritious oils which are high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C which help the skin to maintain elasticity.
• Some herbs and nutrients which can promote skin health are Gotu Kola, Vitamin C and bioflavinoids, Vitamin A,Vitamin E, Silica, Zinc and Boswellia