Anyone who has had stretch marks knows that getting rid of them is no easy task. Even if you follow a plant-based diet and live a healthy life, stretch marks can be inevitable and a problem, particularly for women. Roughly 50-90% of women can easily develop stretch marks after pregnancy, occasionally causing some women to feel self-conscious. Are they impossible to get rid of, though?
Typically occurring near the hips, thighs, stomach, and breasts, stretch marks can be unforgiving and brutal. We understand that you may have read things that tell you to maintain hydration, diet, or to improve skin elasticity via dry-brushing to get rid of stretch marks. While these tips can help, they may not be as fast acting as you would like them to be.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are caused by the stretching of the skin and an increase in cortisone in the body. Having too much cortisone, which is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, can cause the skin to lose its elasticity. The stretch marks occur in the middle layer, dermis, of the skin. This happens when the connective tissue is stretched beyond its limits, due to rapid growth or weight gain.
Some people swear by stretch mark creams, but it is important to use the right one, so as not to worsen the stretch marks. You need a cream or salve with ingredients that help to moisten your skin and keep it hydrated. We recently stumbled on a recipe that is all natural and helps to hydrate your skin and, slowly but surely, help those stretch marks vanish.
Ingredients for Salve:
- 1 cup raw cocoa butter
- ½ cup virgin coconut oil
- 1 cup castor oil
- ¼ cup sweet almond oil
Instructions for Use:
- Add the cocoa butter and coconut oil to a saucepan over medium heat. Once they are melted, stir in the castor and almond oils. Mix well and then remove from heat. Pour in an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator.
- Once the mixture is cool, remove from the fridge and, using a hand mixer, whip until white peaks form. Store this in a glass jar in the fridge.
- Massage a small amount on your stretch marks once a day.
