how to get rid of stretch marks naturally jojoba oil rosehip oil shea butter stretch marks

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks Naturally?

Sep 08, 2022

Black/African American woman considering using jojoba oil, rosehip oil, and shea butter for stretch marks.

Stretch marks, stretch marks, stretch marks — everyone has questions about stretch marks and how to get rid of them. At Butter by Q, we are often asked:

What causes stretch marks?
How to get rid of stretch marks on the butt?
Do stretch marks go away?
What is the best natural stretch mark treatment?
How to get rid of stretch marks for men?
What’s the best stretch mark cream during pregnancy?
How to get rid of stretch marks naturally?
How to get rid of stretch marks on thighs?
How to get rid of stretch marks on arms?
What are the best natural products for stretch marks?

While many of the traditional stretch mark creams are proven to be ineffective, new research suggests jojoba oil and rosehip oil show significant promise as a natural stretch mark removal solution. Let’s take a closer look at stretch marks for answers to frequently asked questions.

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What Are Stretch Marks or Striae Scars?

Black man with white stretch marks on the abdomen.

Stretch marks or striae are noticeable indented streaks that can appear anywhere on the body. Stretch marks are created and caused by the tearing or stretching of the skin dermis, which is the middle layer. The dermis has blood vessels, connective tissues, sweat and oil glands, hair follicles, nerves, and other structures.

Stretch marks, striae, or scars occur whenever your skin rapidly shrinks or stretches. Striae scars often appear as bands or lines running across your skin. The most common places are:

Stretch marks on the breasts
Stretch marks on the abdomen
Stretch marks on the butt
Stretch marks on the hips

While stretch marks are not physically dangerous, they can cause problems with your self-image.

What Causes Stretch Marks & Stretch Mark Scars?

Post partum mother with pregnancy stretch marks on the stomach and abdomen.

As the name suggests, stretch marks are caused by the stretching of the skin. The severity of the stretch mark can vary based on an array of factors, including the degree of skin stress and your genetics.

Cortisol Can Increase the Development of Stretch Marks

Another factor that can impact your propensity for stretch marks is the level of the hormone cortisol. If you produce more cortisol, it can weaken the elastic fibers of your skin, which can worsen the presence of stretch marks.

Can Stretch Marks Go Away?

Stretch marks do not require medical treatment and may fade over time. While some stretch marks may never disappear, natural stretch mark creams with jojoba oil and rosehip oil may help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

When Are Stretch Marks Most Likely to Appear?

White man with deep white stretch marks on the abdomen and stomach from weight loss.

You are more likely to develop stretch marks during specific times:

Significant weight gain or loss: Either losing or gaining a lot of weight in a short period of time will usually stretch the skin and lead to stretch mark scars.
Puberty: It’s very likely to develop stretch marks during this period of rapid growth.
Pregnancy: Did you know anywhere between 50% and 90% of women who are pregnant have stretch marks either after or during pregnancy?
Anytime you have rapid muscle growth: If you have significant muscle gain or growth, you may develop stretch marks.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks? Can Shea Butter Prevent & Treat Stretch Marks Naturally?

Shea butter is rich in Vitamin E and Vitamin A — both of which can help improve skin elasticity and boost collagen production. While there is no research that suggests shea butter can remove stretch marks, it can help:

Prevent the development of stretch marks by conditioning and softening the skin.
Reduce itchiness and redness associated with stretch marks.
Prevent additional skin damage

This means that if you are pregnant or experiencing weight gain or loss, you can help protect your skin by using whipped shea butter or raw shea butter.

Jojoba Oil for Stretch Marks

An up close image of stretch marks

While many stretch mark removal creams are proven to be ineffective, jojoba oil shows significant promise as a natural way to remove stretch marks.

What Is Jojoba Oil?

Jojoba oil is a premium oil that doubles as a humectant, which means it works to attract moisture to the top layer of your skin, helping to keep it fresh and hydrated. Jojoba oil is mainly comprised of fatty alcohol and fatty acid compounds. It has a high level of Omega 6 and Omega 3, which are considered to be:

Anti-microbial
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-aging

Jojoba oil has a healthy dose of B-complex and Vitamin E that can help repair skin and restore your youthful appearance. It also includes key minerals like copper, chromium, zinc, and high levels of antioxidants that can leave your skin feeling and looking radiant. Unlike water-based moisturizers, jojoba oil has excellent staying power and provides a long-lasting layer of protection for your skin without the greasy feeling.

Can Jojoba Oil Help Remove Stretch Marks?

Pregnant Asian woman applying whipped shea butter, jojoba oil, and rosehip oil stretch mark cream to belly during pregnancy.

In the study “How jojoba could become a pregnant woman’s best friend,” the effectiveness of jojoba oil to heal wounds was compared against retinol. And the results showed that jojoba oil offered comparable benefits to retinol in wound healing abilities.

This test, along with others, leads researchers and scientists to believe jojoba oil shows exceptional promise in the reduction of the appearance of stretch marks. Jojoba oil has the incomparable ability to mirror the natural sebum in your skin. As such, it will deeply penetrate layers and deliver all of its remarkable healing nutrients with it.

Rosehip Oil for Stretch Marks

Similar to jojoba oil, rosehip oil is a very powerful and exclusive wonder oil that offers a multitude of skin benefits. Specifically, rosehip oil and rosehip-oil-based stretch mark creams are proven to be good for stretch marks.

What Is Rosehip Oil?

Rosehip oil is a very expensive extract collected from the fruit and seed of the rose plant. It contains a power bundle of key nutrients and minerals — essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6), Vitamin A, F, C, carotenoids, and more — which makes it a perfect combatant against eczema and dermatitis. The Vitamin A content helps drive the production of retinol to stimulate collagen production, which boosts the quality and resilience of your skin.

In addition, rosehip oil creates a film over the surface of your skin to hold on to moisture and prevent skin dehydration. Rosehip Oil is also loaded with trans-retinoic acid, a dynamic retinoid that helps your body regulate the production of new skin cells to reduce the likelihood of clogged pores.

Can Rosehip Oil Be Used to Erase Stretch Mark Scars?

Yes! Research shows that stretch mark removal creams and moisturizers with rosehip oil are significantly more effective. In one 2013 study, rosehip oil moisturizers helped significantly remove the appearance of stretch marks in women who already had the scars.

At the same time, rosehip oil can help increase the production of collagen, while improving firmness and elasticity. Rosehip oil can be an viable stretch mark cream that also improves damaged skin and contribute to a younger look.

In another 2015 study, rosehip oil showed excellent results in the reduction of the appearance of post-surgical scars. Those who used rosehip oil twice a day for 12 weeks experienced substantially less redness, atrophy, and discoloration.

Research Suggests Rosehip Oil Can Reduce Stretch Mark Visibility

An Independent Australian research laboratory for reducing scars and stretch marks gave rosehip oil a 10 out of 10 in effectiveness. In the study, 10 separate women used organic rosehip oil two times a day over an 8-week period. The results showed that rosehip oil reduced the appearance of stretch marks by as much as 43% and reduced scarring by up to 41%.

Fact vs Fiction: Stretch Mark Removal FAQs & Myths

A white man with raised red stretch marks on his bicep and arm

There are a plethora of myths and wives tales about how to get rid of stretch marks. However, most of these are just that — myths. Let’s debunk a few common myths surrounding how to get rid of stretch marks.

Can I Use Almond Oil, Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, or Vitamin E to Get Rid of Stretch Marks?

Unfortunately, many of the most popular stretch mark removal substances are not effective, such as:

Vitamin E
Olive Oil
Cocoa Butter
Almond Oil

The ineffectiveness of these commonly suggested remedies is further documented across many studies, including a 2016 study on stretch marks and pregnant women.

Will Tanning Get Rid of Stretch Marks?

Contrary to popular belief, tanning will not get rid of stretch marks. In fact, when you tan to remove stretch marks, they will become more noticeable.

Can Self Tanning Get Rid of Stretch Marks?

Although tanning can highlight and make stretch marks more visible, a self-tanner can camouflage stretch marks and striae scars. To clarify, a self-tanner is a lotion that contains different ingredients that react with the skin to create an artificial tan. However, a self-tanner will not and cannot get rid of stretch marks.

Helpful Stretch Mark Removal Hacks and Helpful Tips

As we previously mentioned, many of the most common stretch mark creams, striae scar lotions, and gels designed to fade marks have proven to be ineffective. If you want to increase the likelihood of stretch mark removal, research suggests you should choose stretch mark removal creams and stretch mark removal solutions with shea butter, rosehip oil, and jojoba oil for maximum effect.

And when it comes to stretch mark removal and reducing the visibility of stretch marks, the “how” is as important as the “what”. Here are a few top tips you can use to remedy and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Treat Your Stretch Marks with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil & Rosehip Oil Early

One of the best ways to reduce stretch marks is to treat them early. This means if you are pregnant, gaining weight, losing weight, or going through any other process where stretch marks are prevalent, the best thing you can do is to nurture and moisturize your skin with shea butter, mango butter, rosehip oil, jojoba oil, and other proven solutions.

Massage Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil & Rosehip Oil Product Into Your Striae Scars

In addition to treating your skin early, it’s about how you apply the product. To maximize the effectiveness of the stretch mark therapy, make sure to take the time to massage it into your skin.

Apply Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil & Rosehip Oil Stretch Mark Twice Daily

Whether you are looking to remove stretch marks or prevent strech marks, it’s important to use the shea butter for stretch marks at least twice a day. As mentioned in the Independent Australian Study, the women applied the solution twice a day over an 8-week period to maximize the effectiveness.

How Much Does Surgical Stretch Mark Removal Cost?

According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS), surgical stretch mark removal and skin resurfacing treatments can cost up to $8,900! One popular surgical stretch mark removal therapy is laser treatment. However, the American Academy of Dermatology strongly asserts that laser treatment can’t get rid of a scar or stretch mark. It can work to make it less visible.

What Is Laser Stretch Mark Removal?

Laser stretch mark removal is actually called laser stretch mark reduction. This therapy utilizes short pulses of light to treat the skin’s support structure and treat stretch marks. Here’s how it works: the laser beams heat the deep layers of your skin, which stimulates the production of collagen without damaging the epidermis.

Does Laser Stretch Mark Reduction Hurt?

Woman with irritated skin from laser stretch mark removal and reduction procedure.

Laser stretch mark therapy usually lasts anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes per session. While this this stretch mark removal therapy is marketed as pain-free, most people report mild to significant levels of discomfort.

Are There Side Effects to Laser Stretch Mark Reduction?

Yes. Man patients report reddening of the skin, slight swelling, and irritation. Some patients even report bruising. However, most patients who receive laser stretch mark removal experience no downtime.

How Long Does Surgical Stretch Mark Removal Take to See Results?

Most people will need anywhere from three to six surgical stretch mark removal treatments to see results. Once treatments are finished, it can take anywhere from three to six months to see the results of surgical stretch mark removal.