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Will Avocado Oil Fade Stretch Marks?

Hi Tamara,

Stretch marks can affect anywhere on the body and can happen to anyone, including men and skinny people. Stretch marks, also known as striae in medical terminology, typically show up on breasts, upper arms, stomach, legs, thighs, hips, and buttocks.

Stretch marks can vary in color. New stretch marks tend to be pink, purple or reddish brown in color and eventually fades into silver or white streaks when they get older, usually within few months.

Contrary to popular belief, stretch marks are not superficial markings caused by the skin "overstretching". Stretch marks are due to hormonal changes – pregnancy, weight loss, weight gain or puberty – and are actually permanent cracks in the skin that are replaced with scar tissue.

Apart from removing stretch marks with surgery, there are no other ways to erase stretch marks completely. However, you can prevent stretch marks from getting worse. The best home remedy for stretch mark is through regular massages with therapeutic oils such as avocado oil.

Avocado Oil for Skin Care

The versatile avocado oil comes from the avocado fruit pulp, and is popularly used for culinary purposes. Its delicate green color and unique aroma makes it a superb choice for salad dressings, condiment for soups and stews, or as a seasoning agent.

However, avocado oil has many uses outside the kitchen, mainly in hair and cosmetic skincare products.

Avocado oil is a rich source of many skin-supporting vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, and E, all of these antioxidants are essential for skin healing and repair. In fact, avocado has the highest level of Vitamin E compared to fruits such as kiwi, nectarines, grapes, and peaches according to a research from UCLA.

In addition to vitamins, did you know that avocado oil also has omega-3 fatty acids? Omega-3 fatty acids is widely recognized as a superhero to fight skin aging, rejuvenate cells to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.

Avocado oil also contains unsaponifiables (plant steroids or sterols), which have been scientifically proven to minimize age spots, heal scars and soften skin. For this reason, the moisturizing properties of avocado oil is extremely helpful for people with dry skin, mature skin, enlarged rough skin pores, and not to mention, stretch marks.

A recent study shows that avocado oil may increase collagen production in the skin naturally, thereby delaying the effects of skin aging – fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, sagging skin – and maintaining skin elasticity.

Besides, the non-clogging and fast-absorbing avocado oil is said to benefit people with sensitive skin or skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, and solar keratosis. Since it's also gentle, avocado oil can also used to soothe and prevent nappy rash.

How to Use Avocado Oil for Stretch Marks

1. Place 2 tablespoons avocado oil in a small glass bowl. Metal, plastic and wooden containers are not suitable. Some metals (except high grade stainless steel) can react with various essential oils while plastic being porous can absorb the oils.

2. Stir in 7 drops lavender oil and 5 drops chamomile oil. If you prefer, add 3-5 drops essential oil of frankincense, neroli or rose geranium. Calendula, rosemary, tangerine, seabuckthorn, carrot seed and wheatgerm oil also work well with avocado oil to provide good lightening results. Each oil has its own unique nutrients that promotes skin healing and regenerate damage skin tissues.

3. Cleanse your skin with a mild soap and water. Gently massage/rub oils into your skin, concentrating on areas where you've stretch marks. Make sure it's completely absorbed.

To prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, it's best to massage affected areas twice a day, every day with avocado oil. Existing stretch marks should be less visible and your skin becomes smoother in as little as 3 weeks.

Avocado oil can also be used as a skin moisturizer and works better if blended with rose oil, or ylang ylang. It can added to bathtub water along with sweet almond oil for a nice soothing bath.

You might want to check out professionally formulated skincare products that contain avocado oil. St. Barth's is my personal favorite brand and it's available online.

By Tiffany Moore

I noticed some mild stretch marks appear on my buttocks and thighs after weight loss. I've tried various creams to fade stretch marks but I can't seem to get rid of them completely. What's this avocado oil thing everyone keeps talking about? Does avocado oil help fade or lighten stretch marks naturally? I'm really tired of concealing these ugly white lines in tankini! – Tamara, Memphis.

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