Coconut oil can decrease the appearance and severity of stretch marks, increase the elasticity of the skin, and promote healthy skin overall where applied. As most readers surely know, coconut oil is one of the most popular alternative oils in the world and is widely available for medicinal, cosmetic and culinary applications. This edible oil is rich in a variety of saturated fats, including caprylic, lauric and palmitic acids, among others. One of the most notable facts about coconut oil is how long it can go with going rancid – up to 6 months – since there are so many saturated fats that the substance is unable to oxidize.
This healthy oil is widely used as cooking oil, particularly by people who are trying to reduce their usage of butter or traditional vegetable oil, but it has become popular in recent years due to its role in cosmetic and hygienic products. Coconut oil for the skin and hair has become hugely popular, in addition to the oil’s other uses for alternative medical practices. This oil has a wide range of uses, but its therapeutic effects on the skin earn some of its highest praise, including its ability to diminish the appearance and severity of stretch marks. [1]
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Stretch Marks
Coconut oil is known to remove or reduce the appearance of stretch marks for those who regularly apply the oil, particularly during and after pregnancy, which is when stretch marks most commonly appear.
For those who don’t know, stretch marks are long, narrow streaks or stripes that are a different shade or hue from the skin surrounding them. These streaks usually occur following rapid weight gain or loss, or after a period of rapid growth, such as what happens during puberty. A mentioned these stretch marks are most commonly experienced by pregnant women after they have their child and their stomach returns to normal size. However, many people find these lines or stripes to be unsightly, which is why people are so eager to prevent or remove them. [2]
Coconut oil helps keep your skin hydrated & reduces stretchmarks. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
If you are pregnant, it’s a good idea to apply coconut oil to your stomach and torso during the pregnancy to clarify your skin, as well as in the post-partum period when your body is returning to a neutral state. If you have stretch marks for any other reason, simply apply extra virgin coconut oil to the affected areas, thoroughly rubbing it into the skin, and then washing the same area with warm water in the morning.
When it comes to the skin, as per the USDA, coconut oil contains saturated fats and antioxidant properties that help to diminish the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles, while also boosting elasticity and strengthening cell walls. The saturated fats that are found in the oil can prevent the breakdown of those walls that allow for stretch marks to form. The antioxidant effect of the oil also helps to promote healing and improve the glow, color and general appearance of the skin. [3] [4]
You should be sure to keep a few things in mind when applying this oil for stretch marks:
How to Use Coconut Oil for Stretch Marks?
Apply coconut oil following a shower, or when the skin near the stretch marks is entirely clean. This will help deliver the coconut oil’s nutrients to the cells that need it because the pores will be open and unblocked.
Mix coconut oil with other essential oils or carrier oils to help the efficacy of the remedy; virgin olive oil is a very good option that people choose, and it blends well with coconut oil. [5]
Use only a small amount of coconut oil for the treatment of stretch marks. It is very potent, and if you use too much, your skin will be excessively oily, which can be bad for skin health, and also uncomfortable.
How Long Coconut Oil Takes to Reduce Stretch Marks?
Most people report a noticeable decrease in the appearance or severity of stretch marks after using coconut oil regularly for one month. For pregnant women, it is often recommended to use the oil from months 5-8, when your stomach will be expanded rapidly, and the majority of stretch marks appear. While everybody is unique, if you consistently use this beneficial oil for at least a month, you should be quite pleased with the results!
