Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are considered one of the most common beauty concerns which can develop in both men and women as a result of sudden changes in body size.
Symptoms of Stretch Marks
They appear as pink, red or purple marks on the skin which will fade to thin silvery white or gray color overtime.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Usually they are caused by the stretching of skin and results in dermal layer tears. Although these may heal, the collagen fibers will fail to align properly and leads to stretch marks.
Main Reasons for Stretch Marks
The main reasons for this skin condition are sudden weight gain or weight loss, pregnancy, usage of certain medications, stress, rapid changes in body structures, heredity, etc. The belly, thighs, hips, lower back, breasts, legs, spine, buttocks and upper arms are the common places which are more prone to develop these stretch marks.
Lemon for Stretch Marks
These stretch marks cannot be removed completely but they can be lighten up by using lemon.
Is Lemon Juice Good For Stretch Marks?
Lemons are the best home remedy for treating stretch marks. It is very effective for lightening the colour of the marks and speeds up the natural fading process, plus it doesn’t have any side effects.
Benefits of Lemon Juice for Stretch Marks Removal:
- Lemon helps to exfoliate the skin to remove the dead skin cells.
- It is a natural acidic fruit that strip away the dying skin cells and has enough moisture to help hydrate the skin.
- It has bleaching property which helps to bleach the skin to reduce the redness.
- It is rich in various nutrients which are very beneficial for treating any skin problem by promoting the re-growth of skin cells.
- It has anti-oxidants that help to fight against the free radicals damaging the skin layers.
- It contains alpha hydroxy acids that help in stimulating the collagen production, exfoliates the skin and also promotes the growth of new skin cells and blood vessels.
- It is rich in vitamin C or ascorbic acid and citric acid that lighten the stretch marks. This helps in building up the collagen in the body which repairs and lightens the stretch marks.
How To Use Lemon To Lighten Stretch Marks?
Here we have some effective home remedies for stretch marks removal with lemon. You can use the remedy best suitable for you.
Home Remedies for Stretch Marks
1. Lemon
- Dip a cotton ball in freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Dab it on the stretch marks.
- Massage gently in circular motions for few minutes and allow it to dry naturally.
- Leave overnight and wash it off in the morning.
- Add a little water or rose water to the mixture if you have sensitive skin.
- You can also add aloe vera gel or juice with lime juice and apply.
- Follow this process regularly.
- Or you can directly rub lemon slices on stretch marks.
2. Lemon Juice and Cucumber Juice
- Mix equal quantities of freshly lemon and cucumber juice.
- Apply on the stretch marks with your finger tips or a cotton ball.
- Leave for a few minutes to dry.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water.
- Follow this process regularly.
3. Lemon Juice and Cocoa Butter
- Mix 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and ½ cup of cocoa butter.
- Apply this on the stretch marks.
- Rub gently in circular motion to spread this mixture.
- Let it dry naturally.
- Wash it off with water.
- This process is very effective for the people those who have sensitive or dry skin.
4. Lemon Juice with Sugar And Almond Oil
- Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of almond oil and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
- Apply this mixture on stretch marks and rub it gently for at least 10 minutes.
- Follow this process daily before taking shower for no less than a month.
5. Lemon Juice with Olive Oil And Vitamin E Oil
- Mix 1 teaspoon each of vitamin E and olive oil and ½ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
- Apply this mixture on the stretch marks and allow it to dry.
- Wipe it off properly.
- Do this process for twice a day for at least a month.
6. Lemon Juice and Aloe Vera Gel
- Mix fresh lemon juice and aloe vera gel or olive oil.
- Apply this on the stretch marks.
- Let it dry naturally.
- Wash it off with water and pat the skin dry.
- Continue following this process regularly.
7. Lemon Juice with Turmeric And Saffron
- Mix fresh lemon juice, turmeric powder and saffron together.
- Apply this on the stretch marks especially on the stomach.
- Leave for a few minutes to dry thoroughly.
- This process helps to lighten up the dark contrast of the marks on the stomach.
- Wash it off with water and pat dry the skin dry.
- Repeat this daily.
8. Lemon Juice and Potato Juice
- Mix equal quantities of fresh lemon juice and potato juice together.
- Apply this juice on the stretch marks with the help of a cotton ball.
- Allow it to dry naturally.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water and apply regularly.
Note: You can replace potato juice with tomato juice.
9. Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
- Mix f1/2 teaspoon of resh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of baking powder to make a paste.
- Apply this paste on the stretch marks and allow to dry naturally.
- Use a cloth to scrub the paste.
- You can also add turmeric to the paste.
- Follow this process regularly.
10. Lemon Juice and Vitamin E Oil
- Take vitamin E oil from a vitamin E oil capsules into a small bowl.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice and stir well.
- Apply this directly on the stretch marks and allow it to dry for a few minutes.
- If you have sensitive skin, use some rose water and mix it well.
- Continue this twice a day.
11. Lemon and Olive Oil
- Squeeze the juice from half a lemon.
- Add 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and stir well.
- Apply this on the stretch marks.
- Massage gently for a few minutes and allow it to dry naturally.
- Wipe off with a cloth.
- Repeat the same process regularly.
12. Lemon and Avocado
- Mix a few drops of lemon in avocado paste.
- Apply this on the stretch marks.
- Leave for 15 – 25 minutes and then wash off with warm water and pat dry.
- Repeat regularly.
13. Lemon and Honey
- Mix raw, organic honey and few drops of lemon juice.
- Apply this on the stretch marks.
- Leave it for a few minutes so that the skin will absorb the vitamin C, moisture and other compounds.
- Wash with water.
- Follow this process daily.
14. Lemon and Glycerine
Applying glycerine with lemon is one of the effective methods for treating stretch marks.
- Cut a lemon in half and add a few drops of glycerine on it.
- Rub this lemon on the stretch marks, moving in circular motions.
- Leave for a few minutes and wash it off.
- Repeat twice a day.
15. Lemon Juice and Turmeric Powder
The process of mixing turmeric with lemon juice is very good remedy for treating pigmentation and stretch marks on the skin.
- Mix lemon juice and turmeric powder into a fine paste.
- Apply this on the stretch marks and leave for about 15 – 20 minutes.
- Wash it off with water.
- This process has to be followed regularly.
16. Lime Juice and Oatmeal
- Mix fresh lime juice and oatmeal together to make a paste.
- Apply this on the stretch marks.
- Let it sit for about 15 – 20 minutes or until the paste dries.
- Shower to remove the applied paste.
- Repeat once or twice a day.
17. Lime with Salt, Sugar And Milk
- Cut a lime in half and sprinkle salt over it.
- Rub it on stretch marks for about 2 – 4 minutes and then wash the lime.
- Now pour some sugar in the lime and rub it on the stretch marks.
- Do the same process with milk / cream and let these applied mixture sit on the stretch marks for few minutes until it dries completely.
- Wash it off and pat the skin dry.
- Repeat the same process for at least 2 weeks.
Tips and Precautions:
The following are some tips and precautions about using this lemon juice for treating stretch marks.
- Lemon juice can be applied either directly on the marks or it can be added to other skin care products like moisturizers or body lotion.
- For pregnant women, they can use lemon (a natural extract) in the form of creams that are available in market as a preventive step.
- Never apply this lemon or lime juice before lying in the sun or tanning.
- If you develop stretch marks for no reason you can see, check with your doctor to determine the cause.
- You can also use lemon juice skin wraps that are mixed with baking soda to get rid of stretch marks, scars and imperfections.
- Make sure to apply moisturizer after applying lemon juice on the skin to prevent dryness. Also exfoliate the skin before applying this lemon juice will help a lot in clearing the dead and dull skin cells.