Let's talk about the recipes for the best scrubs for stretch marks, how they work and which ingredients are the most effective.
A woman in all centuries has been considered the personification of beauty. It is not surprising that every representative of the fair sex strives to look perfect. Young ladies are ready to undergo any procedure in order to become the owner of a slender figure and velvety skin.
But, unfortunately, many of them forget about home methods that allow them to improve their body. So, a stretch mark scrub will help get rid of unpleasant stretch marks.
Let's turn to recipes that do not require major financial investments, but can still provide excellent results.
How does a scrub for stretch marks work?
Stretch marks (striae) are formed from tears in the elastic layers of the skin. Most often they appear during sudden weight gain (or weight loss). Skin that has lost its elasticity is especially susceptible to the appearance of stretch marks, which often happens due to poor blood circulation, lack of nutrition, and hydration.
Regular intensive peeling of the skin with scrub mixtures, both purchased and “our own production,” can restore firmness and turgor elasticity. Of course, it will not completely get rid of already formed scars, but it will significantly smooth them out in appearance and prevent further formation.
This effect occurs due to the effect of the scrub “microgranles” on the skin:
- gently but intensively cleanses the epidermis of keratinized scales;
- increases blood circulation in the skin, which promotes better nutrition and hydration;
- cell renewal increases the formation of elastin and collagen fibers in the epidermis;
- as a result of accelerated regeneration processes, scars from stretch marks become less noticeable.
Scrubbing properties
Homemade scrubs have a considerable number of invaluable benefits that not only eliminate cosmetic defects, but also significantly improve skin health:
- Cleansing the upper layers of the epidermis from dead skin cells.
- Gives a more natural tone to stretch marks.
- Stimulating collagen production in the area of stretch marks.
- Active renewal of the dermis.
- Increased skin tone, improved blood flow.
- Saturation of the skin with oxygen and active substances, in particular antioxidants, which will accelerate the healing of stretch marks.
- Protecting the skin from the negative influence of the external environment, giving it a soft and velvety effect.
Some types of scrubs help burn excess fat in problem areas. With frequent use, the first results can be seen after a few weeks.
How to prepare and use a scrub for stretch marks at home
Homemade scrubs for stretch marks are prepared using coffee grounds, salt and sugar. To effectively prepare and use a scrub at home, follow these rules:
- The scrub is used after washing. The skin must first be cleansed of dirt and sebum, thoroughly warmed, and moisturized.
- Hands with the composition massage the skin tissue. Places with stretch marks and orange peel are given a thorough massage. The skin should experience warmth and a rush of blood.
- The mass of homemade scrub is slightly warmed before use (the optimal temperature is slightly warmer than the body).
- The exposure time of the scrub is individual (depending on the reaction of the skin), from a couple of minutes to a full massage of 7-10 minutes.
- The mixture is washed off with warm water.
- It is recommended not to wash off the oily film formed from using a homemade oil-based scrub for stretch marks with soap. If necessary, clean skin is additionally wiped with a cloth or paper napkin.
After the cleansing procedure, it is recommended to moisturize the body with cream.
Tomatoes combined with sugar
Tomatoes also contain other beneficial substances:
- Sugar of natural origin;
- Organic acids;
- Vitamins belonging to group B;
- Lycopene;
- Carotene;
- Healthy dietary fiber;
- Minerals;
- Carbohydrates;
- Proteins;
- Vitamin A.
The vegetable is endowed with antioxidant properties. It helps slow down the aging process due to its high lycopene content. The organic acids contained in the vegetable take part in the regulation of the acid-base balance and reduce the risk of cancer.
Products made from tomatoes help improve the condition of the nervous system and normalize metabolism. They have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and diuretic effects. Scrub against stretch marks with tomato helps increase the strength of capillaries.
The preparation process is extremely simple:
- The tomato is cut in half.
- Vegetable pieces are soaked in sugar.
The resulting mass should be applied to the body for 20 minutes. It is washed off with enough warm water.
Top 8 popular homemade scrub recipes for stretch marks
Homemade scrub mixtures are made from natural ingredients. Therefore, they are many times more effective than finished cosmetic products.
Coffee and oils - against stretch marks
For 50 g of any vegetable oil, take an equal amount of coffee grounds. When mixed, a thick butter-coffee mixture is obtained. If desired, add a spoonful of sugar or sea salt to the classic recipe.
Coffee with pepper - down with stretch marks and cellulite
Mix equal parts coffee, honey, and a little oil base. Add ground red or black pepper to the cleansing mixture (no more than 0.5 teaspoon per 100 g). Pepper enhances the heating of skin tissue, eliminating stretch marks and cellulite.
"Salty Sugar"
A homemade scrub made from sugar and salt is effective for stretch marks. They are mixed in equal parts. Sour cream, vegetable oil or honey are added as a base. The consistency should be a creamy mixture that is easy to rub over the skin.
"Lemon coffee"
Lemon juice tones and brightens the skin, which helps smooth out stretch marks and make them less noticeable. To prepare a citrus scrub, add a little olive oil and 20-40 g of natural lemon juice to 50 g of coffee.
Instant coffee scrub
In the absence of natural grounds, coffee scrub for stretch marks is prepared from instant coffee powder or granules. Salt and instant coffee mixed in equal parts are added to 100 g of sour cream to form a thick cream scrub.
But such a mixture is less useful than when using natural ground beans, since in the production of a powder product, coffee loses a significant part of its beneficial nutrients.
Exfoliant mask “Honey Coffee”
Another name for scrub mixtures is exfoliant. The “Honey Coffee” mask will not only nourish the skin, but will also thoroughly cleanse away dead scales.
To prepare a honey-coffee exfoliant, mix honey and coffee grounds in equal parts. A small amount of sour cream or butter is added to the mixture. To get the effect of a mask, keep the composition on the skin for at least 10 minutes.
"Coffee clay"
Cosmetic clay stimulates the regeneration of epidermal cells and will be an effective “partner” in the fight against body skin imperfections. The peeling mixture is prepared by mixing equal amounts of clay and coffee grounds.
The resulting abrasive is brought to the consistency of sour cream with warm boiled water. If desired, add a little oil base to the “Coffee clay” (olive, flax, almond or wheat germ oils are excellent).
Honey and coffee wrap
Wrapping is a procedure of thermal influence on the deep layers of the skin. A mixture of olive oil, honey, coffee grounds, mixed in equal parts, is applied to problem areas of clean, dry skin. The body is wrapped on top with several layers of cling film.
It is necessary to prepare a place in the house to rest during the wrapping procedure. The chair or bed is covered with oilcloth, so as not to stain it with the composition of the mixture, with a clean sheet.
You will need a blanket to cover it so as not to freeze, since the composition must be kept on the body for 15-30 minutes. Then the film is removed, the honey-coffee scrub is washed off with massage movements, and the skin is moisturized.
To better warm up the deep layers of the skin, add a pinch of dried ginger or mustard powder to the peeling mixture for wrapping.
For whom homemade scrubs for stretch marks are contraindicated?
Before using the homemade composition for stretch marks for the first time, a skin test is required. All-natural components can cause an allergic reaction, which will manifest itself as a rash, skin irritation, headache or deterioration in health.
Therefore, a pre-prepared body scrub for stretch marks is used on a small area and the reaction is monitored. If no negative symptoms occur, the composition can be used.
Homemade scrubs for stretch marks are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Injection treatments
Injection methods involve the introduction under the skin of meso-cocktails (with a needle or roller), preparations based on collagen (like collost) or hyaluronic acid. They stimulate neocollagenesis (the ability of proteins to self-form in tissues). For example, collost contains collagen, extracted from the dermis of cattle and improves skin quality. Before such a procedure, an intradermal allergy test must be performed, and after two weeks the doctor evaluates the effect. If the test is negative, injections can be given.
If you choose mesotherapy, consider the possibility of allergic reactions to multi-component meso-cocktails. All of them contain vitamin complexes and drugs that stimulate blood circulation. Usually, before such procedures, the doctor collects anamnesis and checks whether you are allergic to vitamins B, C and nicotinic acid. The likelihood of allergies here is higher than with the introduction, for example, of hyaluronic acid alone.
Mesotherapy reduces both fresh and old scars. Before the procedure, an anesthetic is applied to the skin, and then injections are injected 1-2 mm under it (lasts about 30 minutes). During the day, refrain from taking a bath, going to the pool and sauna, playing sports, and do not wipe the injection sites with chlorhexidine.
Another way to improve the condition of the skin in the abdominal area is to install mesothreads. The threads are designed to strengthen and compact the tissue and are good when excess skin forms on the abdomen after childbirth. In this case, the result of the procedure can be assessed only three weeks after it is performed.
When creating an individual program of procedures, I always take into account the person’s lifestyle, hobbies, and pain threshold. For example, if a girl has just finished breastfeeding and wants to reduce stretch marks, then she will need to come for mesotherapy injections once a week. Will she be able to leave her child so often? Often patients do not make it to the second session - and the result is not the same.
A full range of measures to get rid of stretch marks
A scrub for stretch marks and cellulite is only part of the necessary complex for restoring healthy skin. To restore elasticity and firmness to body tissues, the following procedures are used:
- Daily contrast douches in the morning.
- Massage of problem areas. Self-massage with your hands or using cosmetic cups is effective. It is necessary to carry out 10-15 procedures lasting from 5 to 20 minutes.
- Moisturizing and nourishing the skin with care products (creams, gels, body milk).
- In combination with regular use of a scrub, a set of procedures will prevent the appearance of stretch marks on the skin and significantly smooth out existing scars.
In the fight against stretch marks, peeling of problem areas plays an important role. Body scrub restores blood circulation, promotes rapid cell regeneration, scar healing, and skin rejuvenation.
Constantly using a scrub is necessary not only to get rid of stretch marks, but also for the normal functioning of the skin, maintaining its beauty and healthy, blooming appearance.
Which peeling will remove stretch marks on the body
During peeling, the upper stratum corneum is removed from the skin. Otherwise, this procedure is called exfoliation. She may be:
- mechanical, when exfoliation is carried out with a scrub containing solid particles contained in the product;
- chemical, when the skin is exposed to acids (citric, glycolic, phenolic, TCA, etc.);
- hardware, carried out using special equipment.
The most popular way to remove stretch marks is acid peeling. Thanks to the variety, you can choose the right product for any scar. In addition, it can be done at home. Mechanical peeling is a rather weak procedure and helps with minor defects. Hardware, on the contrary, is a rather serious technique that requires a long recovery.