Your skin is like a rubber band, it’s flexible. If you pull too far it breaks. Rapid weight gain expands your skin, but connective fibers under skin breaks; collagen grows in the place forming reddish marks, known as stretch marks. Also known as striae, according to Medline Plus, these marks fade over time. Anyhow, you can try home remedies like aloe vera for stretch marks.
Bitter truth is you can’t completely treat stretch marks with aloe vera gel. It may lighten its appearance. Based on article on Medline Plus, there is no specific cure for stretch marks. Avoiding rapid gain may reduce these marks. (1)
Pregnancy, puberty, obesity, cushing syndrome and over use of cortisone cream may lead to stretch marks. Common places of striae are on breast, hips, flank, buttocks and abdomen.
Also read: Benefits of aloe vera gel for skin
Aloe Vera for Stretch Marks
All nutritional properties of aloe are packed in its succulent leaf that contains gel. Aloe vera gel is extracted from aloe leaf by peeling its skin. You can blend aloe gel to make juice out of it. Else, you can have store bought aloe gel. Assorted antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties in aloe vera gel made it renowned remedy for soothing skin. 75 active constituents like vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars and amino acids, strive to soothe your skin and enhance collagen production. (2)
Also read: Aloe Vera Gel Face Mask Recipes
According to Everydayhealth.com, topical application of aloe vera gel on stretch marks at initial stages can limit its growth. Anti-inflammatory agent in aloe gel acts to reduce inflammation or aids to limit its growth.
Mayoclinic.com rates, aloe gel for stretch marks and wounds with a ‘C’, on a scale of A to F. Though some studies proved its effectiveness at healing striae, others have shown no evidence.
If you’re allergic to aloe vera, avoid using it or test with small quantity before trying.
Must read:
Does Aloe Vera Help Stretch Marks?
May be! Mayo Clinic states, creams which claim to treat stretch marks include ingredients like cocoa butter, vitamin E is not harmful but they’re less effective at treating striae. Alternatively, just leave it and they disappear naturally. (3)
Lack of conclusive evidence, make aloe vera less effective remedy for stretch marks. As it has no harm, you can use it and see how it works.
How to apply Aloe Vera on Skin?
Get fresh aloe leaf; wash it to remove mud and oozing aloe rinse. Slice its borders and peel its skin to get aloe gel. Wash your stretch marks and start rubbing the gel over it. Use it regularly at-least once in a day. (Here is a simple guide on how to use aloe vera for face)
