As the body’s largest organ, our skin goes through quite a beating as we navigate ourselves through life. As the outer sheath that holds our organs in, supports our bones, and protects us from the unruly elements of nature, sooner or later we end up scarred, burned, freckled, rough, and dried out. Unless, of course, we learn to take care of our skin, inside and out.
Pregnancy, rapid weight gain or loss, changes in hormones, and genetics can cause the collagen in the skin to weaken, interrupting and damaging its production cycle, ending in fine scars known as stretch marks. Depending on where they are on the body and how severe, they can be cause emotional upheaval in the mind of the person who has them. We all know what it feels like to have a pimple or an embarrassing cut or bruise where the world can see. Luckily, there are options for every budget. While the scarring has formed from the inside out and may not completely go away, here are some ideas to reduce their appearance.
Easy Salt & Sugar Rub
1 cup raw sugar
1 cup salt
1/2- 2/3 cup palm oil (sub olive oil)
Mix together and store in an airtight container.
Use every night when showering. Rub it into the area desired in a circular motion for 2-3 minutes. Rinse and apply moisturizing cream afterwards.
Coconut Oil & Potato Juice
Alternate Every Other Day
Apply coconut oil directly to skin and massage well to allow the oil to absorb. The saturated fat retains the moisture, while the high vitamin E content will help with the skin’s restoration process. Rinse off after 15 minutes if needed.
Crush a whole, russet potato and extract it’s juice. Apply to skin for 15 minutes and rinse. The concept behind potatoes is the potassium, vitamin C, and B6 content. Potassium helps store minerals; the C reduces cellular damage and assists in collagen production, and B6’s role in protein/carb metabolism helps promote cellular regeneration and tissue repair in the skin. 1
Castor Oil
Castor oil draws out dirt, bacteria, excess oil, and other dead skin cells from the skin.2 Find a quality castor oil and then massage the oil into the skin. Cover with a cotton cloth for 15 minutes and apply a mild heating pad. You can also mix castor and coconut oils together. 3
For Older Scarring
Find a trusted laser service center, like Southwest Institute of Natural Aesthetics (SWINA), and make a consultation appointment with one of our Skin Care Specialists (480-393-1415). In Spa SWINA, our student clinic, we offer laser treatments, such as pixel resurfacing or skin tightening, which will make the most impact in reducing the signs of stretch marks.
Love the Skin Your In
Remember, your skin is part of you, and you are special in every way. No one is perfect, and everyone has insecurities, blemishes, and ages spots — and not just on the skin. Scars reveal a snapshot of your story and your life. The most important thing you can do is take care of yourself every day!
1 http://visihow.com/Vanish_Stretch_Marks_Using_Coconut_Oil_and_Potato
2 http://homeremediesforlife.com/castor-oil-for-acne-scars/
3 http://www.goodhealthacademy.com/health-benefits/castor-oil-for-stretch-marks/
