Pregnancy and postpartum come with lots of different bodily changes, one of which is stretch marks.
Some women love their stretch marks, while others do everything they can to prevent them and reduce their appearance.
When it comes to stretch marks on the breasts, many women feel uncomfortable with how they look in low cut-tops or even naked.
Thankfully, we have put together a guide outlining thirteen remedies, both home and medical, for reducing the appearance of stretch marks on your breasts.
Ways To Get Rid Of Pregnancy Stretch Marks On Breast, Stomach & More
Pure Butters
When it comes to both preventing stretch marks and reducing their appearance postpartum, moisturizing is key.
While you can certainly use lotions and moisturizers from the drug store, most pure nut body butters will do a better job. In fact, they are specifically recommended for use on stretch marks.
This can include Cocoa, Shea, Almond, and Coconut body butter formulas. Shea butter, in particular, has plenty of Vitamin A in it, which increases skin elasticity.
With any of the butters, using the 2-3 times daily will help soften skin to prevent stretch marks when your skin stretches during pregnancy, but they will also soften existing stretch marks and help your skin to adjust as it shrinks back.
Pure Oils
When it comes to stretch marks, it’s not just appearance you need to worry about. Sometimes, as they heal, your skin will become quite dry, itchy, and irritated.
Pure oils, such as almond, castor, olive, rosehip, coconut, and grapeseed can aid in both reducing appearance and in reducing discomfort.
Coconut oil is especially good for shortening healing time thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, and its ultra-hydrating effects will keep itching at bay.
On the other hand, you may want to try Castor oil to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Castor oil will prevent water loss of the skin, helping it lock in moisture.
Also, it has Ricinoleic acid, which is one of the best natural skin moisturizing ingredients on the market.
Stimulation/Massage
If you want to rejuvenate your skin and improve dermal nutrition, it’s crucial to improve your circulation.
You can start to improve circulation by giving yourself a massage, with or without lotion (although the hydration from a lotion is a bonus).
This will help new tissue grow and replace damaged skin, which could reduce your stretch marks’ visibility.
Specially Formulated Creams/Oils
If you’re not set on 100% pure oil or butter, why not try one of the specially formulated belly oils and butters on the market.
These products will combine many of the pure ingredients listed above as well as other skincare superstars such as assorted vitamins and aloe vera for amplified effects.
Plus, you can reap the benefits of multiple super-moisturizers and skin-savers in one simple step.
Exfoliate
Use an exfoliating scrub, homemade or store-bought, to remove damaged skin and promote regrowth. You can also purchase an exfoliating brush to speed up the process and promote circulation.
Tretinoin Prescriptions
If you are noticing that most over-the-counter products and natural remedies are not helping the appearance of your stretch marks, you may want to talk to your physician about a prescription for Tretinoin.
Tretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A that is often used in medicated cosmetics to help with skin conditions.
It promotes collagen production and skin turnover, which will significantly help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Just be sure to talk to your doctor first if you have sensitive skin or if you’re breastfeeding, as this will not be a good solution for everybody, especially for use on the breasts.
Laser Therapy
If you’ve tried every trick in the book to deal with your stretch marks at home and still aren’t satisfied with the results, you may want to consider a non-invasive clinical procedure.
Laser therapy for stretch marks aims to rebuild college in affected areas. One round of treatment, plus a good moisturizing regiment, should be enough for your stretch marks to fade significantly.
Wells suggested a skincare cocktail to accompany a round of laser treatments to best fade stretch marks.
A round could take a few months to complete, but the sessions themselves are only 15 to 30 minutes, and it’s completely painless.
Products With Retinol
Retinol should be the first ingredient you look for when scoping out a stretch mark repair product.
It will help to even out skin tone, exfoliate, hydrate, and promote collagen production. Over time, this will return your skin to it’s natural, healthy state. Retinol removes dead skin cells and smoothens rough skin textures.
In fact, it is a vitamin A derivative that is often used in anti-aging products for these same properties.
Rebuild Skin Cells With Micro-Needling
If you’re not afraid of the odd cosmetic procedure, why not give micro-needling a try?
Micro-needling is known to be a great option for reducing the appearance of stretch marks or getting rid of them altogether.
This is because the needles stimulate collagen and elastin production in the exact spots where your skin needs to be rebuilt.
There are even some at-home devices for micro-needling, but we recommend leaving it to a professional, both for your safety and the highest chance of success.
Treat Stretch Marks With Fillers
Did you know you can actually use injectable fillers to reduce the appearance of stretch marks?
Poly-L lactic acid and dilute calcium hydroxyapatite can be used to promote natural production of collagen from underneath your scars.
Some fillers last as long as 1-2 years, but a couple of rounds is recommended for the best, long-lasting results.
Homemade Recipes For Pregnancy Stretch Marks
You don’t have to invest a ton of money into your stretch-mark combatting skincare routine.
Whether you would rather go the all-natural route or save a few dollars, you can surely find the perfect recipe to suit your needs.
This way, you’ll know precisely what you are putting on your skin, and you can customize the recipe for your own skincare and scent preferences.
Fatty Cocoa Recipe
This DIY cream is fantastic for use during pregnancy.
It will help keep your skin moisturized and healthy, prevent stretch marks, and help with itching, which is quite common as your belly grows.
It smells like chocolate, which is an added bonus, and it’s safe for postpartum use and sensitive baby skin.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of cocoa butter
- 1/2 lb. pork fat
- 1/2 lb. beef fat
Directions
- Cut the fat products (beef and pork) into 1-inch cubes. Once you have all of your cubes prepared, put them in a simmering pan on the stove, with the heat at the lowest setting possible.
- Add approximately 2 tbsp. of water to help prevent burning. You will know if you’ve added enough if the water just barely covers the bottom of the pan- anything more is too much.
- Render the fat slowly.
- Once the fat is halfway melted, you can add in the cocoa butter. No matter how tempting it may be, do not increase the heat setting to speed up the process. This is important for avoiding burning and maintaining the right texture.
- Once the fat and cocoa butter has melted entirely, remove it from heat.
- Use a lined mesh colander to strain the melted materials in a large glass bowl.
- Place the glass bowl in your freezer and allow it to set for 20 minutes.
- When you remove it from the freezer, there should be a solid layer on top. If this layer is not set yet, put it back in the freezer for ten more minutes.
- Use an electric hand mixer to whip your fat and cocoa butter mixture until you get the texture/consistency of your usual body butters.
- Store in a dark and cool place – or the fridge for an added cooling effect.
Oily Water Recipe
This homemade cream is perfect for mamas who want a DIY lotion that’s multipurpose.
The ingredients are specialized for stretch mark prevention, but they are also optimized for created a high-moisture, wonderful smelling product that you will love to use.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces of unrefined coconut oil
- ¾ ounce of unrefined cocoa butter
- ¾ ounce of unrefined Shea butter
- 6 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
- 6 tablespoons of water
- 2 teaspoons of vitamin E oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 20 drops of cypress essential oil
- 10 drops of grapefruit essential oil
- 10 drops of helichrysum essential oil
Directions:
- Melt the coconut oil, cocoa butter, and Shea butter in a small saucepan over the lowest heat setting possible.
- Wait until the oils are melted completely, then mix in water until smooth and fully combined.
- Remove your oil mixture from the stovetop and continue mixing as it cools. Once you have reached room temperature and creamy consistency, you can stop mixing.
- Once your stretch mark oil mixture is at the proper consistency, add essential oils for scent as well as extra vitamins and minerals.
- Move your oil to a dark-colored container and store it in a cool, dark place.
Oily Butter Recipe
If oil is more in line with your usual skincare routine, this is a super-easy, three-ingredient recipe that is perfect for stretch mark prevention.
Coconut oil is one of the best ingredients on the market for moisturizing and strengthening your skin tissue. The cocoa butter is chalked full of antioxidants that prevent skin damage.
And, lastly, Almond oil will help increase your skin elasticity as it grows and stretches. What more could you ask for?
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 2 Tbsp. of cocoa butter
- 2 tsp. of sweet almond oil
- Essential oil of choice (optional)
Directions
- Use a double boiler (small glass boil perched on top of a pot with boiling water) to heat your coconut and cocoa butter until melted. If you cannot use a double boiler, a saucepan will be fine; just be sure to keep the heat setting as low as you can to avoid burning.
- Remove your bowl of coconut oil and cocoa butter from the stove and stir in your almond oil and a few drops of your favorite essential oil for scent.
- Pour your mixture into a lidded jar and allow it to cool completely.
- Apply daily to your stretch marks to reduce their appearance, or twice daily to your pregnant belly to avoid getting stretch marks.
Preventing Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
The most important thing you can do to prevent developing stretch marks during pregnancy is to keep your skin moisturized.
You can use any hydrating lotion that you like for your skin, but you may also want to find a specialized stretch mark oil or butter with ingredients that promote collagen and elastin production.
This will help your skin to be more elastic and handle stretching better. That being said, there is no foolproof way to avoid stretch marks entirely.
Despite best efforts, some people are more prone to developing stretch marks and will get some anyway.
Every pregnancy is different as well, so you may notice that you get stretch marks in a second pregnancy even if you didn’t during your first, or vice versa.
Reducing Stretch Marks After Pregnancy
Once you have surrendered to the fact that you have gained a stretch mark or two, you might start looking for some quick-fix solutions.
Your stretch marks will “fade” over time, from bright red and purple to a more standard white scarring.
That being said, if you would like to speed up the process or get rid of them completely, there are some steps you can take, both medically and at home.