Almost everyone deals with stretch marks at some point. They’re just a part of life. Many people get them during puberty when they grow too fast. Others develop them if they gain weight too quickly. Almost all pregnant people will develop stretch marks as their abdomen stretches.
Stretch marks are normal and generally do not cause problems. Still, some people dislike them. They make them feel self-conscious. If this is you, then you’re likely searching for a product that reduces the appearance of your stretch marks.
There is good news! Avocado oil is healing, so it can help reduce your stretch marks. Keep reading to find out how.
What Is Avocado Oil?
Avocado oil is a type of vegetable oil that comes from the flesh of the avocado fruit. We create most vegetable oils by pressing the seed of the fruit or vegetable. Avocado oil comes from pressing the flesh of the fruit itself.
Avocados consist of a high proportion of fat, so it makes sense to press the flesh.
Many people use avocado oil for cooking because it’s a healthy fat. It’s like extra virgin olive oil in nutrition, but it has a nicer taste. It’s also very popular in cooking because it has a very high smoking point, making it safe to cook with.
Yet, avocado oil is not used just for cooking. It works well for the skin, too. It has incredible moisturizing, healing, and protective properties. It is also gentle and safe for most skin types.
Avocado oil works so well on the skin that it can reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Yet, we don’t create all avocado oil equal. You can buy either refined or unrefined avocado oil. I will always recommend unrefined because it’s better for your health.
Unrefined VS Refined
Unrefined avocado oil is completely natural. The fruit is cold pressed to extract the oil. The pulp is then spun to separate the oil and the water. You will then use the oil as it is, either for cooking or moisturizing your skin. Unrefined oil is a natural oil that keeps all its valuable nutrients.
Refined oil starts the same way, but it goes a step further. After the spinning process, the unrefined oil goes through a filtering system. This removes the pulp and impurities. This may seem like the better option, but you’re actually removing most of the nutrients as well.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are incredibly common. About 80% of the population develops them at some point in their lives. Stretch marks come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes.
You can develop stretch marks at any point during your life. Yet, some events will trigger them more than others. Stretch marks are common with pregnancy, puberty, and sudden weight or muscle gain.
So, where exactly do stretch marks come from?
Overstretched Skin
Stretch marks appear when the skin becomes overstretched. That’s where they get their name, after all. Our body contains elastin, a protein that allows our skin to stretch.
Of course, it’s normal for our skin to stretch, but too much stretching isn’t good for our skin. The elastin can’t keep up, and that’s where stretch marks come in.
Pregnancy
It’s incredibly uncommon for a pregnant person to not develop stretch marks. Your abdomen grows a lot in a short amount of time. Your body just can’t keep up with the rapid rate of growth.
The abdomen is the most common place to develop pregnancy stretch marks. They also tend to appear around the hips and breasts.
Puberty
Puberty is completely normal and is something that everyone goes through. This might make you wonder why every person on earth doesn’t have stretch marks. Well, some kids grow faster than others.
Kids that go through growth spurts are most likely to develop stretch marks. Like pregnancy, a kid’s body can’t keep up with the sudden change.
Rapid Weight Or Muscle Gain
Maybe you ate too much over the winter holidays. Maybe you’re getting older and your hormones are changing. Maybe you’re going through a hard time, and you’ve been stress eating. Or, maybe you’ve been hitting the gym really hard.
Whichever it may be, rapid weight gain or muscle gain can cause the development of stretch marks.
Genetics
Your genetics also play a part in whether you’ll develop stretch marks. They can also determine how badly your stretch marks may appear on your body. Some people are more genetically predisposed to developing stretch marks.
For example, women are more likely to develop stretch marks than men.
Does Avocado Oil Remove Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are a scar, and scars are notoriously hard to get rid of. It’s unlikely that avocado oil will rid you of your stretch marks for good. Still, avocado oil can reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Is Avocado Oil Good For Stretch Marks?
Although avocado oil can’t remove stretch marks completely, it is helpful. Avocado oil is moisturizing and healing. Just as avocado oil can help heal other wounds, it can help heal stretch marks. To an extent, at least.
How About Using Avocado Oil For Stretch Marks During Pregnancy ?
As I mentioned before, avocado oil can help with pregnancy stretch marks. Avocado oil is a gentle oil, so it is safe for use while pregnant.
I recommend using avocado oil as soon as you know you’re pregnant. The oil will begin to strengthen your skin, so any stretch marks you develop may be minimal.
Don’t be mistaken, avocado oil won’t prevent you from developing stretch marks. It may reduce the severity of your stretch marks, though.
You should continue to use avocado oil throughout your pregnancy. It will continue to reduce the severity of the stretch marks you develop. It will also begin to heal stretch marks as they develop.
Benefits Of Avocado Oil On Stretch Marks
Avocado oil has a lot of benefits, including reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Avocado Oil Is Healing
Avocado oil is the ideal product for stretch marks because it has healing properties. It contains vitamins A, D, and E which help the skin to heal and repair. It is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which aid in skin healing by repairing damaged skin cells.
Collagen is the main protein found in the skin. Along with elastin, it helps keep the skin stretchy and healthy. Avocado oil promotes the production of collagen to help the elasticity of the skin.
Collagen production can repair damaged skin cells. They can also create new, healthy cells. So, damaged skin will heal.
Avocado oil also contains peptides that are soothing to the skin. Peptides help the skin maintain its elasticity. They do this by promoting the formation of elastin and collagen.
Plus, avocado oil contains unsaponifiables, elements that are barely soluble in aqueous solutions. They make the skin softer, heal scarring, and reduce skin discoloration.
Avocado Oil Is Moisturizing
Of course, avocado oil is an incredibly moisturizing product. When the skin is properly hydrated, it is less likely to become damaged. So, you’ll be less likely to develop stretch marks. Hydrated skin also heals faster, so you should begin to notice your stretch marks fading.
Avocado Oil Is Protective
The lipids and fatty acids found in avocados make up the creation of ceramides. Ceramides live in high concentrations in the upper layers of the skin. They help the skin keep its moisture and act as a barrier to the outside world.
How To Use Avocado Oil For Stretch Marks
There are many ways that you can use avocado oil to help with your stretch marks. It’s even a good idea to use avocado oil in your cooking. The oil is so healthy that it can heal your skin from the inside out. Yet, you’ll want to use it topically as well for the best results.
Use It By Itself
Avocado oil is so rich in nutrients that it’s not necessary to combine it with anything else. You can use avocado oil as a moisturizer by itself, and it will begin to heal your stretch marks.
If you’re going to use avocado oil by itself, make sure to choose 100% pure unrefined oil. Unrefined is better than refined because it contains more nutrients. It will be better for your skin, and you’re more likely to see the results you want.
Buy An Avocado Oil Moisturizer
You can also buy a moisturizer that contains avocado oil as an ingredient. This is a popular option because it’s easy and quick. Also, commercially-made moisturizers tend to contain other helpful ingredients.
If you choose a commercially-made product, check the ingredients before using it. You’ll want a product that uses unrefined oil and other natural ingredients. Avoid products that contain harmful chemicals.
Make Your Own Moisturizer
Another option is to make your own avocado oil moisturizer. This option is more expensive and time-consuming, but it’s worth it. You’ll have a product that you’re proud of. Most importantly, you’ll know exactly what’s going into the product you’re making.
Not sure where to start? I’ve included one of my favorite avocado oil moisturizer recipes below.
[mv_create key=”111″ type=”recipe” title=”Avocado Oil Moisturizer Recipe For Stretch Marks” thumbnail=”null”]
Conclusion
Avocado oil is an incredibly moisturizing and healing product. If you use it regularly, you may prevent the formation of stretch marks. If you already have stretch marks, avocado oil can help by reducing their appearance on your body.
It’s not likely that avocado oil will completely prevent stretch marks. It’s also unlikely that it can get rid of your stretch marks completely. Still, it may be able to make them less noticeable.
Being able to reduce the appearance of your stretch marks is likely to make you feel more confident. If you’re ready to get rid of them, think about trying avocado oil.
Discover more ways to use avocado oil for lips, face, hair and skin – especially for wrinkles. Find all our guides to using avocados for your DIY recipes here.
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