Remember the joke in which the woman promised to provide for the man on the condition that he would wash, clean, cook every day; sacrifice their health and beauty in order to give birth to a child; will sit on maternity leave for many years and meet her, his wife, always in a good mood? We are sure that in the modern interpretation of the joke, the heroine would also “share” stretch marks on her body with a man. Because you can change everything: lose weight, strengthen your hair, make an appointment with the dentist. But only stretch marks, like a true friend, will not leave a woman until the end of her days. They will become less noticeable over the years, but striae can be completely removed only together with the skin on the abdomen. And this is plastic surgery with a certain risk to health. No, no, we do not urge you to go under the surgeon's knife. On the contrary, we want to talk about olive oil for stretch marks. It is enough to master a few tricks and remember a couple of recipes in order to prevent the appearance of stretch marks or make them less noticeable.
Prevention
As a rule, a woman begins to deal with stretch marks in the first months of pregnancy. After all, striae appear from a sharp increase in weight. And if numerous diets help to overcome extra pounds in everyday life, then during pregnancy you will not starve yourself. On the contrary, a woman will eat for two and enjoy her appetite. What can not be said about the appearance of stretch marks. Perhaps, not a single expectant mother perceives the presence of burgundy stripes on her body with great enthusiasm and tries in every possible way to avoid their appearance. Well, we, in turn, will suggest a couple of proven recipes for dealing with stretch marks.
The simplest example of preventing stretch marks is to lubricate the body with olive oil in the morning and evening. Many women complain that after such a procedure, an oil film forms on their body. This is easy to avoid. You just need to wipe the body with a paper towel a few minutes after the oil rub. Don't be afraid to remove all the oil. Your body has already absorbed it as much as it needed, and the excess remained on the surface.
But it’s still better to complicate the body lotion recipe. Olive oil for stretch marks is good, but it does not have all the beneficial properties necessary for the skin. Therefore, the next time you are going to rub your body with olive oil, add lemon juice to it in the proportion of 1 lemon to 4 tablespoons of oil.
Olive oil for stretch marks: treatment
It is worse when you have to deal with stretch marks that have already appeared. Especially if several years have passed after childbirth (or a sharp weight gain). Doctors say that the older the stretch marks, the more difficult it is to remove them. Moreover, deep stretch marks will not completely disappear from the skin, but only change color and shape. And that's with proper care. Therefore, if you decide to seriously deal with skin imperfections, we advise you to stock up not only with olive oil, but also with unlimited patience. But this is not all the ingredients that will be useful to you in the fight against chronic stretch marks.
Sour cream mask recipe
In the first case, you will need:
- zest of one grapefruit;
- 150 grams of low-fat sour cream;
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Method of preparation: mix all components and apply on problem areas of the skin for half an hour. Wash off with cool water. Repeat the procedure 3 times a week.
Aloe mask
If the previous method of dealing with stretch marks did not suit you in some way, we offer the second version of the body mask. For this you will need:
- 8 drops of vitamin E (it can be freely bought at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription);
- 0.5 cups of aloe juice;
- 0.5 cup olive oil
Mix everything and let it brew for several hours. Apply the mixture to the body twice a day. Wash off with cool water.
For striae "with experience"
Another simple way to get rid of old stretch marks. Of the ingredients, only an oil solution of vitamin A and olive oil for stretch marks. Mix the two components in a 1:1 ratio and rub the resulting mixture every day before going to bed.
Essential oil mask
This recipe is useful for lovers of aromatherapy, as the lotion is based on essential oils. It consists of:
- Essential oil of lemon, juniper and lavender - 3 drops each;
- Olive oil - 20 milligrams.
Mix everything and apply a thin layer on stretch marks. Recommended as a daily treatment for stretch marks. By the way, the lotion is much more effective after taking a shower, when the skin is degreased, and essential oils can penetrate deep into the structure.
Coffee peeling
This time we bring to your attention not a body mask, but a homemade peeling designed to even out the surface of the skin and thereby smooth out stretch marks. This method can be combined with any of the above masks or regular olive oil for post-peeling rubbing. So, for an exfoliating agent, you will need:
- Honey (natural) - 100 grams;
- Olive oil - 100 milligrams;
- Ground coffee - 200 grams.
Mix all ingredients. Apply to the body before bathing. Rub in with massaging movements. Wash off with warm water.
By the way, olive oil against stretch marks is ideal for nursing mothers, since stretch marks often occur not only on the abdomen and thighs, but also on the chest. Doctors usually prescribe medical creams in such cases. But before applying the cream to the body, imagine that the chemical composition of the product will enter breast milk, and from there into the baby's body. Do you need it? Whereas olive oil is completely natural and will not harm either you or your baby.
I wrote this post at the request of my reader.
The problem of stretch marks or striae is familiar to many of the fairer sex.
But in some, due to personal genetics, striae are not noticeable at all, while in others these ugly stripes and scars are actively expressed, which negatively affects the psycho-emotional state.
The systematic use of ordinary olive oil can act as a prevention against stretch marks.
From this article you will learn:
Olive oil for stretch marks - useful properties and secrets of application
What are stretch marks (stretch marks) and the reasons for their appearance on the body
Stretch marks (striae) are reddish or whitish lines where the skin is stretched.
Stretch marks can form due to hormonal failure, when the skin loses its former elasticity and is not able to withstand all the stress.
Another factor that provokes the formation of stretch marks is a very large load on the skin.
Stretch marks can also appear for the following reasons:
- Rapid weight gain, obesity.
- During pregnancy.
- Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome (this is a pathology of the endocrine system).
Stretch marks appear for genetic reasons and as a result of prolonged use of glucocorticoids.
How does olive oil work on stretch marks?
Using a natural product in home skin care is an excellent remedy for the prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy and against stretch marks that have already begun.
When applied, the oily product locally increases blood circulation and triggers cell regeneration processes, in particular connective tissue, and due to the presence of oleic acid, it can affect the restoration of the skin in its deep layers.
During pregnancy, the application of oil softens the skin, makes it more elastic, which serves as a good prevention of stretch marks.
It is worth noting that olive oil from stretch marks as part of masks or creams should be spread, massaging problem areas well.
If stretch marks are in a very neglected state, you need to sign up for a course of professional massage.
Methods of application and recipes
How to use olive oil to remove stretch marks:
- Stage one - scrub
The first step is to prepare the epithelium for the perception of nutrients by cleansing the keratinized cell layer.
To do this, it is possible to make an effective home scrub, or to exfoliate the skin using a hard sponge.
To prepare the product, it is possible to mix 100 grams of ground, honey and.
The composition should be applied after rinsing in the shower, and on problem areas until they turn red, and then rinse with water.
Such peeling normalizes blood circulation, provides blood flow to problem areas and starts the process of epithelium restoration.
This procedure should be done in the evenings every day.
- Step Two - Applying Olive Oil
After the procedure, an oil product should be applied to the cleansed and dried body massaging the problem areas.
For greater effectiveness of the procedure, you can prepare masks for stretch marks based on olive oil.
- Mask for stretch marks from - aloe, olive oil with vitamin E
The following recipe will help to make less running striae well -,olive oil with vitamin E for stretch marks.
To make 0.1 l of an oil product, pour 100 ml of aloe juice and add 7 drops of vitamin E (you can buy it at a pharmacy).
Mix all the ingredients well, pour into a glass container and put in the refrigerator. It is necessary to apply 2 times a day, rubbing the affected areas. The prepared composition is enough for about 7 days.
This recipe may be prepared without the addition of aloe juice. Vitamin E in symbiosis with an olive product perfectly fights defects in the mammary glands and abdomen (0.65 g of vitamin is needed per spoonful of oil).
- Badyagi mask with olive oil for stretch marks
Who can harm - contraindications
The only contraindication is the presence of an allergic reaction.
In conclusion, it should be said that olive oil has many healing qualities. Therefore, it is useful to use it not only for cosmetic purposes, but also inside, adding to food.
After all, beauty is directly dependent on external and internal factors.
Alena Yasneva was with you, bye everyone!
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes many changes that disappear after childbirth. And only one sign remains for a long time and in the future may indicate that the woman once carried a child. It's about stretching.
Stretch marks
Stretch marks are a characteristic companion of bearing a child. Their official name is striae gravidarum, meaning "pregnancy stripes".
They are found in more than 80% of expectant mothers. Favorite places of localization of these changes are the mammary glands and the abdomen. They are also often found on the buttocks and thighs. Sometimes stretch marks can be seen in the knee area.
They come in different colors:
- purple with a bluish tint;
- red;
- pink;
- white;
- with pearly sheen.
The color changes depending on how long ago the stretch marks were formed. The mechanism of their formation is rather complicated.
Formation mechanism
Previously, there was an opinion that the formation of stretch marks is based on the usual mechanical stretching of the skin. However, this theory was later revised, since in people with tumors of the abdomen or a significant increase in its volume due to ascites, such changes were not observed.
Subsequently, it was found that the mechanism of formation of striae gravidarum is more complex than it seemed.
During pregnancy, the skin is not only mechanically stretched. It undergoes various changes at the biochemical level, which affect not only the underlying muscle layers, but the subcutaneous fat. When carrying a child, a significant amount of fat is deposited in these areas, and the fiber itself is loosened.
When the abdomen, thighs and mammary glands increase in volume, the skin is stretched and torn in deep layers. Through these gaps, blood vessels begin to shine through. It is this phenomenon that explains the purple-red color of newly formed stretch marks.
Over time, regenerative processes occur in the skin, and the gaps are filled with connective tissue. This gives the stripes a white color, sometimes with a pearly tinge.
Stretch marks are based on atrophic changes in the skin.
Risk factors
It has long been noticed that in pregnant women, stretch marks are expressed in different ways. For some, these are wide stripes, saturated in color, which, after childbirth, significantly deform the skin of the abdomen and cause wrinkles. In others, they are barely noticeable and only in certain lighting conditions. There is a small percentage of lucky women who do not develop stretch marks at all.
What is the reason for such a variety of manifestations? There are risk factors that make it possible to predict the nature of skin changes with a high degree of probability. These include:
- Heredity. If the mother and grandmother had stretch marks, the daughter is unlikely to be able to avoid this fate.
- Sharp weight gain. Excess subcutaneous fat, which is deposited quickly, leads to microtears in the skin.
- A sharp increase in the volume of the abdomen, hips, chest. At the same time, the skin is also stretched too intensively and this is manifested by the appearance of stripes.
But even a combination of all three factors does not mean that stretch marks will inevitably appear. If preventive measures are taken in time, unaesthetic skin changes can be minimized.
Fighting methods
No woman wants to have a lot of stretch marks. Even when there are few of them, pink and white stripes on the belly and chest do not add beauty.
With such "traces of pregnancy" it is difficult to wear short clothes and sunbathe on the beach in an open swimsuit. In addition, numerous stretch marks give the skin a flabby appearance.
Despite the fact that they fade over time, they are clearly visible in any light.
In cosmetology, there are a huge number of different options for dealing with these skin changes - from the use of topical agents to skin resurfacing. However, you can fully use this arsenal only after childbirth, and more often - after the end of breastfeeding, because most methods are contraindicated during pregnancy.
But once stretch marks have already formed, getting rid of them is almost impossible. Skin atrophy cannot be cured, these changes can only be smoothed out somewhat, made visually less noticeable.
That is why it is necessary to start fighting the problem even before it occurs. Prevention is the best way to keep your skin even and smooth. And this does not always require expensive cosmetics. Moreover, they are sometimes undesirable when carrying a baby, as they can cause allergic reactions. It is much better to use natural remedies - safe and inexpensive. These include olive oil.
Olive oil
The benefits of olive oil have been known since time immemorial. Even then, women applied it to the skin so that it was elastic, smooth and silky. Why is this product so useful?
Olive oil contains a large amount of oleic acid esters and triglycerides of various fatty acids. In addition, it is rich in the following vitamins:
- E (tocopherol).
- A (retinol).
The undisputed leader is tocopherol, which is present in this product quite a lot.
Contains this oil and beneficial trace elements. The most important among them are:
- Calcium.
- Magnesium.
- Sodium.
- Potassium.
- Phosphorus.
Olive oil not only softens and moisturizes the skin, it saturates it with essential substances. It is vitamins A and E that are responsible for her health and beautiful appearance. These substances prevent micro-ruptures of the skin, its thinning and aging. It becomes smoother and more elastic, and even mechanical stretching due to an enlarged abdomen or chest is not able to harm the skin too much.
However, you need to be careful when choosing this product. Not every olive oil is equally effective in fighting stretch marks. In addition, fake products are quite common lately.
Product selection
The selection of olive oils today is impressive. Not every expectant mother can determine what kind of product she is holding in her hand, even after carefully reading the label. It comes from different manufacturers and is produced under different names.
In fact, there is no urgent need to understand all the nuances of this product, but the main types and manufacturing technologies still need to be presented. Olive oil can be conditionally divided into 4 groups:
- extra virgin.
- "Olive oil".
- Second cold pressed product.
- Lamp oil.
It is worth noting that all of them have the right to exist and are successfully used, mostly in cooking. For topical application, these products are even more suitable. They differ in the quality of olives, the technology of preparation and the content of nutrients.
extra virgin
Extra virgin product can be safely attributed to the most natural. Its production does not involve chemical processing or exposure to heat. No preservatives are added to it.
This oil is similar to fresh - freshly squeezed fruit juice. Its manufacturing technology is cold pressing.
The nutritional value of such a product is the highest, as is the content of vitamins. It can be successfully used against stretch marks and wait for a good effect.
The downside of this tool can be, perhaps, only the price. It is not cheap.
Extra virgin olive oil can be stored for a long time - from one and a half to two years. And given that not so much is spent on lubricating the skin, a standard liter capacity can be enough for a long time.
The words "Extra virgin" must be indicated on the label.
"Olive oil"
The product “olive oil” refers to a mixture of refined oil and extra virgin oil. Moreover, it contains up to 85% of the first, and only 15% of the second.
However, this does not mean that such a product is much worse. On the contrary, it is successfully used in cooking due to its milder taste. Yes, and the cost is much lower. But if we talk about the content of nutrients and especially vitamins, then their content is not so high here.
"Olive oil" can be used against stretch marks. It will also soften the skin and make it softer and more resistant to tearing. But it will be more difficult to achieve good saturation with vitamins E and A using this remedy.
Second cold press
In the technology of manufacturing this oil, the action of high temperature and solvents is used. This method affects the content of vitamins and trace elements in it, their number is significantly reduced.
In the future, to improve the taste, it is mixed with Extra virgin, which allows you to somewhat even out the balance of nutrients. And yet it is significantly inferior to the first grade in its ability to fight against stretch marks.
The second cold-pressed oil is inexpensive, due to which it is accessible to most people. In the absence of another option, it is quite suitable as a prophylactic against the appearance of stretch marks.
lamp oil
Sometimes on sale you can find a special product - lamp oil. Oddly enough, but it is also made by the first cold pressing without preservatives and high temperatures.
However, substandard olives are used for its production - they are usually harvested from the ground or of poor quality.
You should not use this oil against stretch marks during pregnancy.
fake oil
Given the popularity of olive oil, it is not surprising that counterfeit products have increased in recent years. Usually scammers add rapeseed oil to them, due to which the volume increases significantly.
However, the usefulness of such a product is highly questionable. In order not to use a fake, you need to purchase oils only from trusted manufacturers and carefully read the composition on the label. You also need to consider cost.
Diluted olive oil will always be the cheapest of its kind. Pregnancy is the period when mother and child are most vulnerable, so you should not even save on cosmetics.
Mode of application
Using olive oil for stretch marks during pregnancy is quite simple. Before applying, it is advisable to take a shower to cleanse the skin. It is not worth wiping dry. The product is most effective when applied to slightly damp skin.
With light and gentle movements, you need to rub the olive oil until it is absorbed. Then the area of the chest, abdomen and thighs is best blotted with a paper towel to remove excess.
It is advisable not to wear clothes for some time after rubbing in the oil, then it will certainly not get dirty.
This procedure should be repeated 2-3 times a day and always before going to bed. It should be remembered that olive oil has a characteristic smell, so before going to a visit, cafe or shop, it is better not to use it or replace it with a refined product.
The sooner a woman begins to lubricate the skin with olive oil, the better the result will be. When stretch marks are already formed, it can take more than a year to get rid of them, and you can still notice white-pearl thin stripes.
Therefore, if future parents are planning a pregnancy, it is worth preparing the skin even before conception. If the pregnancy turned out to be a surprise, these procedures should be started as soon as the test became positive.
Ingestion
Do I need to take olive oil internally to prevent stretch marks? Of course, it does not have a direct effect on the skin. But this useful product saturates the body with vitamins A and E, without which the normal condition of the skin is impossible.
Olive oil can be added to salads and soups or used for frying. Some replace butter with it and add this product even to cereals.
It is only important to observe the measure, since it is rich in fats, although of plant origin. In addition, do not forget that olive oil is contraindicated in cholelithiasis, as it can aggravate the disease.
Alternative
However, sometimes a situation can happen when, for some reason, olive oil is not suitable for the expectant mother - for example, it causes an allergic reaction in her.
In this case, do not be upset. You can use an alternative remedy - sunflower oil.
If natural herbal remedies are also contraindicated for a pregnant woman, the modern pharmaceutical market offers a huge selection of cosmetics. Among them, the most popular are creams for stretch marks of the following brands:
- Vichy.
- Chicco.
- Veleda.
However, it should be remembered that although these ready-made cosmetic products are easier to apply, absorb faster and smell better, there is still no worthy alternative to natural olive oil.
Olive oil is extremely beneficial for pregnant women. It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, polyphenols, tocopherols, vitamins, etc. In particular, vitamin E in olive oil accelerates cellular regeneration. It can be found in almost all cosmetic products for stretch marks. And vitamin A is responsible for the elasticity of the skin, which means it prevents it from tearing when stretched. How can you use olive oil during pregnancy?
cooking recipes
You can fight stretch marks with unrefined (unrefined) 100% olive oil, which has a dark color and a specific smell. Usually on the label with such a product it is written that this oil is the first cold pressing. It should be applied twice a day to cleansed, moisturized skin of the chest and abdomen and rubbed in with light massaging movements. Experts advise to carry out a gentle peeling procedure before this, so that the active ingredients of the oil penetrate as deep as possible into the skin. For some time after its application, it is better not to wear clothes. If the product is not completely absorbed, its excess can be removed with a paper towel.
To enhance the effect of olive oil, you can use other oils, such as almond, sesame, peach or jojoba oil. After mixing these oils in equal proportions, apply the composition to problem areas and massage the skin well. No special cosmetics can compare with this natural homemade stretch mark remedy, as it retains all the beneficial substances for the skin unchanged.
What else can help prevent stretch marks?
Essential oils play an important role in the treatment of stretch marks. Pregnant women can also use them as part of vegetable oils, but very carefully. The fact is that some essential oils can provoke bleeding and uterine contractions. These include oils of cinnamon, basil, ginger, sage, cedar, rose, fennel, mugwort, parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, chamomile, rosemary, juniper, and mugwort. Neroli, citrus, tea tree, lavender and fir oils are allowed for use during pregnancy.
However, it must be remembered that essential oils should not exceed 1% of the mixture of base oils. That is, for 2 tablespoons of the base there should be no more than 4 drops of essential extract. A good effect can be obtained from such a prepared product: in 4 tablespoons of base oil (a mixture of almond and olive oils), add 2 drops of orange, geranium and lavender essential oils. Mix everything and apply to problem areas. This recipe is also very popular: mix one tablespoon of olive oil with the same amount of wheat germ oil and add 4 drops of lavender oil.
The period of pregnancy for a woman is the expectation of a happy meeting with her baby. A pregnant woman wants to maintain her attractiveness during this special period of her life. As you know, not all cosmetics and skin care procedures are suitable for a future mother. While waiting for the baby, it is better to give preference to natural and harmless means. Using olive oil during pregnancy, a woman will benefit both herself and the child.
Benefits during pregnancy
The benefits of using olive oil for a future mother:
- Contributes to the proper development of the baby. Especially beneficial effect on his nervous system.
- Saturates the body of a woman with vitamin E, which is indispensable for the proper formation of the fetus and the successful course of pregnancy.
- Prevents constipation that pregnant women may suffer from.
- It has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, skeletal system of the baby and mother, because it contains a huge amount of useful vitamins D, K, E.
- Corrects the weight of a pregnant woman, reducing appetite.
- It supplies the body of the expectant mother with important polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- Does not cause allergies when used.
- Improves labor activity.
Olive oil is especially effective when applied externally to combat stretch marks.
Prevention and treatment of stretch marks
Many pregnant women are familiar with the problem associated with the appearance of stretch marks. During pregnancy, the uterus grows rapidly, which means that the abdominal wall is stretched. If the skin is not elastic enough, then the connective components of the skin are stretched. As a result, the inner layer of the skin is damaged, and pink or purple with blue stripes (stretch marks) appear on its outer surface. Stretch marks usually appear on the abdomen, thighs and breasts of a pregnant woman.
The predisposition to the appearance of stretch marks is associated with heredity. If the mother had stretch marks, then it is more likely that they may appear in her daughter when carrying a child. The degree of elasticity of the skin can be transmitted by genes. If stretch marks are likely to occur, it is necessary to pay attention to preventive measures even before pregnancy. These include performing special exercises to strengthen the elasticity of the skin and swimming. During pregnancy, when choosing exercises, consultation with a gynecologist is important.
One of the most effective remedies in the fight against stretch marks during pregnancy is the use of olive oil. It is indispensable, both in their prevention and in the fight against existing stretch marks. Olive oil contains in its composition valuable substances that help, with regular use, increase skin elasticity and prolong its youth.
The greatest value in the composition of olive oil for the skin is vitamin E. Its regenerating and antioxidant effect protects skin cells from degeneration. In addition, applying olive oil to the surface of the body moisturizes, nourishes and smoothes it. Olive oil has the ability to stimulate the production of collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity and smoothness of the skin. It is better to start using olive oil for stretch marks as a preventive measure at the beginning of the first trimester. And with a planned pregnancy - before conception. This approach will prevent or stop the process of stretch marks in the early stages.
Mode of application
For external use, 100% extra virgin olive oil is suitable. It has a dark color and a specific smell.
Apply 2 times a day after a shower. The effectiveness of olive oil is enhanced by light exfoliation before applying it to the skin. It is better to combine the use of oil with a light massage. After application, wait until the oil is absorbed into the skin, and remove its residues with a napkin.