Skip to main content
Close Close

Congratulations
You're on the list.

Make sure to check your spam folder so that our emails are always delivered into your inbox.
xo, Kourt
Give your inbox
and your life

the Poosh it needs.
By clicking SIGN UP, you agree to receive emails from Poosh and agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Free Shipping on All Domestic Orders.
  • HEALTH + WELLNESS
  • LIFE + STYLE
  • HOME + ENTERTAINING
  • KMK
Poosh
  • Poosh Your Wellness
  • instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
  • Shop
  • search
  • search
  • body
  • diy
  • fitness
  • Giving Back
  • health
  • mind
  • Relationships
  • Sexual Wellness
  • soul
Why You Should Write Your Fears Down First Thing in the Morning
Why You Should Write Your Fears Down First Thing in the Morning
The Best Position (for Most Women) to Have Internal Orgasms
The Best Position (for Most Women) to Have Internal Orgasms
Tough-Love Dating Advice
Tough-Love Dating Advice
What to Eat and Avoid: The Acne Edition
What to Eat and Avoid: The Acne Edition
Do You Have An Anxious Attachment Style?
Do You Have An Anxious Attachment Style?
How to Activate The Pelvic Floor To Optimize Your Workouts
How to Activate The Pelvic Floor To Optimize Your Workouts
  • Adulting
  • beauty
  • guides
  • Hacks
  • style
  • travel
Self-Growth Hack: Small Ways to Hold Yourself Accountable
Self-Growth Hack: Small Ways to Hold Yourself Accountable
Summer Dresses You Can Wear Into Fall 
Summer Dresses You Can Wear Into Fall 
The Poosh 30-Day Mask Challenge 
The Poosh 30-Day Mask Challenge 
The Surprising Benefits of Buccal Facial Massage
The Surprising Benefits of Buccal Facial Massage
Under $50: How to Organize Your Pantry Like a Kardashian
Under $50: How to Organize Your Pantry Like a Kardashian
Chestne Hacks Everyone Should Know
Chestne Hacks Everyone Should Know
  • decor
  • entertaining
  • kids
  • motherhood
  • Playlists
  • recipes
Inside Kendall Jenner’s Stunning Bathroom
Inside Kendall Jenner’s Stunning Bathroom
Strawberry Oat Milk Iced Coffee Recipe
Strawberry Oat Milk Iced Coffee Recipe
How to Make Pineapple + Banana Vegan Whip
How to Make Pineapple + Banana Vegan Whip
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Baked Oats
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Baked Oats
The Easiest Cucumber Salad for Summer
The Easiest Cucumber Salad for Summer
2-Ingredient Oat Tortillas Recipe
2-Ingredient Oat Tortillas Recipe
  • family
  • kourtney
Why Kourtney Drinks Beet Juice Every Morning Before Her Workout 
Why Kourtney Drinks Beet Juice Every Morning Before Her Workout 
Kourt’s Matcha Protein Bites
Kourt’s Matcha Protein Bites
The Kravis Guide to Eating Vegan in LA
The Kravis Guide to Eating Vegan in LA
Kourt’s No-Makeup Glow Routine
Kourt’s No-Makeup Glow Routine
Penelope’s 10th Birthday Details
Penelope’s 10th Birthday Details
The Most Helpful Things Kourt Has Learned Since Having COVID Again
The Most Helpful Things Kourt Has Learned Since Having COVID Again
What are you looking for?

Menu

  • Shop
  • HEALTH + WELLNESS
    • body
    • diy
    • fitness
    • Giving Back
    • health
    • mind
    • Relationships
    • Sexual Wellness
    • soul
  • HOME + ENTERTAINING
    • decor
    • entertaining
    • kids
    • motherhood
    • Playlists
    • recipes
  • KMK
    • family
    • kourtney
  • LIFE + STYLE
    • Adulting
    • beauty
    • guides
    • Hacks
    • style
    • travel
  • Poosh Your Wellness
  • Newsletter
instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
body

HOW TO Minimize the Look of Stretch Marks

By Poosh
share on pinterest share on facebook share on twitter Share on Flipboard share by email
 Photo credit Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian

We’re not opposed to the stripes. If anything, we say wear them proudly! We’ve all got them. Stretch marks can occur during pregnancy of course, but also as early as puberty from growth spurts. They can show up later in life during periods of weight gain, and even crop up when you’re doing the most, aka working out and getting those squats in.

Stretch marks are completely natural. They are not a negative side effect, just a totally normal part of the growth process in life. There is nothing we can do to rid ourselves of them completely, so we say embrace them! The best way to treat your stretch marks is actually to love on them—exfoliate, stay hydrated, stay active, and get good blood flow. We’ve stretched it all out for you.

The scientific term for stretch marks is “striae.” Striae are technically a type of scar, caused by damage to the elastic tissues and collagen in the skin following rapid growth, according to this study. Since scars are a permanent molecular change, you can only reduce them, not reverse them. And because scars and striae are much more pronounced when skin is dry and unhealthy, it’s smart to keep your skin ultra-moisturized.

While it goes without saying that hydrating from the inside out is crucial, i.e. drinking plenty of H2O, it’s also important to eat moisturizing foods. Moisturizing foods are different than hydrating foods—which are also important—i.e. watermelon, cucumbers, apples, other high-water-content fruits, and veggies. Healthy fats and foods abundant in vitamin A are all moisturizing foods, like fish (take your omega 3s!), avocados, nuts, olive oil, and sweet potatoes. Antioxidant vitamins C and E play a big role in skin health as well, so eat and supplement your C and E to see results.

The best emollients to keep your skin looking healthy contain ingredients like coconut oil or shea and cocoa butters. You may have heard that the myth that cocoa butter “gets rid of” stretch marks has been totally busted, and that’s true. Like we said, nothing can get rid of stretch marks. But these natural emollients work double-time to create a protective barrier over your skin to prevent water evaporation from the dermis, keeping things looking supple and even.

Supple is always a good thing when we’re talking about skin. Soft, deeply hydrated, and moisturized skin has healthier elastic tissues and more resilient collagen to prevent future stretch marks, or prevent existing striae from deepening. That’s why you’ll see so many pregnant women slathering themselves in these butters before even an inkling of a bump becomes apparent.

Topical vitamin A, otherwise known as a prescription retinoid, can also help lessen the appearance of deep striae due to its effect on quick cell turnover. Since pregnant women should steer clear of retinoids, this one is great for them—or for the rest of us, on our thighs, bums, chest, and wherever the stripes may grace us. You can also try a self-tanner to even things out! Sun damage is not typically recommended for the health of any type of scarring, but a healthy glow looks radiant and smooth. Just make sure to exfoliate first to avoid streaks, and prep using one of those rich emollients.

Microneedling has been used to boost the supply of collagen to our faces, resulting in smoother skin and helping to fade the appearance of sun damage and scars, and, you guessed it, does the same thing for striae scars. Since we doubt any of you want to microneedle your entire body (ouch!), we suggest saving this for deep, exposed areas that you may treat a little at a time. This takes several sessions, and works best on the softer and more malleable skin on the abdominal area.

Now that we’re getting into the heavy stuff, let’s talk lasers. Fractional CO2 lasers are not just the hottest fad, they’ve been studied and tested, and the results are significant. The results are most dramatic on fresh, red stretch marks, requiring several sessions over the course of three months or so, but this is the closest technology has come to reversing these fresh stretch marks completely. It’s also shown to reduce the appearance of older stretch marks by 50%, making it the most effective treatment, but at no small cost.

Shop Now Shop Now Arrow Icon

Shea Butter

Price: $46
Karité Créme Corps

A blend of raw, unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, and other potent, natural, sustainably sourced botanicals is the ultimate in deep, rich, emollient moisture. An excellent cream for preventing, treating, and soothing any scars or stretched skin.

Shop Now Shop Now Arrow Icon

Liposomal Vitamin C

Price: $30
LivOn Labs

The most bio-available way to get a hefty dose of vitamin C, we promise you’ll notice a difference in your skin with regular consumption of these little packets. Vitamin C is the major building block of collagen and firm, youthful skin, so make sure you’re getting your fill.

Shop Now Shop Now Arrow Icon

Retinoic Body Complex

Price: $65
IS Clinical

A powerhouse of green tea, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, vitamin e, and retinol, this light hydrator has everything you need to tighten, tone, and soothe striae scars. It’s a natural exfoliator and boosts cell turnover, but is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.

Shop Now Shop Now Arrow Icon

Self Tanner

Price: $54
Vita Liberata

One of the few self-tanners on the market today that is paraben-free, sulfate-free, gluten-free, certified organic, natural, and fragrance-free, this incredible 2-week formula will be sure to even out and mask any areas you want, if you must.

Shop Now Shop Now Arrow Icon

Vitamin E Rice Bran Tocos

Price: $22
SunPotion

A rich, natural source of vitamin e, this subtly sweet powder melts into coffees, teas, smoothies, and nut milks for a light and creamy texture that you’re sure to get addicted to.

Shop Now Shop Now Arrow Icon

Youth Body Serum

Price: $95
Agent Nateur

Soothing and deeply penetrating, vitamin e and rose hip are the heros of this body serum. It’s tightening, hydrating, skin clearing, and it helps fade scars and minimize the look of cellulite by bringing life back to tired areas.

Up next, be the first to know our weekly content and sign up for our Poosh newsletter.

You may also like...

Go to article Is Having a Tight Vagina Really a Good Thing?
body

Is Having a Tight Vagina Really a Good Thing?

Go to article Why We Should Be Detoxing Our Liver for Optimal Health
health

Why We Should Be Detoxing Our Liver for Optimal Health

Related Articles

Goes to article How to Activate The Pelvic Floor To Optimize Your Workouts
fitness

How to Activate The Pelvic Floor To Optimize Your Workouts

Goes to article Do Allergies Get Worse as We Age?
health

Do Allergies Get Worse as We Age?

Goes to article Your Essential Mineral Cheat Sheet
health

Your Essential Mineral Cheat Sheet

Goes to article Do You Own a Weighted Blanket Yet?
body

Do You Own a Weighted Blanket Yet?

Goes to article Can You Change the Smell of Your BO? 
body

Can You Change the Smell of Your BO? 

Goes to article Hacks to Reduce Tight Muscles on Your Own
body

Hacks to Reduce Tight Muscles on Your Own

Goes to article What a Doctor Wants You to Know About Inflammaging
health

What a Doctor Wants You to Know About Inflammaging

Goes to article 5 Energy-Boosting Afternoon Habits
body

5 Energy-Boosting Afternoon Habits

  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Accessibility

Keep in Touch

instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
Reviewed by Accessible360
  • © poosh, llc
    All Rights Reserved