How Argan Oil Can Help You Reduce and Prevent Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are skin concerns that affect both young and old, males and females but they are more common in women. At times they develop as a result of pregnancy, weight loss or gain, or at the advent of puberty or as a result of hormonal changes which create unattractive lines that give skin that looks as if it had been damaged. Although stretch marks are in no way a sign of any pathologic conditions , they can sometimes give rise to embarrassing sensations. Luckily, natural products like the Argan Oil have been advocated for handling stretch marks. But it is still not abundantly clear how Argan Oil is actually effective in minimizing and preventing stretch marks? Now let’s take a glance at a potentially revolutionizing oil and what it could do for your skin.
What are Stretch Marks and How do they develop?
These lines appear whenever the skin loses elasticity and when the skin has been stretched beyond itself. Skin on its own is made up of collagen and elastin fibers and therefore skin has elasticity that can let it stretch. These fibers when yanked such as in pregnancy, puberty or weight loss or weight gain, these fibers are stretched and break and that is how stretch marks appear. These marks may later clear and turn into light yellow lesions or even skin discolouration from its bright red, purple or dark brown hue.
Some common causes of stretch marks include:
Pregnancy: Perhaps this force results from pressure exerted on the skin as the abdominal area prepares to support a growing fetus.
Rapid Weight Gain or Loss: Weight fluctuations can be very unfavourable to the skin's elasticity because it puts an unsuitable load on stretched skin.
Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy, adolescence and highest degrees of body fat are main factors or causes of stretch marks since hormones increase skin’s vulnerability.
Genetics: Another factor, which you are born with, is the level of susceptibility to stretch marks.
Corticosteroid Use: Prolonged application of topical or oral cortisone preparations results in skin atrophy and increased susceptibility to striae.
What Is Argan Oil?
Argan Oil or known as liquid gold is the plant oil obtained from the nut-like fruit- kernel of the tree called Argania spinosa, found in Morocco. It has always been one of the norms of the Moroccans as far as beauty, health and even food was concerned. Argan Oil is rich in essential nutrients such as:
Vitamin E: A potent antioxidant which also has the capacity to protect against several skin insults and promote skin repair.
Fatty Acids : These essential fatty acids soothes and moisturize the skin in a way possibly the best it can be done.
Phenolic Compounds: Over these compounds, these have anti inflammation ability which when applied, will reduce the inflammation level of the skin.
Carotenes: These are antioxidants that assist the skin to avoid free radical formation and formation of healthy cells .
How Argan Oil Helps in the Treatment and Prevention of Stretch Marks
Even though erasing stretch marks as soon as they appear is quite impossible, there are some beneficial properties contained in Argan Oil that can help to minimize them and even stop the emergence of new ones. Here’s how:
- Enhances Skin Elasticity
The ability to avoid development of stretch marks is highly reliant with the skin tautness. Linoleic acid, an omega-6 essential fatty acid found in Argan Oil is important in stretchiness of the skin as well as regeneration. Therefore, when used consistently, Argan Oil was found to reduce the skin’s tensile strength and therefore make it more pliable and accommodating during the development stage like during pregnancy and during puberty. This can help in preventing the formation of stretch marks.
- Deep Hydration for the Skin
Surprisingly, dry skin is more sensitive especially during pregnancy or after weighing or losing weight since it poses high risks of weakening and developing stretch marks. Argan oil is also used for marketing and enhances the health of the skin from within, hence we have softer and smoother skin. By retaining moisture in the skin layer, argan oil also promotes formation of the outer skin layer that can minimize formation of stretch marks.
- Promotes The Production Of Collagen
Collagen is one of the peptide substances; it supplies skin with elasticity and participates in its tone. Collagen has a tendency to diminish on its own when people either gain weight or when they lose it, or in other words, get older. Argan Oil has vitamin E which is one of the best antioxidants known to man that can cause an upturn in the production of collagen. There may be an improvement in the level of collagen in the skin and this might help to strengthen it and therefore reduce the ability of stretch marks or where they are already present the skin's condition should be improved so that they do not worsen.
- Helps in Releasing Redness and Inflammation
This is because new stretch marks which are also known as recent stretch marks are usually red, purple or even brown contrary to older stretch marks which could be silver or white in color. This is due to dorsal skin inflammation at the dermal layer of skin. Argan Oil is very useful especially if you are experiencing inflammation and for this reason, it is useful when used on sensitive skin as one may develop a rash. Argan Oil contains antioxidants that work at preventing further injury to the skin by averting the progression of skin damage, and rebuild the elastic tissues, hence eliminating the stretch marks inch by inch.
- Supports Skin Regeneration
With the help of beneficial omega fatty acids in its composition, argan oil helps to generate healthy cells and skin tissues. Esters of carotenes and phenolic compounds found in argan oil work to enhance the skin’s ability to heal, which in turn can positively affect the look of the stretch marks. Using oil of argan regularly, skin may be regenerated, and the marks are likely to be blended and become less severe.
- Prevents New Stretch Marks from Forming
Argan Oil has a positive effect on the skin, such as increasing its flexibility and moisture, which in turn become essential in stretching mark prevention as it can only prevent new stretch marks from emerging. Pregnant mommy should massage Argan Oil to the stretchy surfaces, for instance, the abdomen, hips, thighs, and busts as this will help the skin in moments of growth. From pregnancy to weight loss we know Argan Oil can even prevent formation of new stretch marks.
How to Use Argan Oil for Stretch Marks
Pampering or treating stretch marks with Argan Oil is simple and may be applied during the course of the day or night without inconvenience. Here’s how to make the most out of this powerful oil:
- Apply Directly to Affected Areas
To get the optimum result, it is recommended to massage your skin, especially the stretch mark affected areas, with a few drops of Argan Oil. I rub the oil into the skin with circular motions so that it creates sort of a mild pressure on the tissues to help bring in more blood flow which will in turn help to pull in more of the oil into the skin. You can do this once or twice a day depending on the condition of the skin in question. This basically concentrates on the belly, the thighs, hips and busts.
- Combine Argan Oil with Other Natural Ingredients
To get even better effects, you are advisable to blend the Argan Oil with other natural oils and elements that help to solve the issues with skin tone, elasticity and other problems. Try combining Argan Oil with:
Aloe Vera Gel: Due to its skin healing and cooling properties Aloe Vera will help in calming the skin and redness.
Coconut Oil: Lush oil that moisturizes the skin and gives the skin that natural glow that everyone desires.
Shea Butter: An effective and nourishing lotion that helps to increase skin tone and avoid stretch marks.
- Use Argan Oil as a Night Treatment
Argan Oil is to be found effective when it has stayed on the skin for a longer period of time. It’s perfect for use before bedtime and leaving it on during the night to allow the body and skin to absorb it and heal. You can wear unwashed clothes to avoid the oil soiling your sheets.
- Maintain Consistency
The best thing with every natural remedy is that they work if administered frequently. Get the best outcome of Argan Oil when used consecutively for weeks or even months. The oil will start working on your skin to smoothen it out, fade away those stretch marks and most importantly prevent their formation.
What to Expect from Using Argan Oil for Stretch Marks
Argan Oil will definitely help reduce and fade visible stretch marks, although one should not expect miracles here. Argan Oil can make stretch marks less noticeable since they may never fully vanish entirely but they can reduce. If used consistently, there would be improvements in the skin tone and firmitude, smaller and less conspicuous skin marks.
For the best outcome It is recommended that one should add Argan Oil to its beauty regime coupled with drinking a lot of water, eating a balanced diet and protecting the skin from the risky UV radiation.
Conclusion
Stretch marks are a perfectly normal occurrence however, that doesn’t mean you ever have to suffer from them. Argan Oil has an ability to reduce the visibility of stretch marks and enhance the state of skin’s elasticity and prevent the formation of new stretch marks. Incorporating this luxurious oil into the skin will definitely help your skin to retain its moisture hence no formation of stretch marks.