Wondering how to remove stretch marks? People often end up resorting to various beauty treatments to get rid of stretch marks. However, not many realize that chemical-laden beauty treatments also come along with their own sets of side-effects. In order to steer clear of the harmful side-effects, you can try using apple cider vinegar for stretch marks.
From reducing acne, rinsing hair, relieve toothaches, The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is thought to help exfoliate the upper layers of your skin for a refined smoothness and evened-out skin tone. Cell regeneration is promoted through regular topical application. Regular use of apple cider vinegar for stretch marks leads to even pigmentation on the skin. The best part? It can help with mild, moderate, or even severe acne cases.
Kendrick Lamar has sung their praises. Rihanna and Chrissy Teigen have proudly shared theirs on Instagram. But it’s OK if you don’t find your own stretch marks visually appealing. Both men and women can get stretch marks. Pregnancy, general weight gain, and puberty are the two most common times in life to get stretch marks.
When stretch marks first appear, they tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. Early stretch marks may feel slightly raised and can be itchy.
In time, the color fades and the narrow bands sink beneath your skin. If you run your finger over a mature stretch mark, you often feel a slight depression.
Like any scar, stretch marks are permanent, but using apple cider vinegar for stretch marks may make them less noticeable.
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Stretch Marks
Tones Skins
You can use apple cider vinegar for stretch marks because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It consists of acetic acid and alpha hydroxy acid. Acetic acid has keratolytic effects, basically helping open blocked pores. The alpha-hydroxy acid helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and helps in smoothing and improving skin texture.
Improves Skin Appearance
According to a study published in January 2014 in Biomolecules & Therapeutics, apple cider vinegar has polyphenolic antioxidants, which may offer health benefits. ACV is high in pectin, a polysaccharide that occurs naturally in apples and may play a role in improving the skin’s barrier.
Minimizes Visual Scarring
The citric acid in apple cider vinegar is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs are used to increase skin cell turnover and have been shown to decrease the visible appearance of scarring. Alpha hydroxy acids are a group ingredients that, when properly used, can exfoliate the uppermost layers of skin. Doing so reveals fresher, reduces the appearance of stretch marks revealing refined skin that appears much smoother, is more hydrated, and, over time, becomes visibly firmer.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Stretch Marks
- Type of ingredient: Exfoliator
- Main benefits: Balances pH, chemically exfoliates, and antibacterial.
- Who should use it: In general, people with scarring, oily and, acneic skin.
- How often can you use it: The use of apple cider vinegar depends on what product and concentration you’re using it in.
- Works well with: Anti-inflammatories.
- Don’t use with: Other acids, retinoids.
Apple cider vinegar is very strong and, as we mentioned, can cause chemical burns. For this reason, it should always be diluted with water first before applying it to stretch marks —generally, a ratio of one part apple cider vinegar to four parts water.
Spray
This is probably a very simple and mess-free way of using apple cider vinegar for stretch marks. To prepare the solution, simply put the diluted ACV into a spray bottle.
Spray this solution on your stretch marks every night before bed. Let it get absorbed into your skin overnight. The next morning, take a bath and thoroughly wash off the vinegar. After you dry yourself off, apply lotion or moisturizer to make up for the drying out of your skin.
While vinegar does dry out your skin to a certain degree, it will not harm you as long as you moisturize after washing it off.
Compress
Using a soft, clean cloth, dab the diluted ACV on to your stretch marks a few times a day. Anywhere between 3 to 5 uses are ideal. After doing this, take a shower, rinse off and moisturize your skin well.
Wrap
Using a wrap to apply apple cider vinegar for stretch marks is a great way to maximize the effect of the vinegar on your skin. Not only do they help with stretch marks, but they also help vitamins and minerals in the vinegar penetrate deeper into your skin.
- To prepare the wrap, first rub diluted vinegar onto your stretch marks.
- Once this is done, wrap the still-wet skin with plastic wrap.
- Cover this wrap in a blanket or warm cloth ti open pores.
- After about an hour, followed by a shower and generous amounts of moisturizer.
Do not repeat this more than two to three times a week. People with sensitive skin or severely dry skin should stay away from this method.
Apple Cider Vinegar Bath
Pour around 200-400 ml of vinegar into your bath water to get started. Depending on how sensitive your skin is and how prominent your marks are, adjust the quantity of the vinegar. You can also add a few drops of essential oils like lavender, orange, rose or pine into your bath. This is also beneficial to vaginal care.
Repeat this procedure no more than once or twice a week.
Choosing The Right Apple Cider Vinegar
Not all types of apple cider vinegar are created equal. Luckily, in this case, you only have to choose between two types: natural and synthetic. And like most other things, natural is way better. Try as much as possible to go for organic-certified apple cider vinegar for stretch marks with the mother rather than the synthetic type.
We love apple cider vinegar and use it for almost everything. Apple cider vinegar can be used as:
- Toner for your face
- Toothache remedy
- Keloid reducer
- Detoxing enema
- Fruit fly trap
- (we’ll add to this list as we find more)