Castor oil is popularly known for cosmetic uses, agriculture use, and industrial uses. This vegetable-like oil is the best ingredient in different cosmetic products, but there is a raised interest in using castor oil to treat skin disorders, including stretch marks.
Castor oil benefit to lower the appearance of stretch marks and fade them over time. However, research tells that this method needs more evidence. It is good to know that stretch marks are a general occurrence after skin stretching.
What Are Stretch Marks?
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Stretch marks are general occurrences from puberty to adulthood. Technically, these marks are like scars. They occur when the skin is stretched out in a short time. During the process, the collagen of skin gets ruptures and trigger stretch mark as it gets heals. New stretch marks can appear pink, purple, red. They can gradually turn white or brown. Stretch marks are often developed near the stomach, hips, upper arms, or any part of the body where the skin is getting stretch.
Genetics and hormones may tell whether you will get stretch marks or not. These scars are commonly noticeable after:
- Spurt growth during puberty
- Significant growth of muscles after weight lifting
- Pregnancy
- After weight loss or gain
Stretch marks are lasting, yet they will get blur after some time. The previous you treat stretch denotes, the less observable they might be. There is not much yet to forestall stretch imprints, yet moisturizing skin helps the stretching marks.
Causes of Stretch Marks
Pregnancy is one of the main purposes of the stretch mark in women.
Large skin development may lead to stretch marks.
Other usual causes include:
Puberty causes rapid growth of skin and causes skin stretch marks.
Rapid weight gain is another cause of getting stretch marks.
Any medical condition, like Marfan syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome causes stretch marks. Marfan syndrome may cause lower elasticity in the tissue of the skin, and Crushing’s syndrome can make the body generate the extreme hormone, which causes rapid weight gain.
Corticosteroid Use: Long time use of lotions and corticosteroid cream also cause to reduce the collagen levels in the skin. Collagen support and strengthens the skin and lower the amount of risk of stretch marks. The skin comprises three different vital layers. Stretch marks happen in the dermis, or the central layers when the connective tissue gets expanded beyond its original elasticity. It happens because of the rapid contraction or expansion of skin.
As the human body develops, the connecting fibers in the dermis get to stretch and slowly form the abnormal shape. However, rapid growth causes sudden stretching. This leads the dermis to tear in deeper skin layers. It can form the stretch mark and contributes to poor skin appearance with a silvery or glossy appearance.
Stretch mark grow more when you have a high circulation of cortisone, or when you apply cortisone over the skin. Cortisol is a stress hormone generated by adrenal glands and converted into cortisone, which causes to weakens of the elastic fiber of skin.
Risk factors
There are many risk factors linked with the increase of stretch marks, but the evidence varies. More research is required to verify the cause of several stretch marks. Here are some risk factors:
- Family history
- Incurable diseases
- BMI before pregnancy
- Birth weight of the unborn child.
These findings can be said by higher degrees of skin stretching in obese women with bigger babies and age-linked skin collagen change and connective tissue change cause to tear the skin.
What Is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is similar to vegetable oil extracted from the Ricinus communist plant. The oil is extracted from its seeds and heated up and processed for commercial use. Castor oil is used in various cosmetics because of its cleansing, anticaking, and emulsifying effects. It is also widely known for moisturizing effects.
How to Treat Red Stretch Marks?
Castor oil is promoted as an excellent remedy for boosting hair and skin health. It is also extensively used for skincare cosmetics and shown positive results for lowering stretch marks.
Is Castor Oil Work Effectively for Stretch Marks?
Castor oil helps to lower the stretch marks due to the following reasons:
Castor oil consist of ricin oleic acid, which is an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, along with certain esters and salts. All these contain skin conditioning qualities and moisturizing effects.
Castor oil limit the transepidermal water loss.
According to another study discovered that moisturizer helps to improve the scars marks.
What Are The Ways To Use Castor Oils For Treating Stretch Marks?
According to research, the cold-pressed plant oils consist of high nutritional qualities in contrast to refined oils. Hence, they provide good therapeutic effects. Chemical and refining treatment lower the therapeutic benefits of every oil. Therefore, use cold-pressed castor oil for good results. Here are the ways to use castor oil for stretch marks.
Castor Oil – Warm Massage
Castor oil inhibits moisture loss and retains the skin hydrated. It may help reduce stretch marks.
Ingredients
- Castor oil – 2 tbsp of cold-pressed
Method
- Heat the castor oil for some time.
- Massage the warm oil over the affected parts for 5-10 minutes.
- Keep it overnight or wash it after one hour.
- Do this remedy every day.
Castor Oil with Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil contains a therapeutic effect over the skin. It works amazingly for moisturizing your skin and reduce the effect of stretch marks.
Ingredients
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tsp
- Virgin coconut oil – 1 tsp
Method
- Combine both oils and warm the blend for a few seconds.
- Massage it over the stretch marks
- Keep it all night and repeat every day.
Castor Oil and Cloves
Clove oil provides antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities. It contains remodelling effects that restore the existing tissues over the fibroblasts. These qualities help to lower the scars. However, there are no scientific studies to discover the clove oil effects on stretch marks.
Ingredients
- Clove essential oil – 2-3 drops
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1tsp
Method
- Combine both oils and make a blend and apply over stretch marks.
- Keep the oil overnight and apply every day.
- Warning: Clove oil may cause to irritate your skin, so do the patch test before using it.
Castor Oil and Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is the best natural moisturizer. Combining it with castor oil helps to stimulate the fibroblasts to generate collagen. It helps to lower the stretch marks appearance.
Ingredients
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tbsp
- Fresh Aloe vera gel – 1 tbsp
Method
- Combine the castor oil and aloe vera gel.
- Massage the oil blend over stretch marks for 5-10 minutes.
- Keep it all night and apply every day.
Castor Oil and Turmeric
Mixing turmeric with castor oil helps to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects over the affected skin.
Ingredients
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tbsp
- Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Method
- Combine castor oil with turmeric powder.
- Massage this blend over the stretch marks.
- Leave the blend over the skin and wash after one hour.
- Apply moisturizer immediately and repeat every day.
Note: Turmeric may leave stains over the cloths or skin.
Plastic Wrap and Castor Oil
Applying castor oil with plastic wrap helps to moisturize your skin deeply.
Ingredients
- Cling wrap
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tbsp
Method
- Heat the castor oil for some time.
- Do the massage with warm oil on the stretch marks.
- Wrap the affected area tightly using cling wrap.
- Keep the wrap on the skin for 30 to 1 hour.
- Now unwrap the skin and massage the affected part again.
- Avoid washing the oil after unwrap and leave it till oil gets absorbed in the skin.
- Repeat this process every day.
Castor Oil with Almond Oil
The combination of bitter almond and castor oil helps to lower the stretch mark appearance and prevent developing new marks. Sweet almond oil also beneficial for lowering itchiness over the stretch mark and stop its progression. Use only 2-3 drops of bitter almond oil as this is strong.
Ingredients
- Sweet almond oil – 1 tbsp
- Bitter almond oil – 2-3 drops
- You can use both or anyone
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1-tbsp
Method
- Combine castor oil and almond oil and make a blend.
- Keep the oil blend on the affected skin for one hour or a full night.
- Apply it every day for effective results.
Castor Oil with Sugar Scrub
Sugar is the best natural scrub due to its coarse texture. While there is not much proof that scrubbing can help to lower stretch marks, people often use sugar scrubs to reduce the appearance of scars.
Ingredients
- Granulated sugar – 2 tbsp
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tbsp
Method
- Combine the castor oil and sugar.
- Massage with sugar and castor oil on stretch marks for 5-10 minutes.
- Keep the oil on the skin for 15-20 minutes and wash.
- Instantly moisturize your skin and apply the same next day.
Castor Oil with Oatmeal Pack
Oats extracts with castor oil helps to improve your skin dryness and lower skin roughness, when tested in a study of 29 healthy women.
Ingredients
- Ground oatmeal – 2 tsp
- Water – 1/2 cup
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tbsp
Method
- Make a blend of ground oatmeal in water and prepare a paste.
- Add castor oil in it.
- Massage this mix over the stretch marks for 10-15 minutes and leave it for 30 minutes.
- Then wash it and moisturize your skin. Apply this mix every day.
Castor Oil with Potato Juice
There is no research on potato juice for removing stretch marks. However, anecdotal evidence recommends that it may be helpful in lower stretch mark appearance.
Ingredients
- Raw potato juice – 1 tbsp
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tbsp
Method
- Combine potato juice and castor oil.
- Massage the blend over stretch marks.
- Keep the castor oil blend for half an hour and wash, then apply moisturizer.
- Repeat this remedy every day for effective results.
Castor Oil with Lemon Juice
There is no scientific proof about lemon juice for treating stretch marks. People discovered that it helps to bleach the affected skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Ingredient
- Half lemon Juice
- Cold-pressed castor oil – 1 tbsp of
Method
- Combine lemon juice in 2-tbsp water.
- Apply the diluted lemon juice on stretch marks.
- Let it get dry and later massage by using castor oil.
- Keep the castor oil on the skin for 30 minutes and wash.
- Apply moisturizer after washing.
Important Tips to Remember Before Using Castor Oil for Stretch Marks
Castor Oil and Allergic Reaction
Research has conflicting results regarding castor oils. While castor oil was caused by irritation and redness in some animal studies, did not cause skin irritation in some other. However, it is important to practice caution and do a patch test to find out allergic reactions.
It Is Comedogenic
According to one research study of rabbits discovered that castor oil might consist of comedones, which block the skin pores. It may cause acne development in the affected area.
Castor oil does not provide any promising results. Like other plant oil, the moisturizing effect of castor oil helps to keep your skin healthy and lower the stretch marks appearance with long term use.
Keep realistic expectations and do not expect an overnight result.
Other Skin Benefits Of Castor Oil
Treats Wrinkles
Castor oil helps to treat wrinkles naturally. It stimulates the skin and promotes collagen production, which hydrates and softens the skin. It also rejuvenates the skin and makes it smoother. Apply 2-3 drops of castor oil on the wrinkled area and keep it overnight for the best results.
Soothes Dry Skin
Castor oil also helps to relieve patchy and dry skin. If you are feeling discomfort with scaly underfoot, particularly in winters, castor oil helps with crushed Kapur, which exfoliates and softens the skin of the foot.
People with severely dry skin can use castor oil once in a week but remember that they do not use any treatment excessively. Castor oil is beneficial for people suffering from a skin disease called Atopic Dermatitis. It is one of the dry skin diseases and increases because of climate and pollution. Also, applying castor oil on the complete body helps to nourish the skin.
A Natural Moisturizer
Castor oil is the best ricinoleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fatty acid. These types of fat work as humectants and a moisturizer for the skin. Humectants preserve moisture by limiting water loss by the outer layer of the skin. Castor oil is commonly used for cosmetic purposes to boost hydration and added to cleansers, lotions, and makeup. You can also use castor oil as a natural alternative to moisturizing skin.
Most of the popular moisturizing products available in stores consist of harmful ingredients such as perfumes, preservatives, and dyes, which could irritate the skin. Replacing these products with castor oil helps to lower additive exposure.