Stretch marks are a type of scar that occurs when the skin tears. They occur most often when you gain weight quickly and they are especially common during pregnancy. Stretch marks typically fade over time but generally don’t disappear completely. Lemon juice is a common method of improving the appearance of stretch marks. It’s frequently combined with other stretch mark treatments for the best results.
Exfoliate your skin to remove the dead skin cells from the area with stretch marks. This involves scrubbing your skin with exfoliants such as micro-beads or crushed seed shells. Commercial exfoliants are commonly available from beauty supply stores or drug stores.
Slice open a lemon with a knife and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Rub the lemon juice into the stretch marks using circular motions. Allow the lemon juice to soak into your skin for five to ten minutes before wiping it off. Lemon juice contains natural fruit acid that can bleach the skin and reduce the redness of the stretch marks. This can make the stretch marks less visible.
Apply an emollient such as cocoa butter by massaging it into the stretch marks for five to ten minutes. An emollient is a substance that softens and soothes the skin, which can break up the scar tissue of the stretch marks or keep new stretch marks from forming.
Combine lemon juice with an emollient instead of applying them separately. Place a half cup of cocoa butter in a bowl and add 2 tbsp. of lemon juice. Mix the lemon juice into the cocoa butter and apply it to your stretch marks using circular motions.
Continue using lemon juice on your stretch marks regularly. This treatment works gradually and requires frequent use over a long period of time to get rid of your stretch marks.
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Writer Bio
Allan Robinson has written numerous articles for various health and fitness sites. Robinson also has 15 years of experience as a software engineer and has extensive accreditation in software engineering. He holds a bachelor's degree with majors in biology and mathematics.