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How to Use Essential Oils for Stretch Marks

Using essential oils for stretch marks is more likely to help prevent them or to work best on newer ones. Fading older stretch marks is possible but could take six months or longer.

Stretch marks, also called striae, are tears in the elastic tissues in the dermis (the second layer of skin, under the outer epidermis). Most often, striae appear after rapid weight gain or loss, including during pregnancy and during teenage growth spurts, and may be partially heredity.

Other causes of stretch marks include medications or chemicals that interfere with collagen formation and certain diseases, such as diabetes and Cushing disease.

Essential Oils for Stretch Marks

A general measure to help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy and other weight changes is to moisturize your breasts, abdomen, hips, and buttocks three or four times a day with cocoa butter or shea butter.

You can enhance the effects of the cocoa or shea butter by adding a few drops of an essential oil. Essential oils for stretch marks recommended by Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art are:

Atlas cedarwood
Carrot seed
Frankincense
Helichrysum
Lavender
Mandarin
Patchouli

Caution: Not all essential oils are recommended during pregnancy. Learn more about using essential oils during pregnancy and consult a healthcare professional as appropriate.

Healing Stretch Marks

Helichrysum combined with rosehip seed oil is the classic aromatherapy recipe for getting rid of stretch marks (and scars). Here's the blend:

20 drops helichrysum
1 tablespoon rosehip seed oil
5 tablespoons other carrier oil of your choice

Apply to skin 2 or 3 times a day.

Fade New Stretch Marks

1 tablespoon carrier oil
 6 drops jasmine absolute
2 drops mandarin essential oil

Blend all the oils in a small glass bowl. Using your fingertips to apply the blend liberally to new stretch marks.  Repeat as needed. Source: Essential Oils Natural Remedies

Post-Pregnancy

Although the following blend is for use after pregnancy, you can also try it for other stretch marks:

20 drops sage
40 drops rosemary verbenone
4 teaspoons rosehip seed oil
8 teaspoons hazelnut oil

Use a loofah daily (for 3 to 6 months) to massage a little of the blend into your skin. Do not use while pregnant.

Source: Advanced Aromatherapy

Preventing Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

These blends contain essential oils that generally are safe to use during pregnancy. (Always a good idea to check with your healthcare provider.) Continue using these stretch mark prevention blends until you return to your previous weight after giving birth.

You can start using the next two blends in the second month of pregnancy.

4 tablespoons almond oil
1 tablespoon avocado oil
7 drops lavender
5 drops neroli or mandarin or tangerine

80 drops mandarin essential oil
4 teaspoons rosehip seed oil
1/2 cup + 5 tablespoons hazelnut oil

Sources: Aromatherapy and Massage for Mother and Baby and Advanced Aromatherapy

Here's another blend you can use during pregnancy:

1/3 teaspoon vitamin E oil (four 250-IU capsules)
2 tablespoons calendula-infused oil
1/4 cup + 4 teaspoons rosehip oil
40 drops frankincense essential oil
40 drops lavender essential oil
40 drops rosewood essential oil

Blend all the ingredients in a 4-ounce dark bottle. Shake well. Twice a day, massage some of the blend onto your breasts, abdomen, waist, and thighs.

Source: The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness

Carrier Oil Blend

If you prefer a blend without essential oils, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy suggests: