While there is no scientific merit to the claim, there are a few reasons castor oil may help minimize the appearance of stretch marks. This article explains why castor oil may work for stretch marks and a few DIY ways to use it for your skin. Read on.
Red Stretch Marks: How To Treat Them
Castor oil is touted to be an excellent remedy for improving hair health and reducing hair fall. It is also widely used in skin care products and is said to show positive results in reducing stretch marks. While there is no research to support this claim, there are a few reasons castor oil may work on stretch marks. In this article, we have discussed how castor oil may help reduce stretch marks and simple ways to use it. Read on to know more.
Is Castor Oil Good For Stretch Marks?
Castor oil may help reduce stretch marks due to the following reasons:
Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, along with certain salts and esters. All these have a skin-conditioning effect and keep your skin moisturized (1).
Castor oil prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In rat studies, castor oil showed a “burst effect,” i.e., the membranes were swollen due to complete hydration and became permeable (1).
Another study found that moisturizers could improve the symptoms of scars. Anatomically, stretch marks are like scars. Hence, proper moisturization and improved TEWL can help improve their appearance (2).
The moisturizing effect of castor oil can help improve scars. In the next section, find out how to use castor oil for stretch marks.
How To Use Castor Oil For Stretch Marks
A study states that cold-pressed plant oils contain high nutritional properties compared to refined oils. Hence, they have better therapeutic effects. Refining and chemical treatment reduce the therapeutic benefits of any oil (3). Hence, use cold-pressed castor oil for the best results. Here’s how you can use castor oil for stretch marks.
1. Castor Oil (Warm Massage)
Castor oil prevents moisture loss and keeps the skin hydrated. This may help minimize stretch marks. 2 tablespoons of cold-pressed castor oil
2. Castor Oil And Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil has a therapeutic effect on the skin and is an excellent moisturizer (4). It can keep the skin moisturized and help minimize stretch marks.
1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil
3. Castor Oil And Cloves
Clove oil has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has tissue remodelling (reorganizes the existing tissues) effects on the fibroblasts (5). This property may help in reducing scars. However, there is no scientific research to establish the effects of cloves or clove oil on stretch marks.
2-3 drops of clove essential oil 1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil
Note: Clove oil may irritate the skin. Do a patch test before using it.
4. Castor Oil And Aloe Vera
Aloe vera keeps the skin moisturized. It also stimulates the fibroblasts to produce collagen (6). This may help in minimizing the appearance of stretch marks.
1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil 1 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel
5. Castor Oil And Turmeric
Though turmeric may not have any effect on stretch marks, its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects can keep the skin healthy (7).
1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
Note: Turmeric may leave stains on the skin and your clothes.
6. Castor Oil And Plastic Wrap
Applying castor oil this way may help in deep moisturizing your skin.
1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil Cling wrap
7. Castor Oil And Almond Oil (Bitter Or Sweet)
Massaging with bitter almond oil may reduce the appearance of stretch marks and also prevent new ones (8). Sweet almond oil can help reduce itching on the stretch marks and prevent their progression (9). Note: If you are using bitter almond oil alone, use 2-3 drops per tablespoon as it is an essential oil.
1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil 2-3 drops of bitter almond oil (optional, you may use both or either of them) 1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil
8. Castor Oil And Sugar Scrub
Sugar is an excellent natural scrub because of its coarse texture. While there is no proof that scrubbing can help reduce stretch marks, people often use scrubs to minimize the scars. However, results may take longer.
2 tablespoons of granulated sugar 1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil
9. Castor Oil And Oatmeal Pack
Colloidal oat extracts improved skin dryness and reduced skin roughness when tested on 29 healthy women in a study (10).
2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal 1/2 cup water (50 mL) 1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil
10. Castor Oil And Potato Juice
There is no proof that potato juice works on stretch marks. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that it may be helpful in reducing their appearance.
1 tablespoon of raw potato juice 1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil
11. Castor Oil And Lemon Juice
There is no scientific evidence of how lemon juice helps treat stretch marks. People have found it to be helpful as it might have a bleaching effect on the skin.
Juice of ½ lemon 1 tablespoon of cold-pressed castor oil
All these remedies focus on keeping your skin moisturized. Hence, you may get results with continuous use. However, before you use castor oil on your stretch marks, you need to be aware of a few risk factors.
Things To Keep In Mind Before Using Castor Oil For Stretch Marks
If you want to try it, you may follow the recipes discussed in the article. However, castor oil may irritate the skin. Therefore, do a patch test before using it on your skin. Above all, you have to be extremely patient before seeing any results. You may consult a doctor and go for cosmetic procedures to fade stretch marks. How long does it take for castor oil to remove stretch marks? Castor oil may or may not reduce the appearance of stretch marks. You need to be consistent and use it for at least a few months before expecting any results. If you have new scars, it may take around a month to get results. Is black castor oil effective for stretch marks? There is no scientific proof that black castor oil is effective for stretch marks. Anecdotal evidence claims that it works. However, everyone may not get the same results as it depends on the intensity of the marks and skin type. Is it safe to use castor oil for stretch marks while pregnant? You can use it for topical applications and massages. However, make sure you consult your doctor. What is the difference between castor oil and black castor oil? Castor oil is odorless and pale yellow while black castor oil is dark and gives off a strong burnt smell. Can I mix castor oil with my body lotion? Yes, you can blend castor oil with body lotion. While it may not help you get rid of stretch marks, it can keep your skin moisturized which may improve the appearance of your stretch marks. How long does it take for castor oil to absorb into the skin? Anecdotal evidence suggests that it can roughly take 5 -20 minutes for castor oil to get absorbed into the skin. Nonetheless, if you use diluted castor oil, it might take longer. Does castor oil produce collagen? Yes, anecdotal evidence suggests that the fatty acids in castor oil may help stimulate collagen and keep the skin hydrated and plump. However, studies need to be conducted to understand this further.
