Will oil massage help reduce stretch marks?

Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : July 30, 2014 5:04 PM IST

Hi, I am a 28-year-old pregnant woman due to deliver soon. I am worried about getting too many stretch marks after the birth of my child. My mom has appointed a 'malishwali' for 2 months to give me an oil bath everyday. Will it help get rid of my stretchmarks? Or should I use something different for the purpose?

Traditionally, in many parts of India, during the first few months following childbirth, the mother is given an oil bath that is, coconut oil or castor oil is massaged onto the entire body as well as the scalp and this is followed by a bath with hot water. Quite a few modern-day beauty treatment centers make use of the wisdom of this ancient custom. Vegetable oils such as coconut oil, castor oil and even olive oil have the property of moisturising skin and smoothing out the wrinkles. Both these actions ensure that these oils are equally good for getting rid of stretch marks.

Warm a little olive oil and massage it deep into the affected skin before going to bed. Rinse the next morning with a little warm water and a mild soap if necessary. Or, you could try a mix of olive oil and coconut oil, too. When it comes to castor oil, the best way is to rub slightly warmed castor oil directly onto the affected skin and then wrap a cloth dipped in hot (but not uncomfortably so) water around the area. Or,you could wrap a plastic sheet over the skin where you have rubbed in the oil and use a hot water bag over this area the warmth allows the pores in the skin to open up and absorb the oil better.