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Stretch marks: The one thing you never thought could help

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Chantelle Clarke, new mom to a two-month old baby girl, added before and after images on Facebook of her stretchmarks below her belly. On the left, the stretch marks are a deep purple colour and the right, well, they seem to have faded significantly after her 2-week “experiment”. (Chantelle Clarke)
Chantelle Clarke, new mom to a two-month old baby girl, added before and after images on Facebook of her stretchmarks below her belly. On the left, the stretch marks are a deep purple colour and the right, well, they seem to have faded significantly after her 2-week “experiment”. (Chantelle Clarke)

You love your tiger stripes, as you should, and they’re there to remind you of what you’ve been through and just how strong you really are. But sometimes you kind of wish they just weren’t there, and not because it's anyone else’s business or anything. Just, you know, for you. And that’s totally fine too.

The tissue oils that worked for your friend, may not work for you and you’ve probably tried every single homemade remedy there is. Well, except this one.

Chantelle Clarke, new mom to a two-month old baby girl, added before and after images on Facebook of her stretchmarks below her belly. On the left, the stretch marks are a deep purple colour and on the right, well, they seem to have faded significantly after her 2-week “experiment”.

“I rub it into my tummy while nursing and lather it on so it's almost dripping off,” she wrote, describing the application process involved with this natural remedy.

What is this stretchmark-reducing, magic, you ask?

100% pure, lathered on, breastmilk.


Also read: These moms decided to get super honest about their post-baby bods and they couldn't be more inspiring


Chantelle explained that, after it worked so well for her, her mom urged her to share her stretchmark-lightening secret with others. But she wrote on Facebook that it did more than just lighten her tiger stripes. “I noticed a big difference not just on colouring but also in depth of my stretch marks,” she said. She posted an update not longer after and we can definitely see the results.


Also read: Pre and post-pregnancy skincare advice


There’s no research to confirm that breastmilk can and will reduce stretch marks specifically. But we did find a study published in the journal Mucosal Immunology, in which researchers found that bio-molecules in human breastmilk helps to improve immune responses and ease inflammation in mice. While it was only conducted on mice, they believe human infants will present with the same results.

We’ve also done our own research and found all sorts of surprising uses for breastmilk. So you can probably use it to reduce stretch marks, just as you can use it as a disinfectant, to remove warts, soothe sunburn and clear up your little one’s sticky eye, loosen up cradle cap, clear your baby’s acne and even see to their blocked nose.


Read more here: Surprising uses for breast milk


Breast really is best!

The Internet’s pretty much filled with tried-and-tested “breastmilk cures” (go on, Google it) and we’re sure this mom’s remedy is worth the try – if you want to.

Chantelle explained, “Some women are perfectly fine and confident over their stretch marks but a lot of women are not. Either way it is a personal choice.” Whether you’ll be trying out the breastmilk cure or not, a gentle reminder from the new mom: “Be kind to all!”

And from us, remember to be kind to yourself.

Our bodies have been going through changes we can’t control since before we were even born. And if we were to stay the same, well, we’d never grow. 

Chat back:

Do you know of any stretchmark-reducing remedies? Do you have any natural remedies you swear by? Send them to us and we can share them with our readers.

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