While some people claim Vicks VapoRub helps fade stretch marks, there's no scientific evidence to support this, and its main ingredients (menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil) aren't proven for scar reduction; effective treatments focus on improving collagen like retinoids or hyaluronic acid for new marks, or lasers for older ones, but Vicks might cause skin irritation or breakouts instead, so it's not recommended.
Derived from vitamin A, retinoids — such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) — that you apply to your skin may improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild a protein in the skin called collagen, making the stretch marks look more like your normal skin.
What to do about stretch marks
Vapor rub contains ingredients that can provide a soothing effect if rubbed on the belly. It contains eucalyptus oil, which fights against bacteria, improves your immune system and reduces inflammation. It also contains menthol, camphor oil and nutmeg oil, which have been used to relieve pain.
Swallowing a few teaspoons of camphor can cause deadly poisoning in toddlers. When placed on the skin, camphor can be absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin. This also can be toxic. That's why you should never put VapoRub in or around the nostrils — especially a small child's nostrils.
8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
Kim Kardashian has used resurfacing lasers such as fractional and Cool Laser treatments to improve skin texture, stretch marks, and pigmentation. These lasers help tighten, smooth, and rejuvenate the skin without the need for invasive procedures.
Ideally, if you want to care for older stretch marks the place to start is with topical creams. But if that doesn't have the desired impact, Chemical Peeling, Microdermabrasion, FMR and Laser are options.
It's common for stretch marks to appear during teen years when rapid growth of weight gain occurs. Other factors that make teens predisposed to stretch marks appearing include a genetic risk or family history of stretch marks, pregnancy, being overweight or obese, or topical or oral steroids, like prednisone.
Vicks VapoRub may have cosmetic applications, including the reduction of stretch marks and bruises, due to its skin tightening and anti-inflammatory properties. The product is used for alleviating headaches and migraines, offering a non-pharmacological option for pain relief.
Banish blemishes. If you have persistent acne or the occasional pimple, Vicks VapoRub is an easy and cost-effective way to get relief. The camphor and essential oils help reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and dry up oily skin. Just be sure to only use a small amount, because the petroleum jelly could clog pores.
Vicks VapoRub works best when used on the chest. There's no evidence that it helps cold symptoms if you put it on your feet. But Vicks VapoRub on the bottom of your feet may help relieve mild muscle aches, neuropathic foot pain, and moisturize dry skin.
Some of the best choices for stretch marks include:
How to Remove Stretch Marks Permanently at Home?
Can Vaseline remove stretch marks? While Vaseline can help to moisturise the skin and improve its overall appearance, it is unlikely to completely remove stretch marks. Using Vaseline in combination with other treatments can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks over time.
While most stretch marks should fade slowly over time, they don't often vanish completely.
Their texture may also feel different than the rest of your skin. Older or white stretch marks are harder to treat than new ones. This is because the blood vessels have become narrow, which then makes it difficult to stimulate collagen production.
Stretch marks usually lose their color in six to twelve months, changing from red to white. Stretch marks should be treated as soon as they appear, when laser procedures are much more effective. Red stretch marks are easier to remove with laser treatments than old scars or stretch marks that have already turned white.
Kim Kardashian has publicly shared diagnoses and health experiences, including psoriatic arthritis, positive antibody tests for lupus/rheumatoid arthritis (leading to stress-related health concerns), and a recent brain aneurysm diagnosis linked to stress. She also speaks about her daughter North's dyslexia, advocating for parents of children with learning differences, and has faced discussions about using disabled models in her brands, sparking debates on representation and inclusion.
She lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks to fit into her vintage Met Gala gown. How did Kardashian lose weight? She says she cut carbs and ate “just the cleanest veggies and protein.” She also ran on a treadmill and wore a sauna suit twice a day. Kardashian's 3-week weight loss sparked concern over the impact on mental health.
Professional Treatments That Help
Microneedling uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. This stimulates new collagen and elastin, helping to improve the texture and fade the appearance of stretch marks over time. Advanced devices such as Dermapen make the process precise and effective.
Laser Fat Removal
Laser fat removal treatments, such as SculpSure®, use focused laser energy to heat, break down and permanently destroy unwanted fat cells.
The best exercises to lose belly fat before bed include planks, leg raises, bicycle crunches, Russian twists, glute bridges, side planks, and reverse crunches. These exercises are designed to be gentle yet effective, targeting your core muscles without interfering with your sleep.