Can Baking Soda Help Reduce Stretch Marks?

Your grandmother always praised the merits of baking soda, which she used for all kinds of household tips. And today, you’ll find it everywhere: in the kitchen, for cleaning and in homemade skincare… But is it really suitable for everything? And, above all, can it be used on skin marked by stretch marks? Here’s what baking soda is, how it can fit into a stretch mark skincare routine, three homemade scrub recipes for using it, and the alternatives available.

What is baking soda?

Also known as sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate, baking soda is a white, powdery ionic compound. It is an acid salt that reacts when it comes into contact with other chemical substances. This is why it is used in so many different products. There are three types of baking soda:

• the kind used in the manufacture of cleaning products and detergents, known as technical grade;
• food-grade baking soda, typically the “baking soda” used in baking as a leavening agent;
• the pharmaceutical-grade version, which is finer and purer and used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes.

It is this last version, available from parapharmacies, that is recommended for making DIY cosmetics.

Baking soda: a useful skincare step for skin marked by stretch marks?

But how can this white powder have any effect on stretch marks? On its own, baking soda won’t “repair” stretch marks, which are breaks in certain elastic fibres that make up the dermis.

When the skin is subjected to intense and sudden stretching following a significant change in weight, whether weight loss or weight gain, pregnancy or rapid growth (typically during puberty), the skin’s supporting fibres can sometimes give way. This leads to the appearance of small streaks on the skin’s surface, initially coloured, before gradually becoming pearly white. These are stretch marks. Applying a rich cream or oil daily helps keep the skin supple and comfortable. However, once stretch marks have appeared, it is impossible to make them disappear completely. That said, taking care of your skin is still important.

To do this, two steps are key:

• exfoliating the skin, to remove dead skin cells through the mechanical action of the scrub;
• nourishing it, to help keep it supple and comfortable.

This is where baking soda comes in at the first step, as it can be used as a natural exfoliant. Its very fine grains make it a popular homemade scrub ingredient. Used gently, with light massage movements, it can be applied as an exfoliant to areas marked by stretch marks. If you have sensitive skin or are unsure, test it on a small area first and stop if you experience any discomfort.

Can you make stretch marks disappear in a few days?

Tips that promise to erase stretch marks in record time are tempting, but they don’t reflect how skin actually works. As we have seen, stretch marks are breaks in the elastic fibres of the dermis: once they have formed, it is impossible to make them disappear completely.

Baking soda does not make stretch marks disappear; at best, it is a gentle scrub within a skincare routine: no more than twice a week, followed by a nourishing oil or cream.

How do I use baking soda on my stretch marks?

It couldn’t be simpler! Here are three homemade scrub recipes using baking soda.

The first, basic recipe involves mixing 2 tbsp of baking soda with 2 tbsp of water, massaging the affected areas with small circular movements, then rinsing with water. Use it twice a week, no more. Above all, remember to apply an oil or moisturising cream to your skin after exfoliating.

The second, with honey, involves mixing 2 tsp of baking soda, 1 tsp of liquid honey, and a little water, then gently massaging the stretch marks with this homemade balm. You can leave the mixture on for a few moments. Rinse off with clean water.

The last, a more fluid version, involves mixing a little baking soda with a natural plant-based oil of your choice and following the same massage technique described above. When it comes to the oil, the choice is yours: coconut, avocado, or sweet almond — it all depends on the texture you prefer, as some oils are richer and/or thicker than others.

Can you combine lemon with baking soda?

The lemon and baking soda combination often appears in homemade tips for stretch marks. The recipes above do not contain lemon: they use pharmaceutical-grade baking soda, water, honey or a plant-based oil. Baking soda is a salt that reacts when it comes into contact with other substances, so combining it with an acidic ingredient such as lemon changes the preparation.

If you still want to try it, test the mixture on a small area of skin first and stop if you experience any discomfort. Keep your movements gentle and always finish by applying an oil or moisturising cream.

Are there alternatives to baking soda for treating stretch marks?

Of course! If you’re looking for a simpler alternative, or want to complement this routine, you can turn to conventional skincare. That said, anti-stretch mark products should be chosen carefully… Our stretch mark range, formulated with natural-origin ingredients (Yuka score 100/100), includes:

• our Preventive Anti-Stretch Mark Oil, a blend of five plant oils. A light, fast-absorbing texture, a formula of natural origin (no additives or mineral oils) and suitability for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, to help prevent stretch marks from appearing. If in doubt during pregnancy, ask your doctor or midwife for advice;
• our Repairing Stretch Mark Cream, made with macadamia oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil and vitamin B5, with a velvety texture, to help prevent stretch marks from appearing. Cocoa butter, often mentioned for skin marked by stretch marks, is not part of its formula.

These products are applied daily with a massage. They do not erase stretch marks that have already formed, even old, white and indented ones.

Related articles

• Can green clay help reduce stretch marks?
• Can lemon help reduce the appearance of stretch marks?
• Black seed oil and stretch marks: what you need to know

Useful categories: Stretch Mark Tips, Stretch Mark Solutions.