Treating Stretch Marks During Pregnancy with Emu Oil

Emu oil for stretch marks is a traditional remedy in both Australia and the USA. Historically used by the aboriginal peoples of Australia for burns, skin infections, and skin injuries, emu oil is distilled from the fat of the emu bird. The emu is a tall (2 meter/6 foot) flightless bird that can weigh as much as 60 kilos (132 pounds), up to 25 per cent of its body weight in fat.

The oil is made up mostly of the same fatty acid found in olive oil, oleic acid, and also a smaller amount of linolenic acid, which is found in safflower oil, grapeseed oil, poppy seed oil, and hempseed oil. About two per cent of emu oil is omega-3's such as linolenic acid, more abundant in flaxseed.

Scientists have found several interesting things about how well any given brand of emu oil will work for skin conditions:

• The color of the emu oil has very little to do with its potency.
• The odor of the emu oil has very little to do with its potency.
• The linoleic acid content has very little to do with its potency.
• The freshness of the emu oil has everything to do with its potency for treating skin conditions.

Emu oil that is stored in conditions of low light and low heat is much more likely to retain its antioxidant power. It is the antioxidants, apparently, that make emu oil a useful remedy for skin inflammation. Antioxidant power is greater when the oil is bottled and transported with care to avoid overheating, and when the consumer takes care to close the cap tightly between uses.

There are several ways emu oil helps lighten stretch marks. First, it moisturizes the skin and reduces the tightness that makes stretch marks noticeable. Simply relieving dryness can make an immediate, noticeable difference.

Secondly, the antioxidants in emu oil enter the skin through pores and recharge vitamin C. Skin cells make collagen with the help of vitamin C. You can't add collagen directly to your skin (except by injection), but you can help your skin make its own collagen, helping it keep up with the growth of tissues beneath it that cause stretch marks.

Third, fresh emu oil is a gentle exfoliant. It lifts dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, where they keep it tight to that stretch marks are more noticeable. Regular use of emu oil is especially helpful if you (1) live in a dry climate, (2) take hot showers, or (3) have naturally dry skin.

What do Users Say about Emu Oil?

• The color of fresh emu oil has little bearing on how well it works, but clear, pale emu oils usually are fresher, and have greater antioxidant content, than dark emu oils.
• People use emu oil for stretch marks and find that applying the emu oil strengthens their nails.
• A little bit of emu oil goes a long way. Users report that can start with an area about the size of a dime (5 mm or so) and spread it out over a much larger area of skin.
• Unlike prescription treatments for stretch marks, emu oil is not "gloppy" and does not stain clothing.
• Users who also have hand eczema find that applying emu oil helps with "winter hands." Some also apply emu oil to their hands and put on gloves before going to bed.

What can go wrong with emu oil? Users who report that it clogs pores typically forget to shake the bottle (with cap tightly secured) before use. Some of lighter components of the oil can float to the top during storage.

But if you simply remember to close the bottle tight and shake before use, chances are emu oil will work for you. Try it for stretch marks, scars, brittle nails, and split ends. Keep a bottle on hand for first aid in treating cuts, scrapes, and minor burns. And for finest quality at a reasonable price, try Emu Oil Pure Premium Australian.