Stretch marks are a pain the butt, no doubts about it. When faced with these unsightly marks, most people automatically turn to creams, lotions, lasers, scrubs, or any other treatment that promises instant, noticeable results. However, if something seems too good to be true then it probably is. If you’ve exhausted your alternatives for treating your stretch marks, you may want to look into more natural remedies.

Anytime you choose a natural remedy to treat a skin issue it is important to know ahead of time that you more than likely won’t see instant results right away. Going the natural route means being patient and waiting weeks to months for results to appear. And oftentimes the only way to get the best results is to follow a strict schedule of application. Missing applications or being lazy means the less of an impact that particular natural remedy will have.

One way you can treat your stretch marks is by applying topical fruit acids. Certain fruit acids have been known to effectively remove layers of dead skin and reveal newer, more vibrant skin. The acidity of the fruit allows the newer skin cells to become more radiant and luminous. The idea behind this method is to exfoliate the area where your stretch marks appear so that all layers of dead skin are removed. Once that is accomplished, applying the topical fruit acid will help with new skin cell production, which - over time - can help to reduce the severity of your stretch mark’s appearance. You can use limes, oranges, pineapple slices, lemons or grapefruit as fruit acids to treat your stretch marks.

Because stretch marks tend to appear on skin that is excessively dry, keeping your skin well moisturized can make all the difference. If you’re looking for a way to keep your skin from drying out, you can turn to oils that are rich in EFAs, which stands for “essential fatty acids.” EFAs are often consumed by certain foods that we eat but can now be purchased in the form of special oils for topical use. The belief is that because EFAs are great for increasing the skin’s elasticity, applying it the area on a regular basis can help renew the skin’s surface condition by moisturizing it and fading the appearance of stretch marks. When taken as a preventative measure, for example if you are expecting a new baby soon, the presence of oils with EFAs has the ability to avoid stretch marks from showing up altogether. Common oils that can be used to treat your stretch marks include avocado oil, rosehip oil, shea butter, emu oil, camellia oil, and kukui oil. On a related note, there are also some essential oils (that don’t contain EFAs), that are known for their regenerative and healing properties on the skin. Examples of such essential oils to be used on stretch marks are chamomile, neroli, almond and helychrysum.

Not all natural remedies work the same for everyone so you may want to experiment with a few different alternatives to see which one gives you the best results, if any.

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