Unfortunately, stretch marks are a part of life. Even if you have never been pregnant or have gained a large amount of weight in a short period, chances are that growth spurts in your adolescence have led to stretch marks. Since this is a problem that affects a large amount of the population, there are a myriad of treatments for stretch marks.

This article deals with the natural alternatives that help minimize the appearance of stretch marks. Remember that natural treatments usually take months to produce significant results and that no lotion or cream will completely eliminate stretch marks.

Most natural treatments have been in use for many centuries. And though they are slightly different, they have one thing in common: they depend on an exfoliating and moisturizing medium. The exfoliant can be used before moisturizing or it can be incorporated into the natural, moisturizing lotion.

We will review a few of these natural scar lotions in this article.

Natural remedies are a cheap way to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Natural oils and gels, like rose hip oil, lavender oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil or cod liver oil and aloe vera gel, can be massaged directly on the affected area to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. These natural ingredients can also be mixed with others to produce more elaborate homemade lotions.

Home Remedies to Consider

For example, mix together:

*1/2 cup olive oil

*1/4 cup aloe vera gel

*4 capsules Vitamin E (remove liquid and discard casing)

*2 capsules Vitamin A liquid

And store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Every day you can apply this natural lotion to your skin. This mix is a moisturizer, so it will be necessary to exfoliate before applying it to your skin.

Another alternative is the following concoction. You can add a natural exfoliant like oatmeal or ground coffee.

*1/2 cup cocoa butter

*1 Tablespoon wheat germ oil

*1 Teaspoon apricot kernel oil

*1 Teaspoon Vitamin E oil

*2 Teaspoon grated beeswax

Heat this mixture until the beeswax is slightly melted. Then, store it in an airtight container in a cold, dry place. Apply this product directly to the stretch marks until you get the desired results.

Each one of the aforementioned alternatives is valid for different cases. The ultimate choice will depend on your budget and the extent of your condition. You will have to be patient, though; most of these treatments will take from 3 to 5 months to show positive results.