Do you have stretch marks and wish they'd go away? Well, first you should know that these grooves or long narrow ripples or lines in your skin aren't dangerous to your health. They just aren't that great to look at. Stretch marks, also called stria, are the result of a sudden stretching of the skin due to childbirth, rapid growth in a child, or even dramatic weight gain or loss. They can be visible on the tummy, thighs, hips, breasts, upper arms, and lower back. Anyone can develop stretch marks, although they tend to affect more women than men. Though they'll never really go away, they might fade over time or as a result of using certain products and procedures. Here are some natural ways to reduce the appearance of stretch marks: Castor oil: Apply castor oil to the skin, cover it, and keep warm for about 20 minutes. Castor oil stimulates the production of collagen and can help restore the skin to its natural shape and help fade stretch marks. It can also be used to soothe sunburn and rehydrate dry skin. Cocoa butter: Massage the affected skin areas twice a day with cocoa butter. Within a couple of months you should see some positive results. Cocoa butter has amazing skin-healing properties, and it can help reduce wrinkles and heal stretch marks. Egg whites: Whip up the whites of two eggs and then apply them thickly to the affected areas of skin. Leave the egg whites to dry completely and then wash off with warm water. Repeat once a day for best results. Egg whites are a great way to nourish the skin with protein and bring back some of its elasticity. Alfalfa seeds: Mix alfalfa powder with chamomile oil into a paste and apply it to the skin. Leave the paste on for about five minutes and then wash it off with warm water. Repeat for a few weeks for best results. Alfalfa is rich in vitamins E and K and is a good source of the amino acids that can help the skin to repair itself. Sugar: Mix some sugar with almond oil and a few drops of lemon juice and then massage it gently into the skin. Exfoliating in this way can help fade stretch marks as it encourages the growth of new skin cells which can help fade them out. Aloe Vera gel: Squeeze the gel out of an aloe vera leaf and apply it directly to the skin. If used on a regular basis, any stretch marks will be much less visible. Aloe vera gel has a wonderful cooling and moisturising effect on the skin, and it also helps to restore elasticity. Black tea: Boil up two tablespoons of black tea and add some salt to it. Apply the mixture to the stretch marks and leave it to sit for 15 minutes and then wash off. Black tea contains lots of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12 which helps to control skin pigmentation. Potato juice: Cut a potato into thick slices and then rub them on your skin. Leave the juice to dry and then wash off with warm water. Potatoes are a good source of the vitamins and minerals needed to promote healthy skin. Olive oil: Massage warm olive oil into the skin daily and watch the stretch marks fade. Olive oil contains ingredients that moisturise, clean and nourish the skin. This old remedy has the ability to help fight the damaging effect of free radicals on the collagen and improve the blood flow to the skin. Lemon juice: Rub some fresh lemon juice into your stretch marks and leave the juice to sit for about ten minutes. Repeat to get the desired result. Lemon juice is naturally acidic and has a mild bleaching effect. It will help to fade other types of scars and blemishes as well.
