Stretch marks are visible lines on the skin surface which often occur around thighs, upper arms, breasts, buttocks and abdominal wall. They occur due to sudden changes in body size as rapid weight gain, puberty and pregnancy.

The saddest thing about stretch marks is that they cannot be removed by working out. Fortunately, there natural and totally harmless techniques of getting rid of stretch marks. If you really desire to wear that two-piece bathing suit again, here are the best ways to remove stretch marks:

1. Using castor oil

So far, castor oil has a good reputation of treating various skin problems including age spots, moles, wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and pimples. It can also be effectively used to remove stretch marks. All you need to do is:

· Begin by applying castor oil on the region infested with stretch marks.

· Massage this region in circular motions for about 5-10 minutes.

· Use a thin cotton cloth to wrap the area and apply heat using a heating pad or hot water bottle for about 30 minutes.

· Do this on daily basis and after a few months, the stretch marks will disappear

2. Herbal moisturizers

Herbal moisturizers are good at not only improving your skins appearance but also its elasticity. Stretch marks are usually lumps of skin. Therefore, if your skin becomes more elastic, it will stretch often tearing the stretch marks. Also, stretch marks on moisturized skins are easily terminated.

You can use herbal lotions on new stretch marks or on regions which are susceptible to them. These lotions can also be used on old stretch marks to camouflage their appearance. Some of the over-the-counter moisturizers might have side effects. If you are worried, you can make your own using readily available ingredients such as aloe vera, olive oil and germ oil.

3. Egg whites

If you want to get rid of stretch marks using eggs, use only the egg whites. Generally, eggs are rich in proteins which treat skin cells but egg whites contain amino acids which eliminate stretch marks. Here is a step by step guide:

· Take egg whites from two eggs and whip them gently with a fork.

· Clean the affected area with clean water.

· Using a makeup brush, apply a thick layer of egg white.

· Dont disturb the egg whites as they do their magic. Once they dry up, rinse with clean cold water.

· Apply some olive oil of moisturizing effects.

· Do this every day for two weeks for faster results.

4. Use of Retin-A

Retin-A is an acronym for retinoic acid cream. Scientific studies have proved that using creams rich in Retin-A eliminates stretch marks. This ingredient boosts collagen generation hence enhancing the skins ability to stretch without tearing. However, there are some important things you have to know:

· This ingredient is not very effective on old stretch marks.

· Retin-A is not suitable for nursing or pregnant women.

· You must have a prescription to get Retin-A based products.

· When using this product, avoid too much sun as it is susceptible to burning.

Conclusion

Stretch marks can affect both men and women. Known causes of stretch marks are genetics, body building, ethnicity, corticosteroids, puberty and pregnancy. The safest way of treating them is by using 100% natural products. Otherwise, consult your dermatologist.