The human skin is made up of elastin. You can think of it as a soft and stretchable tissue, which cannot stretch beyond a certain limit. Sometimes, that limit is crossed due to excess weight gain or loss, pregnancy, exercising and even the growth of body during puberty. In such cases, the body develops stretch marks, they fade away over a period of time, but they never really go away.

If you want to remove stretch marks from your body, you have to make efforts. Here are some 100% natural remedies for getting rid of stretch marks.

#1 Apricot Mask

Use 2 apricots. Wash and remove their seeds, and make a paste out of the fruit slices. Apply this paste on whichever area of your body has stretch marks, and let it remain there for half an hour. Wash if off with some lukewarm water. Apply this mixture daily for about 30 days to notice results.

#2 Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is pretty much a solution to every skin problem out there, which is why its extracts are used in so many beauty products nowadays. It contains collagen which helps the skin repair itself naturally. If possible, use aloe gel extracted fresh from aloe plants, otherwise you can use a store bought aloe vera gel.

If you are extracting gel from the leaf, make sure you first remove its outer skin. Scoop the gel with a spoon and then apply it on your stretch marks. Leave it there for at least two hours, and then wash it off with cold water.

#3 Potato Juice

Potatoes are one of the cheapest vegetables available in the Indian market, and ironically, one of the most underestimated ones as well when it comes to beauty remedies. It contains fatty acids, polyphenols and carotenoids along with minerals and vitamins. In short, it is extremely good for your skin.

Take a medium sized raw potato, wash it and then cut it into medium sized slices. Use a slice to rub over your stretch marks, and continue to do so for 10 minutes at least. Wash off the remaining juice with water. Apply it daily for best results.

#4 Drink Lots of Water

Your skin needs to be hydrated else it'll simply be dry and will be prone to more stretch marks. At least 8 glasses of water are compulsory for each day. Water helps restore the elasticity of the skin, not to mention it will keep your skin healthy and supple

#5 A Healthy Diet

Your body requires a set amount of nutrients per day, and lack of even a single one of them can affect your skin. No amount of moisturizers, lotions or skin creams can provide you with the nourishment that these nutrients can

#6 Proteins are a must

Yogurt, pumpkin seeds, daal, beans and fish are excellent sources of protein. Vitamin C and e (strawberries, spinach, olive oil, papaya, oranges etc) and mineral rich foods like apples are also important. Do make sure that you do not ingest a lot of saturated fats because they will simply make you gain weight very quickly, resulting in more stretch marks.