If it seems like everyone has stretch marks, well, it's because most of us do! Whether puberty or pregnancy induced, the white or pink ribbons of skin are the result of our bodies stretching (or shrinking) more quickly than our skin can accommodate. Just because you, your nieces or nephews (or their mom!) have them, though, doesn't mean you're destined to live with them forever.

Instead, use this all-natural remedy excerpted from my new book, The Recipe For Radiance.

Sweet Potato + Honey Healer

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and chopped

• ¼ cup manuka honey

Directions:

• In a medium pot, boil the sweet potato in water until easily pierced with a fork, approximately 20 minutes.

• Drain and transfer to a food processor. Add the honey and blend until smooth and well combined

• Let it cool to room temperature before applying a thick layer to stretch marks. Let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

• Repeat daily for best results

Notes:

Retinols may be one of the go-to prescription treatments for healing stretch marks topically, but they cannot be applied during pregnancy. Retinols, though, get their power from Vitamin A—the same Vitamin A found in sweet potatoes! In this recipe, the sweet potato is combined with manuka honey, which has both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to help stimulate collagen production and the growth of new tissue.

Credit: Recipe reprinted with permission from THE RECIPE FOR RADIANCE: Discover Beauty’s Best-Kept Secrets in Your Kitchen © 2014 by Alexis Wolfer, Running Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

Photo: Courtesy of Alexis Wolfer
Published: April 9, 2014