Acne is one of the most challenging and frustrating skin issues to manage. And oftentimes it can wreak havoc on your skin for much longer than the breakout lasts due to scarring. Acne scars can form after a breakout and cause dips and bumps that alter the texture of your skin. This can take a toll on your self-esteem and make you want to hide your skin altogether.
Depending on the type and severity of the scarring, dermatologists can perform specific treatments to reduce or eliminate the scars. However, if you’re looking for an easier way, a variety of natural solutions can help minimize these pesky marks.
First, knowing what type of acne scars you have is essential before trying home remedies. Some types of scars may need to be treated medically. You should visit your dermatologist and ask them if there are any home remedy ingredients you should stay away from to avoid worsening your condition.
Acne scars and pimple marks can either appear as indentations in the skin or as raised bumps. These eight natural solutions contain powerfully active plant compounds that may be able to lighten and soften discolored, raised scars or marks so they’re not quite so visible.
All of them are fairly easy to find at any health food store, or you might even have them in your home already. They’re generally safe to use, but remember that even natural remedies can cause irritation for some people.
Scars may take some time to get rid of, up to 6 months or more, and some types may never disappear entirely. These natural acne scar solutions can help the most when used regularly for a few months. Read on to find out what works best!
Natural Remedies to Help Get Rid of Acne Scars
Aloe Vera
The jelly-filled leaves of the aloe vera plant are known to have exceptional healing and soothing properties. No good sunburn should go without it!
But aloe also contains an ingredient that helps reduce hyperpigmentation called aloin. Aloin can help eliminate scarring that has a red or dark color by fading out the pigment. The desert plant also helps fight inflammation and could improve cellular regeneration, which may help heal scars faster.
Aloe can be applied directly to scar marks and left on overnight.
Honey
Honey is another marvel in the skincare world for so many reasons. In addition to anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, honey may help fade the appearance of acne scars by speeding up the healing process. It’s also known to be a great exfoliator, which helps increase cell turnover.
Manuka honey is said to be the most potent type of honey. It can be used as a spot treatment on acne scars, or you can make your own face mask to cover more of your face. Tip: always use raw honey so you get all the effective ingredients.
Rosehip Seed Oil
The oil from this potent rose-fruit seed has definitely reached superstar status in skincare lately. With a unique combination of vitamin C and a hefty amount of fatty acids, rosehip seed oil increases cell regeneration, repairs damage, and strengthens the moisture seal. Vitamin C is also known to be an effective skin-brightening agent. Linoleic acid is the main fat in rosehip seed oil that’s most active in reducing acne lesions.
All of these actions can help clear your skin of scars. You can use rosehip seed oil alone as a spot treatment, but it’s also an ingredient in many skincare products.
Try our Reparative Serum for a potent dose of this fabulous oil!
Black Seed Oil
Black seed oil comes from black cumin seeds and has long been used in many ancient cultures for its health and beauty benefits. This is a nutrient-rich oil with plenty of amino acids, antioxidants and fatty acids to give any skin type a boost. But it’s especially effective at reducing acne scars because of its ability to fade discoloration and speed up the healing process.
Vitamin A in black seed oil is a potent acne-fighting nutrient, and it has anti-inflammatory and cell regeneration properties. Plus, it also acts as an exfoliant that helps improve the texture and tone of the skin.
You can use black seed oil by itself to treat scars directly, or you can combine it with other skin-loving oils and apply it to your whole face.
Essential Oils
In addition to their many practical uses, a variety of different essential oils can be used to help reduce acne scars, thanks to their healing attributes. Many essential oils kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and stimulate skin regeneration. However, because they’re so potent, you’ll want to do a test patch before using them on your scars to check for a potential reaction.
Here are some of the best essential oils for scar reduction:
- Helichrysum
- Lavender
- Neroli
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Jasmine absolute
- Carrot Seed
These essential oils must be diluted in a carrier oil before putting them on your skin. Some of the best carrier oils include jojoba, avocado, grapeseed, sweet almond, and olive oil. You only need a few drops of essential oils to get their benefits, so use them sparingly!
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is known as a powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and has been used to treat acne for a long time. Whether it can reduce acne scars isn’t completely clear, but it’s a safe method that could help minimize them over time. It may be most helpful for raised scars compared to pitted scars that lie beneath the surface of your skin.
Dilute tea tree oil in a carrier oil, starting with only a few drops per ounce of carrier.
Lemon Juice
When life gives you lemons, you make lemon juice and use it to reduce your acne scars! You might not want to apply it directly though, because lemons are pretty acidic and could cause irritation. It makes for a worthy ingredient in masks and other products, however. With sugars, citric acid and vitamin C, it may work on scars by acting as an exfoliant and cell regenerator. Studies show that vitamin C is effective at reducing hyperpigmentation.
Try this lemon and honey mask recipe for diminishing hyperpigmentation.
Turmeric
This golden yellow spice is a hot item in skincare these days because of its strong healing potential. Besides being shown to be effective for various skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it may also help clear skin of acne scars. The most potent active compound in turmeric is curcumin, and research shows it can be useful for lightening dark spots on skin.
One way to use turmeric for dark spots is to mix a quarter of a teaspoon with juice from a whole lemon and apply it to the spot for about 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.
To Sum it All Up…
Acne scars are a confidence-busting consequence of breaking out. While some scars may need a dermatologist, a variety of simple and safe solutions exist that may help over time. Natural acne scar treatments like rosehip seed oil, lemon juice, turmeric and the others listed above are easy to find and can be used at home. Nature provides so many amazing alternatives, and these remedies are worth a try!