Home Remedies for Acne Scars
Home remedies for acne scars include sandalwood, ice, tomato, cucumber, eggs, turmeric, Aloe Vera, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, honey, water, lavender oil, fenugreek and fruits and vegetables.
Home remedies for acne scars are useful in cases of severe infection or when acne has been squeezed. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reports that acne skin condition afflicts as many as 50 million Americans. Mild acne scars heal on their own, while the deep scars might remain for entire life. Mild acne scars can be safely and effectively treated with home remedies using natural products.
Home remedies of acne scars
Acne is caused due to plugged pores and outbreak of lesions, as reported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Some of the commonly used home remedies for acne scars include the following:
Sandalwood Paste: Apply a mixture of sandalwood paste in rosewater and leave it overnight and wash off the next morning. Repeat this process till there is marked improvement in scars. The usefuleness of sandalwood in skin care is so well known, that it has been one of the essential elements of make-up kit of women in India traditionally. Even now, there are several brands that prepare soaps with sandalwood as one of the key ingredients.
Ice: Applying ice on face helps to tighten pores and to reduce secretion of acne causing sebum.
Tomato Slices: Rubbing tomato slices on scars is also found to be effective in lightening the marks.
Cucumber Juice: Cucumber juice is an ideal skin toner, which improves texture of skin. Cucumber reduces inflammation, soothes the skin and heals the scars caused by acne.
Egg Whites: Egg whites are easy to obtain and are effective in treating acne scar. Apply egg whites on the scars using a cotton ball and leave it overnight to reduce acne scars.
Turmeric: Turmeric has been used for thousands of years in the Orient as a beauty product and applying turmeric paste on the skin or ingesting turmeric is effective in the management of acne scars.
Aloe Vera & Sage: Sage and Aloe Vera are well known healing agents, which would bring relief to acne scars. Soak sage in hot water, cool it and apply on the skin. Aloe Vera can be applied directly to the skin.
Apple Cider Vinegar: It is a good toner that helps to clear up the scars and acne marks.
Lime Juice: Apply freshly squeezed juice of lime or lemon on the scars, leave it for a while before washing it off. The bleaching property of lime juice makes the marks less visible. Lime juice also helps in the removal of dead skin cells and in the regeneration of new cells besides retaining the elasticity of the skin.
Olive Oil: Use olive oil for cooking as it not only makes the food more appetizing, but also lightens acne scar. Lightly massage olive oil on the skin, which makes the skin smooth and would reduce the scars.
Honey: Honey is a natural moisturizer, which is used in the treatment of acne scars. Intake of honey and application of honey mask on the face are found to be effective in acne scar treatment.
Water: Water is probably best available natural method to treat the acne scars. Drink plenty of water, as it helps in flushing out the toxins from your body and making it revitalized. Water also assists you in shedding dead skin cells and the formation of healthy skin. Drinking lukewarm water in the morning helps in flushing out toxins.
Fruits and Vegetables: Include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet to reduce acne scars.
Rosehip Seed Oil: Rosehip seed oil can reduce acne scars and lessen discoloration. This oil is also a powerful anti-aging agent, which reduces wrinkles and regenerates the skin. Rosehip seed oil is an important ingredient in cosmetic products and is commonly used to treat acne scarring, facial scarring, sun tan and premature aging among others. Massage the skin with this oil two times a day for best results.
Lavender Oil: Application of Lavender oil on the acne scars can revitalize the skin as it has regenerative properties.
Fenugreek: It is commonly used in the treatment of acne scars. Boil some fenugreek seeds in water and cool it before applying to the scars. Application of face mask made of fenugreek leaves paste is also equally effective.
Fuller's Earth: It is commonly used for cleaning oily skin, skin pores and scars due to acne. A face pack prepared from mixture of fuller's earth and rose water can be applied on face.
A Word of Caution
Home remedies are only recommended for mild acne scars and if you have secondary infection or deep scars, you should consult a qualified dermatologist before setting out on the treatment regimen. Apart from natural goodness of home remedies, a nutritious diet can go a long way in healing the scars of acne.
References: American Academy of Dermatology and National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
