Table of Contents
What is Scar?
When the skin is injured or damaged through the first layer, there will be fibrous tissue or commonly known as scar tissue which is formed over the injuries in order to protect the wounds and replace the skin.
Scar can vary in size and shape and its tissue is the same type as the tissue of healthy skin; however, its fiber arrangement of the tissue is different.
What causes Scar?
Scar can come from various sources such as accidents or burns, or problems such as chicken pox, acne, scrape and insect bite, vaccinations and surgery also leave you scar as well[1][2].
Types of scar:
Keloid scar: is the consequence of process of healing aggressively[3][4]. This type of scar often restrains movement. In order to remove this scar, you will need to have surgery, or injections of steroid or even use silicone sheet to have the scar flatten and fade. For small scar, the treatment might just need the freezing therapy with liquid nitrogen to solve. Preventative methods can be pressure treatment or pads of silicone gel right from when you get the injuries. Also people with dark skin usually incur this type of scar.
Contracture scar: result from burn and this scar will have your skin tightened which will restrain your movement[5]. Burning scar sometimes go way beyond the first layer of skin, even affect muscles or nerves.
Hypertrophic scar: similar to keloid scar; however, they don’t go outside the injuries’ boundary. Treatments are also similar with the uses of steroids for anti-inflammation or application of silicone sheets for scar flattening.
Acne scar: appear due to be having acne severely and the shape is also diversified from deep pits to angular or even wavelike. Also the treatment will need to be depended on the type of acne you are diagnosed.
Scar might bring no pain; however, it will make you less confident in yourself or self-conscious and also take impacts on your outer appearance.
In fact, there are no specific procedures which can help you get rid of scar for good. Those treatments can only help you conceal the scar through fading it. Also those remedies will need to take time before you can actually observe any noticeable changes.
Here are the top 15 most effective home remedies for scar removal which are extremely easy for you to apply at home in order to help you become more confident in your appearance…
1. Aloe Vera
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe Vera can improve the healing process of injured skin as well as promote healthy skin through affecting on the texture of skin[6][7].
How to use:
- Take the gel from Aloe Vera leaves and apply directly on the scar.
- Massage circularly for a while and after about 30 minutes, clean the gel off.
- Perform twice per day.
Note: Avoid applying the Aloe Vera gel when the wounds are still open. For more information about the benefits of Aloe Vera, please read: Home Remedies for Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes.
2. Coconut Oil
Vitamin E with antioxidant property can improve the healing process and prevent any new scar. Furthermore, the capric, lauric and caprylic acids from coconut oil can promote the production of collagen[8].
How to use:
- Warm up the oil and apply on the scar.
- Massage the scar area for about 10 minutes.
- Do not clean for at least 1 hour so that the oil can be absorbed through the skin.
- Perform 2 to 4 times per day.
Coconut oil is a popular household item and it can also treat various problems and diseases as well. You can find out more at: Home Remedies for Armpit Lumps and Loss of Smell and Taste.
3. Vitamin E Oil
Antioxidant property of vitamin E can assist the scar fading[9]. Besides, it also moisturizes and keeps your skin hydrated which will promote the healing of injured skin as well as lighten your scar.
How to use:
- Take the oil from vitamin E capsules
- Directly apply the oil onto the scar.
- Massage the area for at least 10 minutes.
- After about 20 minutes, clean off with water.
- Perform couples of time per day.
Note: Remember to test if the skin is allergic to the oil by sampling on a small area of the skin. For information about the application of vitamin E, please read: Home Remedies for Hangnails and Cold Sores.
4. Olive Oil
Also abundant of vitamin E, it can help moisturize as well as improve the healing process of injured skin[10].
How to use:
- Warm up the oil and apply directly on the scar. Massage circularly for a while. After about 30m minutes, clean it off or you can choose to leave it there through the night.
- For better effective, mix olive oil with lavender oil, then repeat the same procedure as above. However, you will need to clean the oil off this time with warm water.
- Perform the remedy couples of time per day.
5. Lemon
Alpha hydroxy acid of lemon is effective at eliminating dead cells on the skin, encourage the production of new cells as well as increase elasticity of skin.
Vitamin C and bleaching property also assist the healing of injured skin as well as scar fading.
How to use:
- Take the juice and directly apply on the scar. For people with sensitive skin, you can mix with either vitamin E oil or rose water before applying.
- After about 10 minutes, clean off using warm water.
- Perform once per day.
Note: You might get photosensitivity after using lemon; therefore, keep out of sunlight for a short while after applying and use sunscreen cream.
6. Honey
Act as a moisturizer, honey can help eliminate dead cells as well as promote regeneration of skin tissue[11].
How to use:
- Put some honey onto the scar, use bandage for covering. After 1 night, clean off with water. Perform once per day before bed.
- Take some honey together with sugar to create a scrub. Use it on the scar area. After few minutes, clean off, dry and use moisturizer. Perform 1 to 2 times per week.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
With its acidic nature, apple cider vinegar can help eliminate dead cells on the skin. Furthermore, it can maintain a balance level of pH on the skin which is good for texture of skin, thus improve skin cell growths as well as lighten the scar[12].
How to use:
- Take some vinegar into equal amount of water. Use a cotton ball to soak and apply on the scar. After about 5 minutes, clean off with water. Perform once per day.
- Make a solution by taking couple of tablespoon of vinegar with 1 teaspoon of honey into 2/3 glass of water. Direct apply onto the scar, after about 30 minutes, clean off with warm water. Perform once per day.
8. Cocoa Butter
Being a remarkable moisturizer for all kinds of scar, it can go beyond the first layer of skin and moisturize the skin for a longer while.
How to use:
- Put some cocoa butter onto the scar and massage circularly.
- After 1 night, clean off with warm water.
- Perform on daily basis until there are positive changes.
9. Tea Tree Oil
The anti-inflammatory property of it is significantly effective against blemishes and scars[13][14]. It helps your skin heal quicker and control your skin condition more efficiently.
How to use:
- Put 4 drops of oil into couple tablespoon of water. Use that to clean the scar area for 2 to 3 times per day.
- Take 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil into a teaspoon of almond oil. Put it on the scar and leave it there for about 30 minutes. After that, clean off with warm water. Perform once per day.
Note: Avoid using raw tea tree oil and remember to sample the oil for allergic tests.
10. Sandalwood
Contain soothing property, sandalwood can help generate skin cells which will lighten the scars effectively.
How to use:
- Take sandalwood oil with any other oil of your preference. Apply using the cotton ball. After about 30 minutes, clean off with water. Perform twice per day.
- Make a paste from rose water with sandalwood powder. Put the paste onto the scar. After about 1 hour, clean off using cold water. Perform once per day.
11. Baking Soda
It is considered a natural remedy of microdermabrasion.
How to use:
- Make a paste from baking soda and water.
- Apply the paste onto the scar and massage.
- Let the paste dry out and after that, clean off with warm water.
- Perform 2 to 3 times per week.
12. Mustard Seed Oil
Use the types of ointment which contain 10% of mustard seed. Apply on the scar for 3 times daily for couples of week in order to improve the appearance of the scar.
13. Lavender Oil
With rejuvenating property, using lavender oil couples of time per day on the scar can produce positive effect for the scar[15].
14. Rose Hip Seed Oil
Take equal amount of rose hip seed oil with rose essential oil to make a solution. Use it to apply on the scar. Also remember to store this solution in bottle with dark colors to shield it from bright light which can reduce its effect.
15. Massage
Massage is proven to have scar softening ability. Apply pulsed electrotherapy can halt and control types of scar such as keloid and hypertrophic. Keep massaging daily can help break down the tissues of scar and assist in fading scar[16].
Extra Tips:
- Use a piece of cloth to apply cool green tea onto the scar and massage. Perform regularly for improving scar fading.
- Make a paste from aspirin and water and apply onto the scar twice per day.
- Another option is using toothpaste to apply on the scar.
- Keep the scars out of sunlight as it might reduce the effect of the remedies.
- Perform exfoliation often to eliminate old skin layers. This will encourage production of new cells and lighten the scars.
- Choose the types of concealer that match your skin for scar hiding.
- Consume more vitamin-C-and-E-rich foods to improve the healing.
- Take fish oil supplementary capsules after consulting the doctors can also help fade the scars.
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