10 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Scars
Did you struggle with acne as a teenager and still have the scars to prove it? Or maybe you’re struggling with acne as an adult and also have the scars to prove it! Perhaps you tripped and fell as a kid and ended up with a nasty scar on your forehead. Or you had surgery and your skin hasn’t quite looked the same. Scars are inevitable, unfortunately. But you can naturally remove scars! It’s part of living a great life! But even though most people likely don’t notice the scars you may have, you do. And that can make you feel self-conscious, and prevent you from enjoying life!
You’re probably rolling your eyes at this point, thinking, “Oh great, now they’re going to recommend skin care creams that cost an arm and a leg. Or cosmetic surgery that will drain my savings.” Well, we’re here to tell you that reducing the appearance of scars doesn’t have to cost you your savings! In fact, it may even cost you nothing, depending on what you have in your kitchen. Yes, these 10 ingredients below are powerful, all-natural remedies that can give you the results you want without leaving your wallet empty.
What Are Scars?
You may be reading this thinking this article doesn’t apply to you, because you don’t have a massive red line running across your arm from some accident. Scars aren’t always caused by something traumatic. Scars appear during the healing process, after your skin or tissue has been damaged. When that damage occurs, your body tries to repair the damage by releasing the protein collagen. If you keep up on skin care trends, you know collagen is huge, because collagen is what your body uses to help rejuvenate your skin, to keep it looking young and healthy. Your body releases collagen when you are injured, which works to reattach the damaged skin. Sure, it creates a scar in the process, but let’s all just appreciate for a moment how awesome our body is for repairing skin!
Of course, the bigger issue we all have with scars is whether or not they’ll last. Will that burn mark on your hand go away or be there forever? Will the acne scars on my skin ever leave? It’s a tough question. Part of the problem, of course, is that as we age, so does our skin and its ability to heal itself. When you were a kid, you probably got cuts and scrapes all the time, and the scars were gone a couple of weeks later. But as you age, scars tend to get thicker. They don’t go away and, while their appearance may fade, they are more difficult to remove, if at all.
But don’t lose hope! Just because your skin may not heal as quickly doesn’t mean you can’t help your skin along with these natural ingredients.
Ingredients and Treatments
Before deciding which natural ingredient to use, the first thing you need to understand is what makes these ingredients work, or else why even try the treatments? These ingredients aren’t some old wives’ tale we heard from our friend’s grandma, they are packed with the nutrients and antioxidants you need to make a real difference in reducing the appearance of scars. As you read, if you decide an ingredient is right for you, you’ll find a treatment included!
1. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a marvelous food. Not only are they a refreshing vegetable that can cool you off on a hot day, they also help your body, both on the outside and the inside. Cucumbers contain high levels of vitamin A. And vitamin A is absorbed deep into your skin in order to activate collagen production. If your body is low on vitamin A, your body’s collagen production lessens, leaving a bigger scar than what you could have had otherwise.
But cucumbers aren’t just a preventative measure for that moment right after you injure yourself. They are also loaded with vitamin C and vitamin B1, which all help to lessen the amount of dead skin cells on your body. And they contain silica, a compound produced in your body that helps connective tissue to regrow in your tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Who would have thought such a simple vegetable would be so powerful?
To use, take 2 tsp cucumber juice and apply it to your face. Let it sit on your skin for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with water. Repeat daily.
2. Rosehip Seed Oil
We hear about rosehip oil all the time, when it comes to natural anti-aging products. But it can be just as effective on your scars! Rosehip oil contains a high amount of essential fatty acids. While that may not sound great for your hips, it is wonderful for your face. Essential fatty acids help to repair and replenish dehydrated skin. Rosehip oil also contains retinol, a concentrated vitamin A. While retinol is a powerful wrinkle and fine lines fighter, it can also help reduce the appearance of scars and dark spots on the face. Also found in rosehip oil? Omega-6, omega-3, vitamin C, and linolenic acid. All of which helps to heal scars.
Apply rosehip seed oil directly to your skin. Massage gently until it is absorbed in the skin. Because rosehip oil is a dry oil, it won’t leave a greasy residue! Repeat daily.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is possibly a miracle ingredient in the skin care world. We know, we know, we have a lot of great things to say about many natural ingredients. So why is apply cider vinegar different? Aside from it being both affordable and easy to find, its powerful effects on your skin can’t be beat.
Apple cider vinegar is a natural astringent and disinfectant. When applied to the face, it removes all of the dirt and grime from the day to leave your skin feeling clean and smooth. These qualities also make it a great treatment for acne and acne scars, as it sluffs away dead skin cells when you apply it to your face. This in turn can help heal acne scars, and it forces your skin to push new skin cells to the surface, helping to reduce the appearance of scars.
Try mixing equal parts apple cider vinegar with honey. Using a cotton ball, apply it to the skin or affected area. Leave it on for about 10 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. Repeat two to three times a day, if desired.
4. Aloe Vera
A plant that has been around for a thousand years, and its touted health benefits praised for even longer! Aloe Vera is commonly known to naturally treat sunburns. And it does have a cooling and healing effect on those pesky burns. Aloe Vera has been found to reduce swelling, inflammation, and redness, which are all things we want to hear when it comes to scar repair. Aloe Vera even contains hormones that your body uses for wound healing. Aloe Vera helps to regenerate any damaged skin or tissue by helping the skin to heal faster, minimizing the scars you have developed.
Whether you’re using it for an acne breakout or from a stray knife in a cooking accident (onions, they’re far too slippery for our taste), you’ll find your skin will heal faster, and will feel better.
Using gel from the store, or pulled straight from the leaf, apply Aloe Vera gel directly onto your scar. Leave it on for a half hour or longer. You can even sleep with it on. Apply two to three times a day.
5. Lemon Juice
When you were younger, you probably put lemon juice in your hair when you went outside, so your hair color could get that naturally sun-bleached look (at least, that’s what we went for in our teens!). Or you had friends that did it. Lemon juice is known for its bleaching power, with more than just hair. Lemon juice is packed with alpha hydroxy acids, which have powerful healing properties for your skin. The alpha hydroxy acids help to remove dead skin cells, which allows those new skin cells to grow, and helps the skin be more elastic.
So why, exactly, would that help you in reducing the appearance of scars? Because by allowing that new skin to come to the surface, lemon juice helps those scars and discolorations on your skin to fade away, making any scars look less visible. This natural bleach packs a powerful punch in more ways than one!
To use, clean the area around the scar. Apply one teaspoon of lemon juice to the area with a cotton ball. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Then rinse with warm water
6. Baking Soda
Some people tout baking soda as the miracle cure for scaring and discoloration. And we tend to agree with them. Baking soda has multiple qualities that fade away scars. Baking soda can restore your skin’s pH balance by preventing bacteria from clumping, which helps fade away acne scars and other scars. It is a powerful natural exfoliator, helping to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that get trapped inside pores and slow the natural healing process. Just like lemon juice, it also acts as a natural bleach, helping scars and discoloration to fade away.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, there’s even more baking soda can do! Applying baking soda to your face helps to promote collagen growth in the skin, which helps to fill in indented scars by prompting the growth of new skin cells. It helps to reduce any redness from acne scars with its anti-inflammatory properties. Who would have thought a household baking product would be so powerful?
To use it, make a paste by mixing a little water with baking soda. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes if using like a mask. Or massage it into your skin in circular motions for its exfoliation properties.
7. Cocoa Butter
Sure, you hear about how too much butter isn’t good to eat, because of all the fat it contains. But when it comes to using cocoa butter as part of your skin care routine, the fat content isn’t a hindrance. Cocoa butter is considered so effective because of its highly concentrated fat content, which sinks deep into your skin to help moisturize, soften, and heal. If you are struggling with larger scars, cocoa butter may be your solution. Because it is able to penetrate so deeply into the skin, it can help to smooth out the tone and texture of your scars, making them look less noticeable.
Using cocoa butter on a consistent basis can do even more for your skin. It can help to facilitate the healing process by deeply hydrating your skin, encouraging the skin to repair the damage that creates the scars!
Massage cocoa butter into your skin, using it like lotion, as often as you are able, to see results.
8. Lavender
The first think you probably think of when you see the word lavender is relaxation. And rightly so – lavender has been used for years to help naturally treat insomnia and anxiety. With its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, applying lavender to your scars promotes healing, healthy skin cell formation, and helps with wrinkles, acne, and other inflammatory conditions.
And a great bonus, of course, is the smell. Once you apply it to your skin, you’ll enjoy the relaxing effects lavender has simply by breathing it in, as it works to help repair your skin.
Simply massage lavender directly onto the scar, repeating as often as you like to see results.
9. Shea Butter and 10. Coconut Oil
For our last ingredient highlight, we’re combining two ingredients. Their healing properties are similar and equally powerful, giving you an option of which to use to help reduce those scars.
Both shea butter and coconut oil are packed with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Both of these components have proven healing effects on scars, as they help to inhibit the growth of scar tissue and repair skin. By consistently applying one of these ingredients to any scars you may have, their powerful moisturizing benefits will work against the scar, helping it to reduce in appearance over time.
Treat these ingredients just like a lotion. Simply apply them to the scar and rub gently until absorbed into the skin, repeating as often as you are able.
So there you have it! Don’t let scars hold you back – try these natural solutions today to start seeing results!
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