How To Treat Acne Scars | Acne Scar Remedies at Home
Home remedies for acne scars include the use of sandalwood, ice, tomato, cucumber, eggs, turmeric, aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, honey, water, lavender oil, fenugreek, and a variety of organic substances.
Home remedies are useful in cases of severe infection or when acne has been pricked, squeezed or scratched. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reports that this intense 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.
What Is Acne?
Basically, acne refers to the blackheads, whiteheads, and short pink bumps called papules, which appear on the skin in the form of cysts as a result of prolonged contact with dust, polluted air, sweat or dirty water. Acne usually occurs on the face, but areas like the legs, buttocks, shoulders, chest, and back are also not spared by this skin condition in certain cases. According to the dermatologists at the Acne Research Institute in California, men and women can even experience acne at 25 or 35 years of age, sometimes even older, which many people don’t know since acne is typically associated with teenagers and pubescent individuals.
Acne is caused due to plugged pores and an outbreak of lesions, as reported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Acne can be an embarrassing condition to experience when you are a teenager and an adult; but once those hormonally charged years are over, and you have reduced the chances of recurrences, the scars, spots, and after marks of acne can still cause a lot of self-esteem and confidence problems. That is why curing the condition of acne is not enough; the acne scars must also be taken care of
Acne Scars Causes
There are a number of things responsible for acne scars. Different dermatologists have different theories for their emergence. Although none of them indicate to a whole and sole cause of it, one thing that is common is that they are influenced by the skin of a person and the environmental conditions of where they live. Below, we have discussed some of the reasons for acne scarring:
Presence of Oil on the Skin: Too much oil makes it difficult for the skin to breathe by clogging the skin pores, thereby slowing the healing process and causing scars.
Accumulation of Bacteria: The ideal place for the bacteria to grow is around the hair follicles. This results in red and yellow colored lesions on the acne prone area.
Dead Skin Cells: The oil glands present inside your skin secrete sebum; this process helps lubricate your skin. When these oil glands secrete a huge amount of sebum, it results in the accumulation of dead skin cells, which causes acne scarring.
The above three are the primary reasons or causes for acne scarring. We shall also take a look at the secondary reasons:
- Genetics: Genetics also play an important role in acne scarring. Those who have parents who went through the same ordeal are more prone to have acne scars than others.
- Poking and Pinching: Another thing that can cause scars is the pinching and poking of acne spots or pimples.
- No Treatment: If you have acne and are experiencing a lot of them on the face, arms, shoulders, etc., then it is crucial that you take some treatment for it. Because if you don’t, then acne scars are expected to happen.
Acne Scars Remedies at Home
The commonly used home remedies for acne scars include the following:
Apple Cider Vinegar
It is a good toner that helps to clear up scars and acne marks. Vinegar is a powerful astringent that also stimulates blood flow to areas, which speeds healing and regeneration of cells.
Ice
Applying ice to the face helps to tighten pores and to reduce secretion of acne-causing sebum. Ice also works as a natural astringent to tighten up the pores around marks and scars, making scarring less obvious, by decreasing the size of the pores that were affected by acne in the first place.
Toothpaste
You can apply toothpaste on the acne to relieve swelling and pain every night for at least a week to experience a significant improvement.
Fuller’s Earth
This beneficial substance is commonly used for cleaning oily skin, clearing out skin pores, and diminishing scars due to acne. A face pack prepared from a mixture of fuller’s earth and rose water can be applied to the face for quick results and can reduce the effects of any sebum that has been additionally built up beneath the pores on the face.
Vitamin E
This essential vitamin helps in countering pimples since it is a natural antioxidant that eliminates free radicals associated with skin diseases. The common vitamin E supplements are soft gelatin capsules containing pure vitamin E along with glycerin, water, and soybean oil.
Makeup and Creams
For women who want to reduce the appearance of their acne scars, be sure to choose makeup that is light, non-greasy, and oil-free. Obviously, it is natural to want to cover the scars, but if you do it with harsh makeup or more chemicals, you could be making the problem worse.
Application of lavender oil on acne scars can revitalize the skin since it has many regenerative properties.
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 rejuvenates the skin. Rosehip seed oil is an important ingredient in cosmetic products and is commonly used to treat acne scarring, facial scarring, sun-tan damage and premature aging. Massage the skin with this oil two times a day for best results.
Mint Juice
You can always apply the mint juice on the face as it is highly natural and nutrient-rich substance that has been connected with anti-inflammation and a reduction in acne symptoms.
Water
Water is probably the best available natural method to treat acne scars. You should drink plenty of water, as it helps in flushing out the toxins from your body and revitalizing it. Water also assists in shedding dead skin cells and the formation of healthy skin. Drinking lukewarm water in the morning specifically helps in flushing out toxins.
Strawberry Leaves
After eating strawberries, do not throw away their leaves, as these are helpful in curing pimples on the face.
Olive Oil
You should use olive oil for cooking since it not only makes food appetizing but can also lighten acne scars. Lightly massage olive oil onto the skin, and it will make the skin smooth again and reduce the scars. Olive oil is packed with natural antioxidants, which is why it is frequently used around the world for a variety of health benefits, but in terms of clearing the skin of marks and scars, it is one of the best options for a home remedy.
Apply freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice on the scars, and then 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, along with improving the elasticity of the skin.
Honey
Honey is a natural moisturizer, which is used in the treatment of acne scars. Eating honey and applying a honey mask on the face are found to be effective in acne scar treatment.
Tomato Slices
Rubbing tomato slices on scars is found to be effective in reducing the appearance of the marks or scars. This is partially due to the vitamin A and carotenes in tomatoes, which not only provide the red color but are also antioxidant compounds that can heal damaged tissues and promote the healthy re-growth of cells.
Sandalwood Paste
Apply a mixture of sandalwood paste in rosewater and leave it on your face overnight, then wash it off the next morning. Repeat this process until there is a marked improvement in scars. The usefulness of sandalwood in skin care is very well known. It has actually been one of the traditional, essential elements of make-up kits for women in India for many years. Even today, there are several brands that prepare soaps that highlight sandalwood as one of its key ingredients.
Egg Whites
Egg whites are easy to obtain and are effective in treating acne scarring. Apply egg whites on the scars using a cotton ball and leave it on overnight to get the best effect. Eggs contain a huge amount of protein and by applying that directly to your skin, you can speed the healing process. Proteins are the building blocks of cellular tissue, and muscle, so directly applying and leaving it on your face can boost the speed of your acne scar recovery.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is one of the most popular remedies for curing acne problems. This diluted oil is applied to the spots affected by acne. There is a strong belief that this oil consists of terpinen-4-ol, which eliminates bacterial activity and easily kills the bacteria permanently. It neutralizes the acne bacteria called Propionibacterium and other dangerous bacteria, which dwell on your skin and can quickly develop into acne.
Sandalwood Paste
Apply a mixture of sandalwood paste in rosewater and leave it on your face overnight, then wash it off the next morning. Repeat this process until there is a marked improvement in scars. The usefulness of sandalwood in skin care is very well known. It has actually been one of the traditional, essential elements of make-up kits for women in India for many years. Even today, there are several brands that prepare soaps that highlight sandalwood as one of its key ingredients.
