While large scars can require dermatological or even surgical interventions, small scars may be very well dealt with from home. Scar creams and fancy treatments may abound, but they aren’t always necessary. Check out these home remedies for treating facial scars.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a great home remedy for burns, but they can also be used to treat facial scarring. Creams and gels with an aloe vera base are readily available in the pharmaceutical and beauty section of your nearest department store, but you can also buy the plant and use the goo straight from the leaves. Part of the trick to keeping sores from scarring or to improve the look of scars is to keep the area moist and free of germs. Not only is aloe vera moisturizing, it has antibacterial properties as well. In this way, it helps to regenerate the skin, making it look healthier and smoother. It is important to note, however, that aloe vera works best on new or fresh scars, being generally ineffective on scars that have already been around for awhile.
Lemon Juice
Smearing acid on your face may not seem like a “healing” method, but in fact, many people find lemon juice to be an extremely effective choice for treating facial scars. Lemon juice is used in a variety of cleaning products, largely because of its bleaching effect. The citric acid in lemons can actually have the same effect on your facial scars. It’s high vitamin C may benefit the collagen in your skin as well. You can simply cut the lemon into slices and rub one on the scar, or squeeze a little juice onto a qtip or cotton ball and apply. Make sure to use juice straight from the fruit, not artificial products that taste or smell like lemons. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you may want to opt for something less irritating and less dehydrating.
Natural Oils
Coconut and olive oil are also touted as being beneficial for the skin and facial scars. Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties, as well as being a natural anti-inflammatory and even analgesic to some extent. Additionally, it contains Vitamin E and fatty acids that are great for your skin. Smearing a layer of coconut oil over your scar -- or an injury that’s healing -- helps keep it from drying out, gives it a barrier of protection from infectious microbes, and provides key nutrients for healthy skin. Take a small scoop of hardened coconut oil and allow it to melt in your hand before applying it to the scar. Olive oil has a different array of nutrients but can be equally helpful for facial scars -- particularly those caused by acne. And by softening the skin without clogging up your pores, you can get rid of existing scars without creating potential new ones.
Perhaps the best thing about using these natural oils is that you can combine them with other natural remedies that might otherwise be too harsh for your skin. Lemon juice, for example, or tea tree or lavender essential oils, both of which are claimed to be good for scarring and preventing scars. Tea tree is a natural cleansing agent, and lavender is good for inflammation. Additionally, adding a natural exfoliant (sugar or Epsom salt) to olive oil allows you to remove dead skin cells before applying a healing agent and can give your skin an extra boost of healthiness whilst helping to treat facial scars. Talk to your dermatologist about alternative options if home remedies are not successful for you, or if you have an adverse reaction to any of these products.
