This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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If you suffered from acne earlier in life, then you may have some residual scars leftover. It’s normal to find these scars unsightly and want to remove them. While scars are removable with masks, peels, or minor medical procedures, these usually involve chemicals that might irritate your skin. If you’d like to avoid chemical treatments, then you could try a few home remedies to heal or conceal your scars. However, most of these remedies aren’t as effective as professional treatment. If you’ve tried treating your scars at home with no success, then visit your dermatologist to discuss your addition treatment options.
Steps
Home Remedies that Might Work
Home remedies for healing scars have mixed results. Some people find them useful, but there isn’t a lot of research confirming that they work. These remedies are harmless, however, so you can try them yourself and see if they work. Just monitor yourself to make sure you don’t experience any irritation from these products and stop using them if you do. If these treatments don’t work, then visit your dermatologist for more options.
Try onion extract gel for an effective treatment. New research shows that onion extract gel fades scars and makes them less noticeable. This would probably be your best option for an effective natural treatment. Rub the extract onto your scars once a day to see if you notice results in a few weeks.[1]- Onion extract works better on newer scars, so try to start applying it as soon as possible.
- Onion extract comes in different concentrations. Common ones are 50, 250, and 1,000 micrograms/ml. It's unclear if higher concentrations have a better effect on scars.[2]
Apply aloe vera gel if the scars are recent. Aloe vera can reduce inflammation on your skin and stop scar formation. If your acne scars are a few months old, then a daily aloe vera application could help clear them up.[3]- You can either use aloe vera cream, or the gel directly from an aloe plant.
- Aloe vera is probably less effective for treating older scars because the inflammation has already passed.
- Aloe could also help clear up acne inflammation, so you can make it part of your skincare routine.[4]
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Rub vitamin E oil onto the scars. Vitamin E oil is a common scar treatment, but research doesn’t prove that it helps get rid of scars. However, some people still find that it makes their scars fade over time, so try rubbing some into your scars once a day to see if it works for you.[5]- Common vitamin E oil concentrations range from 0.1% to 1%. Higher concentrations could cause irritations if you have sensitive skin.[6]
Rub coconut oil onto the scars. This is another reported home treatment for scars, but there isn’t much evidence supporting it. If you want to try it, use a raw coconut oil without added chemicals or preservatives.[7]
Apply manuka honey to newer scars. Medical-grade manuka honey has been shown to improve wound-healing and reduce scar formation. If you have recent acne wounds that are healing, try dabbing some honey onto them to prevent scars from starting.[8]- Manuka honey is different from regular food-grade honey, but it should still be available at supermarkets. It doesn’t contain any chemicals or preservatives like food-grade types.
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Hide Your Scars with Makeup
Besides removing scars altogether, you can also take some simple steps to hide them or make them less noticeable. You could cover them completely with a concealer, or style your makeup in a way that draws attention away from your scars.[9] Anyone can try these tricks, so don’t hesitate to try them out if you’re feeling self-conscious. If you still don’t like the appearance of your scars, then talk to your dermatologist for more options.
Get a concealer that matches your skin tone. If you're self-conscious about your scars, then some coverup could make them almost invisible. Start by getting a concealer that matches your skin tone. This will help the makeup blend in on your face.- This trick might not hide raised or deep scars as well, but it will still help make them less noticeable.
Apply primer first to help the makeup stick. Primer is a cream that helps makeup stick better, and apply it first will keep your makeup in place all day. Squeeze a dab onto your fingertips and rub it into all the spots you want to cover. Then wait a few minutes before applying your concealer.[10]- Primer could also fill in sunken scars, which will make your makeup look more even and hide the scar better.
Rub concealer onto the scars to cover them. After the primer is on, then take the concealer and apply it in a circular motion. Cover up all of your scars. Pat the concealer with a brush gently to even it out and blend it with your skin.- If the scars are sunken, you may need to apply the makeup a bit heavier to fill the area and smooth it out.
Avoid shiny or shimmering makeup products. Shiny makeup tends to accentuate your skin texture, which could make scars more noticeable. Instead, stick with matte products to soften your skin texture.
Style your makeup to draw attention away from your scars. This trick doesn’t exactly cover the scars, but it distracts people from looking at them. Try applying more vibrant makeup like colorful eyeshadow or bright lipstick. This way, people will be drawn to these areas rather than your scars, and the scars will be less noticeable.[11]- You can also apply coverup to the scars along with distracting people from looking at them.
- If you have scars on your forehead, you could also style your hair so it covers them.
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Medical Takeaways
There are some home remedies for getting rid of scars without chemicals, but the results for them are mixed. Some people find them effective, but they don’t work for everyone. They’re harmless to try, so you can see if they work to reduce the appearance of your own scars.If you don’t like the results, then you can talk to your dermatologist about having a scar-removal treatment. By far, the best way to treat scars is by treating your acne and stopping scars from forming in the first place, so if you’re still experiencing acne, clean your skin and avoid picking at your pimples to prevent scarring.
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Scars are usually sensitive to the sun and might get darker than the rest of your skin. Apply SPF 30 sunblock to your scars when you're outside in sunny weather to prevent them from getting more noticeable.[12]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3390235/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24074438/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25003428/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6298394/
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scars/treatment/
- ↑ https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E
- ↑ https://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=38614
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5698533/
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scars/treatment/
About this article
To get rid of your acne scars at home without using any chemicals, try applying aloe vera gel to your skin regularly, which can help reduce inflammation and stimulate cell growth and repair. Just make sure you use natural aloe vera gel without additives so you don't irritate your skin. You can also apply an alpha and beta hydroxy acid gel to your scars twice a day, which is an all-natural gel that helps exfoliate skin and reduce the appearance of scars. Besides using topical treatments, make sure you're taking care of your skin by washing it twice a day and exfoliating at least once a week. Apply non-comedogenic moisturizer, which is moisturizer that won't clog your pores, every day since dry skin can irritate and worsen acne scars. For advice from our Medical co-author, like how to prevent acne outbreaks and scarring, keep reading!
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"Thanks so much for all of your tips. It helped me a lot. Everyone's tips were awesome. And one piece of advice: Don't be stressed from acne or pimples because it will only take your precious time from life, which can be spent in a happy manner. Stay happy."..." more
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