Your skin is a reflection of your internal health. Glowing, beautiful, and healthy skin is the result of proper care, hydration, and a balanced diet.
However, sometimes due to a variety of factors (such as stress, alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, smoking, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, and using lotions and creams that are wrong for your skin type) you can end up with whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and acne scars.
Occasional breakouts and chronic acne are a common problem for many people. Some severe cases of acne can result in unpleasant acne scarring. Although most acne scars fade away on their own with time, others may require a bit of help on your part to disappear without staining your skin. Chronic breakouts coupled with additional skin irritation from squeezing or picking at the pimples can aggravate acne and lead to acne scars.
What Causes Acne Scars?
Every inflammation harms the skin and the tissue underneath, requiring the body to produce collagen to mend the damage. Depending on how much collagen is produced, there are two types of acne scars: discouraged pimple inflammation scars, where the body produces too little collagen, and raised pimple inflammation scars characterized by an excess of collagen.
Many prescription drugs and topical medications are available, but natural home remedies can be a safe, cheap and healthy way to get rid of acne stars. Here are the most effective home remedies for acne scars.
1. Coconut Oil For Acne Scars
Coconut oil is one of the best natural moisturizers with powerful recuperating properties. Use a quarter of a teaspoon of coconut oil at body temperature. Rub it onto the acne scar with your fingertips and let it absorb. You don’t have to wash it away as coconut oil gets absorbed by skin and nourishes it for hours after application.
This method is ideal for dry to mixed skin types, although it may be a bit problematic for oily skin types due to an excess of oil.
2. Lemon Juice Remedy
One of the most effective DIY methods to banish acne stars is using lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice contains ascorbic acid, a common astringent that dries out the pimple inflammation. Lemons also have antibacterial properties to counter the bacteria on your skin.
However, because it is very acidic, dilute the lemon juice with water, honey, or baking soda before applying to the skin. Use a ratio of one tablespoon of baking soda, honey, or warm water to onetablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice until you’re left with a thick paste that is easy to apply on clean, dry skin. Leave for about 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly with warm water. You can use this home remedy about twice a week if your skin tolerates it.
Lemon juice is a wonderful alternative to expensive prescription remedies. It is cheap and easy to use. However, when used excessively, it can exacerbate sores. You should also avoid the sun while using it as it lightens the skin and can result in uneven pigmentation.
3. Tea Tree Oil For Acne Scars
Tea tree oil is an excellent antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral essential oil. This makes it ideal for acne scar removal as well as for preventing acne outbreaks. Its hydrating properties help moisturize the skin and gradually diminish the scar, making it disappear. Apply a mixture of two to four drops of tea tree oil diluted in one to two tablespoons of water. Gently dab your skin with a cotton ball two or three times a day, then leave to dry out without washing away.
It’s important to remember never to use tea tree oil undiluted. It is too strong on the skin and can irritate your inflamed skin, leading to more acne outbreaks if used on its own.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar For Acne Scars
Apple cider vinegar is an astringent and a natural disinfectant that makes it a good natural antiseptic. It balances the pH level of your skin when applied topically. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities make it ideal for getting rid of acne scars.
You can either use apple cider vinegar with water or with honey by diluting it with one to two teaspoons of honey, or one part water to one part vinegar. Apply this concoction to your acne scars daily. Leave it in for about 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
When diluted properly, vinegar shouldn’t irritate the skin. However, in some extreme cases of acne outbreak where there are open sores, it can end up worsening the inflammation.
5. Aloe Vera
The aloe vera plant is a must-have in every home. It has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, removes toxins and balances the natural moisture levels of your skin. It is one of the few natural elements that can be used undiluted directly on acne scars to fade them away. You simply need to take an aloe vera leaf and peel the outer green cover. Inside is a gel-like substance that you can directly apply on your scars. Leave it for about half an hour, and then wash it off.
Applying aloe vera on your skin daily brightens and tightens the skin. It will not work miracles, but it’s the surest way to get rid of acne scars fast.
6. Vitamin E
Vitamin E has become more popular as one of the most beneficial vitamins for human skin. It thoroughly moisturizes and makes acne scars and spots less noticeable. Deficiency of vitamin E can even lead to dry skin and acne breakouts. Vitamin E can be used as an oil or through a capsule.
Before applying, steam your face so that the pores open up. You can then extract the oil out of the capsule and apply it to the acne scars, massaging the area for about 10 minutes. Afterward, leave in for 20 minutes until it gets absorbed. Wash it off. This procedure can be performed daily.
Despite being gentle and nourishing on the skin, vitamin E may not be the best home remedy for sensitive skin. Always do a patch test before applying vitamin E oil or any other oil onto your skin to see if you can tolerate it.
Acne Scar Products And Professional Treatments
All the above home remedies for acne scars are good, but sometimes your skin needs extra help from professional products and treatments to get its healthy glow back. The most popular methods that produce the best results are microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser treatment for acne scar removal. They should all be performed by licensed professionals in a sterile environment to minimize exposure to bacteria and potential skin irritation.
It is best to consult with a dermatologist before you decide on trying either of these medical treatments. They can assess your skin’s current state and type, and advise on the best way to heal acne scars.
How To Prevent Acne Scars
The sooner you start treating an acne scar, the better the possible results. However, as with everything else, the best way to get rid of acne scarring is to take proper care of your skin and prevent them from developing. Keeping your skin well hydrated and moisturized is the first step toward keeping acne scars from occurring. Sticking to a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and changing your pillowcase every week are all ways to get rid of pimples in general and acne scarring in particular. Make cleansing and exfoliating part of your normal skin-care routine and results will follow in less acne breakouts and younger, cleaner, beautiful skin.
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