7 Top Essential Oils for Fading Acne Scars: A Natural Guide

Acne scars are a widespread concern that can significantly affect self-esteem and confidence. For those seeking a gentle and effective way to diminish these reminders of past breakouts, essential oils offer a promising natural alternative.

Here’s why you should consider essential oils for fading acne scars:

• Natural Approach: Essential oils are derived from plants, offering a botanically-based solution.
• Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Essential oils can help reduce redness and inflammation associated with scars.
• Antimicrobial Action: Certain essential oils possess antimicrobial properties that may help prevent infections in healing skin.

Essential oils have anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial characteristics, or sometimes both, and these properties can help wounds heal and improve overall skin health. Essential oils support skin health by balancing skin tone and reducing redness. While essential oils might not completely erase scars, they can visibly reduce their appearance with consistent and correct use.

Understanding Acne Scars

Acne scars form due to damage in the inner layers of the skin. When you experience acne, the inflammation of acne lesions can lead to scarring.

Here’s how it happens:

• Pore Damage: Acne lesions can cause the pore wall to break down and expand.
• Inflammation: The inflammation from acne can leave behind scarring. Blemishes occasionally leak their contents into the surrounding tissue, leaving deeper scarring.
• Repair Process: The body attempts to repair this damage, often resulting in scar tissue, which is a collection of cells and collagen that covers the injured area.

There are several types of acne scars:

• Keloid Scars: These are raised, enlarged scars that can be pink, red, or darker than the surrounding skin. Keloids can form even from minor skin damage and may expand beyond the original injury site.
• Hypertrophic Scars: These are thick, raised scars that occur within the boundaries of the original wound. They are an aberrant reaction to wound healing.
• Depressed (Atrophic) Scars: These sunken scars, often caused by chickenpox or acne, appear as rounded pits or small indentations in the skin.
• Acne Scars: Inflammation of acne lesions leads to acne scars. The pore wall breaks down, causing the acne pore to expand. Some acne lesions are tiny, leaving superficial scars that heal fast. Blemishes occasionally leak their contents into the surrounding tissue, leaving deeper scarring.

Top Essential Oils for Fading Acne Scars

Here are some of the top essential oils and their benefits for reducing acne scars:

1. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is one of the most widely used essential oils. It has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. It prevents infection in healing skin, helping to treat acne and fight scars. Tea tree oil’s anti-inflammatory properties and acne-fighting super powers suggest it can be used on scars as well. Tea tree oil’s ability to prevent and rapidly heal a blemish or wound, can lead to faster healing. When you heal faster, you’re less likely to develop a dark spot.
2. Lavender Oil: Lavender oil has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It promotes cell and tissue growth and has wound-healing activity. Research indicates lavender oil demonstrates wound-healing activity and shows potential as a natural treatment to help repair damaged skin tissues. Topical application of lavender oil can speed up wound closure and promote wound shrinking. The linalyl acetate, an ester naturally found in lavender, is anti-inflammatory and has a history in wound healing, leading to less scarring.
3. Frankincense Oil: Frankincense oil has the ability to regenerate skin cells and manage melanin production. With its ability to manage melanin, this oil also helps to balance out skin tone. It reduces inflammation and enhances the skin’s healing process. Active ingredient boswellic acid, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits. It speeds up cell turnover and strengthens the skin’s elasticity.
4. Helichrysum Oil: Helichrysum oil has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. It supports skin regeneration and promotes smoother skin. It contains an anti-inflammatory substance called arzanol, which plays a part in healing wounds. It also has antioxidant properties that can help to prevent scarring by regenerating new cells and preventing the accumulation of free radicals.
5. Neroli Oil: Neroli oil has anti-microbial and antioxidant properties. It also has pain and inflammation reducing properties to help treat and prevent acne. Neroli has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, which may aid in the healing and protection of the skin.
6. Carrot Seed Oil: Carrot seed oil has antibacterial and antifungal activities. This oil may be especially useful in treating older scars. It also has high carotenoid content that helps provide natural SPF that protects from UV rays and aging.
7. Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil possesses antiseptic and antibacterial characteristics. It controls melanin production. It has a cooling action that calms inflammation and itchiness brought on by acne scars.

How to Use Essential Oils for Acne Scars

To effectively harness the benefits of essential oils for acne scars, it’s crucial to use them correctly and consistently. Here’s how to incorporate them into your skincare routine:

Importance of Dilution

Essential oils are potent and can cause skin irritation if applied directly. Always dilute them with a carrier oil before topical application.

Choosing a Carrier Oil

Several carrier oils can enhance the scar-reducing properties of essential oils.

• Grapeseed oil is considered a dry and astringent oil. It contains linoleic acid, which is excellent for promoting clearer skin.
• Jojoba oil closely resembles human skin oil (sebum) and can help balance sebum production, making it suitable for oily skin. It’s also high in vitamin E and is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores and cause breakouts.
• Coconut oil and shea butter help keep the skin moisturized, which may prevent a scar or keep a scar from getting too large, deep, or itchy. The omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in both shea butter and coconut oil have been shown to inhibit keloid scar tissue and repair skin.
• Other carrier oil options include almond oil, argan oil, and olive oil.

Step-by-Step Guide for Topical Application

• Dilute: Mix a few drops of your chosen essential oil with a carrier oil. A common ratio is 15 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil for adults, resulting in a 2.5% dilution. For sensitive skin, use fewer drops of essential oil.
• Apply: Gently rub the mixture onto the scar. Till the scar is completely covered, roll the mixture onto it.
• Frequency: Apply this mixture to the affected area several times per day. 3–4 times each day, repeat.
• Consistency: You’ll get the best results if you constantly apply the oils for at least a few months.
• Leave-on: You don’t need to wash off the oil. Once the mixture has been applied, it can be left to naturally soak into the skin.
• Consistency is Key: Don’t expect immediate or drastic results. Scars may not disappear completely. It may take up to six months before you begin noticing any changes to your scar. You may begin to see results within a few months of consistent daily use.
• Perform a Patch Test: Before widespread use, it’s wise to perform a patch test on a small area of your skin to make sure you don’t have a negative reaction to an oil. If you experience any redness, irritation, or inflammation, wash the oil off your skin and do not use it any further.

DIY Essential Oil Blend Recipe for Acne Scars (Roll-On)

Creating your own essential oil blend can be a rewarding way to target acne scars with a personalized touch. Here’s a DIY recipe for a scar serum in a roll-on form, combining some of the greatest essential oils for treating scarring with the added protective advantages of vitamin E oil to provide additional hydration and speed up the healing of scars:

• Helichrysum Essential Oil – 10 Drops
  • The anti-allergic, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory qualities of helichrysum essential oil are well established. One of the helichrysum’s most outstanding anti-inflammatory components, a polyphenol molecule known as oryzanol, has been the subject of scientific study. Due to its high concentration of fatty acids, it heals skin cracks and scars, helichrysum essential oil is also effective on all types of scars.
• Lavender Essential Oil – 6 Drops
  • The essential oil of lavender may lessen the risk of scarring by encouraging the growth of cells and tissues. It is antibacterial, antioxidant, and antibiotic. A study found that lavender essential oil has the potential to be used as a natural remedy to aid in the restoration of injured skin tissues and exhibit wound-healing activity.
• Lemongrass Essential Oil – 8 Drops
• Patchouli Essential Oil – 4 Drops
  • It’s commonly used for scars and a wide variety of skin problems such as acne, eczema, inflamed, cracked, chapped and irritated skin. It’s known to help in the stimulation of new skin cell growth. For wound healing, it can promote faster healing and help to prevent unsightly scarring once the wound has healed.
• Myrrh Essential Oil – 5 Drops
• Vitamin E Oil – 2 Teaspoons
  • Vitamin E oil may prevent scarring by helping your skin to retain moisture while boosting collagen production. It also helps to protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals.
• Golden Jojoba Oil – Fill the Bottle
  • Jojoba oil closely resembles human skin oil (sebum) and can help balance sebum production, making it suitable for oily skin. It’s also high in vitamin E and is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores and cause breakouts.

Directions:

1. Using a funnel, add essential oils in the following order: helichrysum, lavender, lemongrass, patchouli, and finally myrrh.
2. Do not tremble as you roll in your palm. Add your preferred 3 drops of carrier oil on top. Some of the good carrier oils are Coconut oil, Avocado oil, Almond oil, Sesame oil, Argan oil, and Olive oil.
3. To blend the oils, roll them between your palms several times.

How to Use this Scar Serum:

• Apply this scar serum multiple times per day for the finest effects.
• Till the scar is completely covered, roll the mixture onto it.
• Allow drying in an open area.
• 3–4 times each day, repeat.
• When you get the desired outcomes, stop using them.

Precautions and Safety Tips

When using essential oils to treat acne scars, it’s important to take necessary safety measures to minimize any potential risks. Here are some precautions and safety tips to consider:

• Importance of Dilution: It is important to reiterate that essential oils are very potent and must always be diluted before applying them to the skin. Undiluted essential oils can cause irritation, sensitivity, or other adverse reactions.
• Recommended Dilution Ratio: A common and effective dilution for adults is adding 15 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil, resulting in a 2.5% dilution. However, the essential oil may be too concentrated, and you should stop use immediately if irritation occurs.
• Caution for Sensitive Skin: If you have sensitive or reactive skin, it’s best to perform a patch test for sensitivities before applying essential oils more broadly.
  • Apply a small amount of the diluted essential oil to a small area of skin, such as the inside of your elbow.
  • Cover the area with a bandage and wait 24 hours.
  • If you experience any redness, irritation, or inflammation, wash the oil off your skin and discontinue use.
• External Use Only: Essential oils are for external use only. Never ingest essential oils, as they can be harmful if swallowed.
• Consult a Healthcare Provider: If you are pregnant or nursing, have existing allergic or inflammatory skin conditions, or are being treated for a medical condition or are currently taking any type of medication, consult with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional before using essential oils. Some essential oils should be avoided if you’re pregnant.

Additional Tips for Scar Reduction

Even with consistent and proper use of essential oils, it’s important to have realistic expectations and incorporate additional habits that support skin health. Here are some additional tips to enhance scar reduction:

• Realistic Expectations: Understand that scars may not disappear completely. The likelihood that they’ll be less noticeable or visible following consistent use of oils and essential oils is promising.
  • Results Take Time: Don’t expect immediate or drastic results. It may take up to six months before you begin noticing any changes to your scar. Larger scars from surgery or wounds may take longer to heal. It may take up to a year for a scar to completely heal.
• Experiment with Different Oils: Experiment with a few different oils to discover which one works best. You may discover that the aromatic qualities of essential oils are equally beneficial to your well-being.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Essential oils provide a wealth of skin-beneficial characteristics that help heal infections and restore the skin to its former glory. Combine essential oils for scars with a beneficial carrier to double your scar-fighting efforts.
  • Proper Wound Care: To minimize scarring, it is important to help the skin heal. Keep the wound and the area around it clean.
  • Sunscreen Use: If a person already has a scar, using a sunscreen with high SPF while outdoors can help the scar fade more quickly.
• Consult a Professional: Always talk to your doctor before starting to use essential oils. Serious wounds may require medical attention. In this case, you should see your doctor to see if another treatment is necessary.

Takeaway

Essential oils offer a promising natural approach to potentially reduce the visibility of acne scars, supporting the skin’s natural healing processes. Although scars may not vanish entirely, consistent use of essential oils can make them less noticeable.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Support and Nurture: Scars and stretch marks don’t need to be erased. They should be supported and nurtured just like the rest of precious skin!
• Natural Support: Essential oils are capable of promoting wound healing, and are excellent for helping to lessen the appearance of scars.
• Holistic Approach: Essential oils provide a wealth of skin-beneficial characteristics that help heal infections and restore the skin to its former glory. Combine essential oils for scars with a beneficial carrier to double scar-fighting efforts.
• Realistic Expectations: Understand that scars may not disappear completely. The likelihood that they’ll be less noticeable or visible following consistent use of oils and essential oils is promising.

Ultimately, the decision to embrace or reduce the appearance of scars is a personal one. Essential oils provide a natural means to support healing and enhance skin health. Scars should be supported and nurtured.

Trust in your purchase:
Every product featured on our site has been carefully researched and selected based on quality, customer ratings, and positive reviews to ensure you receive excellent value for your money.

Please note:
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support our site and allows us to continue bringing you valuable content. Thank you!

You may also like:

Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth

Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth: + 4 Top Recipes Wish your hair would…

Jojoba Oil DIY Recipes

4 Top Jojoba Oil DIY Recipes: Natural Way for a Radiant Skin Jojoba oil is…

Face Mask For Oily Skin Homemade

Face Mask For Oily Skin Homemade: No More Oily Skin Oily skin is a problem…

Banana Natural Botox

Banana Natural Botox: Explore – Skin Tightening in 7 Steps We’ve all been there, looking…

How Long Does It Take for Pimples to Go Away

How Long Does It Take for Pimples to Go Away: Ultimate Guide Pimples, oh pimples!…

Almond Milk for Skin Benefits: Skin Beauty Recipes

Almond Milk for Skin: 9 Top Almond Milk Skin Beauty Recipes Almond milk is amazing…