While there are certain types of acne and levels of scarring severity that require prescription medication or even more invasive treatment such as laser, a great deal of people benefit from using home remedies for acne scars. Now, some homemade solutions are ineffective for people with sensitive skin but in general, people get some degree of relief. As with prescription medication, actual results for reducing acne scarring would be unique for each person but the remedies listed below have a long history of being effective but also safe.
Concoctions to Avoid
Along with all the great home remedies for acne scars that produce desired results, there are actually some that should be avoided. Unfortunately, some people with moderate to severe acne scarring have gone to great extremes, using products and substances that can cause skin damage. The examples provided contain substances that actually irritate the skin such as parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, fragrance, dye, Salicylic Acid, and even flavorings so we felt it was important to address these as well.
o Aspirin
o Dandruff Shampoo
o Neosporin
o Pepto Bismol
o Toothpaste
Using Remedies Properly
Just as choosing appropriate home remedies for acne scars is critical, using them properly is also key to getting positive results. People need to remember that it takes time for scars to fade, especially in situations where scarring is serious so patience is required with the use of home remedies.
o Skin Test – Prior to using any home remedies for acne scars a small area on the skin should be tested by applying a small amount of the mixture. If no redness, hives, itching, or swelling occurs then the remedy would be safe to use.
o Scar Testing – In addition, scars in areas that are not visible or barely visible should also be tested after completing the skin test. Sometimes, skin will have no reaction whereas the more sensitive area with scarring will.
o Consistent Use – Unless any home remedies for acne scars being are used religiously, scarring will not change. Usually, scars will not begin to fade for a month, usually longer for severe scars, so people need to be patient but more importantly, use the solution on a consistent basis.
o Scar Hygiene – A common mistake seen with people who use home remedies for acne scars is forgetting to keep skin clean. While these remedies would help prevent future acne breakouts and reduce signs of acne breakout, proper hygiene to include cleansing, toning, and moisturizing must continue daily.
o Go Natural – One of the keys to homemade solutions working is by using natural or organic ingredients. That way, remedies would never contain any type of chemical or other harmful toxin that could actually make the problem worse.
Top Remedy Choices
There are virtually hundreds of distinct home remedies for acne scars so those provided are simply examples of some considered to be the best. Of course, if someone uses one or more remedies but without change, there is no reason additional remedies could not be tried. If a person reaches the point of homemade concoctions not producing the results wanted, it would be worthwhile to visit a doctor to learn about prescription medications and other treatments available.
o Apply four tablespoons of organic milk on the affected area of the skin at bedtime, followed by sprinkling on a light amount of ground nutmeg. After one hour, loose nutmeg would be brushed off without taking off all the nutmeg. With a towel placed on the pillow, the individual would sleep with the milk and nutmeg on the face, washing it off in the morning with a gentle cleanser.
o For facial acne scars, a plastic bowl would be filled with steaming hot water. Then, the individual would place a towel over the head while leaning over the bowl for five minutes to allow the steam to penetrate the skin. This process should be followed two times a day, three if possible.
o A paste would be made from baking soda and water, applied to the skin, allowed to rest for about five minutes, and then the skin rinsed only with cold water. After patting the skin dry with a towel, a mixture consisting of three drops of tea tree oil and aloe vera gel would be applied and allowed to absorb.
o Another one of the great home remedies for acne scars is a paste applied to the skin made from ground oatmeal and water
o Yogurt applied to the skin and left on for about 10 minutes before rinsing with cold water is great for reducing signs of acne scarring because of containing beneficial bacteria but yogurt is also gentle on the skin.
o Several egg whites mixed with three to four drops of fresh lemon juice works well for reducing inflammation of the skin associated with acne but also causing scars to lighten
o One of the popular home remedies for acne scars is made by mixing ground orange peel with enough water to make a paste that would be applied to the face for 10 minutes and then rinsed
o Honey with a few drops of lemon juice added works great as a facial mask. Because honey is rich in enzymes, scars eventually fade or disappear.
o As a toner and cleanser, apple cider vinegar mixed with water promotes faster healing
o For thousands of years, green tea has been one of the primary ingredients in Asian medicine. Today, green tea still offers the same powerful antioxidants that help with healing of the skin. As toner, powdered green tea could be mixed with enough water to create a paste that would be applied to the affected area. However, high quality green tea could also be consumed as a hot or cold beverage several times a year to help with fading of acne scars.
o Mixing certain herbs with water, again to make paste, has been rated among the best home remedies for acne scars. While there are many herbs that provide healing because of having medicinal properties, basil, cinnamon, cumin, fenugreek, and turmeric are some of the most effective.
o The last on our list of the best home remedies for acne scars is the simple use of fresh, organic tomatoes. When sliced and applied to the area with scarring on a daily basis, scars will start to fade.