Here we are, as promised, today we’re talking about acne scars… This is the article I was going to share last week, before I became overwhelmed with the urge to share my new breakfast obsession with you – Almond & banana pancakes!
Anyway, on to acne scars…
Prevention is better than cure
As with most skin and health problems, preventing it happening is better than trying to heal the problem once it’s happened.
To prevent acne scars, the most important thing is to not pick your acne!
You may think that when you pick or squeeze a spot (especially a whitehead) that you are doing a good thing because you are getting the bacteria out of your skin.
Well, firstly, as the bacteria is released from the infected pore (spot) it tends to end up spread across the surrounding area of skin – not good and not healthy.
And secondly, each pore is actually a thin, hollow tube. When a spot forms, the tube fills with toxins and bacteria. When you squeeze the spot, some of the toxins and bacteria are pushed up to the surface of the skin and released. BUT, it’s a two-way street, and so some of the toxins and bacteria are also pushed back down the tube and back into your bloodstream – definitely not good!
A blemish usually lasts for 5 – 7 days, but if you pick at it then it can last for weeks or even months, and the scars can last forever.
Healing acne scars
Firstly, before we try to heal acne scars, you need to be absolutely sure that any “active” acne has cleared up. Treating the scars before eliminating the acne breakouts just won’t offer long-term success.
I won’t lie to you, treating acne scars can be a tricky business. Here I want to give you a bit of information to start you down the right track but, as with anything, you need to find what works for you personally.
There are two types of acne scars…
- Pigmentation scars – those reddish, pinkish, purplish, or brownish marks left behind after a spot has healed. The good thing about these is that they will naturally fade on their own with time.
- Hypertrophic and Atrophic – hypertrophic refers to the raised scars, and atrophic refers to the indented scars. These scars are a little more difficult to get rid of and, if left untreated, can be permanent.
Here are some of the ingredients which can be helpful in treating acne scars –
- plant oils – especially vitamin E, rosehip, calendula, and castor oils
- essential oils – lavender, geranium, neroli, frankincense
- manuka honey
- baking soda
- lemon juice – a natural skin-lightener which can help with pigmentation scars
Plant Oils
The oils I’ve mentioned above are great at healing and improving acne scars when used topically on the skin. The success of these natural oils is due to their anti-oxidant properties which help to give a sooth complexion.
There is a possible side effect, however…
Some of the oils I’ve mentioned are quite “heavy” and so they could cause clogged pores which, in turn, could lead to more acne.
To get around this, start by using these plant oils as spot-treatments for the scars only. If you’ve had no breakouts in a month of using then you can assume the oil is fine for your skin.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are stronger and more concentrated than plant oils. Essential oils have many varied healing properties and can be used for a variety of skin issues (for more information, read Skincare Essentials).
To use essential oils, simply add a few drops to the plant oil you’ve chosen, and use it as I’ve explained above. This will give the plant oil a little extra “kick” and extra healing properties.
Note: don’t use essential oils neat on the skin.
As with plant oils, essential oils will work differently for different skin types. You may need to try a different oils and/or different combinations to find what’s right for you.
Skincare Products
Instead of having to buy all the different plant oils and essential oils I’ve mentioned, it can be quicker, easier, and easier on your wallet to find skincare products which already have these healing properties.
Our Freyaluna facial product ranges use many of the plant oils and essential oils I’ve listed above. Take a look to find the one that’s best for your skin.
Other Ways To Help Your Skin
Exfoliate – As well as using the plant and essential oils (or natural skincare products), I would suggest you exfoliate with baking soda once a week – simply add some baking soda into your cleanser and massage over your skin, then rinse with warm water. Baking soda is a great facial exfoliant because it’s gentle while giving you a fine exfoliation – sort of like a mini micro-dermabrasion treatment (please note: I would never recommend actual micro-dermabrasion!).
Nourish – You could also try making a face mask of equal parts manuka honey and aloe vera gel. You could add a little freshly-squeezed lemon juice if you’re combating pigmentation scars. This is one of my favourite face mask recipes and I use it regularly for a variety of benefits.
Honey, and especially manuka honey, has so many great healing properties – it really is nature’s gold! Honey’s content of vitamins and minerals, among other things, helps to promote the growth of new skin tissue.
Aloe vera gel will help to reduce any redness and inflammation caused by scarring, plus, the application of aloe vera to fresh wounds will help to prevent the formation of permanent scars.
Monthly facials – Skin always looks better after a facial, and these treatments can be very important for healthy skin. Try to have a facial at least once a month. Don’t worry if your budget doesn’t stretch to monthly salon visits, for a great routine you can do at home, read The Ultimate At-Home Facial.
Eat right – Lastly, as I always say, diet plays a HUGE part in the health of your skin. If you’re eating a good, healthy diet – ditch the refined sugar, refined grains, junk and processed foods, and fill your diet with fresh and healthy whole foods – then your body and skin will be able to function at their best. This means your skin will get plenty of the valuable nutrient it needs to heal itself.
Now it’s your turn. We want to hear from you!
Have you had trouble with acne scars? What did you do to try to heal them? What are your experiences?
Join the conversation by leaving a comment below.
Until next time,
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Try jojoba oil to help with acne/scaring and moisturizing skin. I’ve struggled with acne my entire life and have tried everything the dermatologist prescribed. Recently I decided to try a natural way to fix the problem and jojoba oil has worked miracles. I take an antibiotic + use jojoba oil on my skin every night.
If you really want to go the more natural route, stop taking the antibiotics. They wreak havoc on your beneficial bacteria in your gut. Try oregano oil (Oreganol capsules, just take one a day) at night instead of the antibiotics. And take a good probiotic in the morning to help rebalance your gut. Good luck!
Wow….
Well written about acne scars, i found your post up to the mark.
Thanks