Scars can make your skin look discolored and leave lasting traces on your body and face. How to remove old scars from your skin. Scars from accidents, burns, pimples, insect bites, chicken pox, and surgery can all be unsightly and difficult to treat.
Therefore, even though these scars from past experiences are benign, many seek to remove them.
Scars normally don’t completely go away on their own but can fade over a one-to-two-year period. A scar is regarded as fully developed after two years. The scar’s suppleness may grow due to new collagen, making the scar more visible on the skin.
While they do not completely fade, they do become lighter over time. We’ve included a list of natural therapies that can help lighten scars and make them less apparent in this post. Take a look.
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Contents
- 1 Types of Scars
- 2 How to Get Rid of Old Scars with Natural Remedies
- 3 Medical Treatments Options for Old Scars
- 4 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Types of Scars
There are different ways by which you can sustain scars. The different types of scars are:
1. Atrophic Scars:
Examples of this kind of scar are stretch marks and pitted acne scars. They create sunken or indentation marks on the body.
2. Keloidal Scars:
Large, dark, elevated, and benign tumors appear behind the ears, back, and chest. These scars can also go beyond and grow outside the affected area. These are difficult to correct/revise by surgical methods.
3. Hypertrophic Scars:
These are the most common type of scars. They are raised firm growths that do not go beyond the borders of the original injury and are characterized by modular structures.
Removing stitches from injuries too early or too late may interfere with the healing process. Hence, ensure to seek appropriate advice from your health care professional.
Scars come in all sizes and shapes, which you rarely want to show off. Here are some natural methods that can help lighten scars to a great extent.
How to Get Rid of Old Scars with Natural Remedies
1. Lemon
Lemons as a natural way to get rid of old scars. Lemons are rich in bioactive compounds that exhibit antioxidant properties. These can help reduce the scars that appear due to acne, pimples, or zits and repair your skin.
You Will Need
3-4 teaspoons lemon juice and Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
Step 1:
Cleanse the skin around the scarred area.
Step 2:
Dip the cotton ball in lemon juice and dab it on the affected area.
Step 3:
Keep it on for about 10 minutes, and then rinse it off.
Step 4:
After washing off the lemon juice, apply sunscreen if you plan to step out in the sun.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this 2-3 times daily.
Note: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation on your skin, so you must use this remedy only if you are not allergic.
2. Honey
Raw honey has been used for ages to fade scars. Its bioactive compounds stimulate tissue regeneration and aid in treating wounds. Baking soda acts as an exfoliant and helps in lightening the scar.
You Will Need
- One teaspoon of raw honey
- One teaspoon of baking soda
- A small towel
- Hot water
What You Have To Do
- Mix the raw honey and baking soda.
- Massage the mixture on the scar for about 3-5 minutes.
- Place a hot towel over the area. When the towel cools down, wipe the area clean.
How Often You Should Do This:
Do this twice a day.
3. Onion
They contain anti-inflammatory properties and also have the production of collagen, which in turn helps in fading scars.
You Will Need
Onion juice
What You Have To Do
- Grate an onion and squeeze out some fresh onion juice.
- Apply this directly to the scar and let it dry naturally.
- Rinse after 15 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This:
You can do this 3-4 times a day.
Note: Do not forget to keep your skin moisturized between the onion juice applications.
4. Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera gel naturally eliminates old scars by harnessing its anti-inflammatory properties. This may help reduce skin abnormalities, irritation, and scars and encourage the regeneration of new skin cells.
You Will Need
Aloe Vera gel
What You Have To Do
Use either freshly extracted aloe Vera gel or an organic store-bought one on the scars. Massage it in thoroughly.
Do not rinse it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Reapply 2-3 times daily.
5. Gooseberry
Gooseberry can help reduce the formation of scars because of its rich Vitamin C content. It can reduce the mark’s appearance due to its tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Hence, it may lighten old scars and also prevent the formation of new ones.
You Will Need
- Gooseberry powder
- Olive oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix enough gooseberry powder with olive oil to form a smooth paste covering the affected area.
- Apply this as a face pack and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse with plain water.
How Often You Should Do This
- You can use this face pack every alternate day.
- If you use remedies based on citrus extracts or oils, avoid sun exposure immediately after (to avoid skin irritation).
6. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil contains phytochemicals that may help reduce surgical and acne scars gradually. It improves blood circulation to the affected area and protects it from infections. Furthermore, it may also help with skin disfigurement.
You Will Need
- 2-3 drops of tea tree oil
- One teaspoon of water or olive oil
What You Have To Do
- Dilute the tea tree essential oil in either olive oil or water.
- Massage the scarred area with this oil.
- Leave it on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every night before going to bed.
Note: Do a patch test before trying this remedy, as tea tree oil may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
7. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and vitamins that can promote the growth of skin cells and tissues. This may help eliminate old scars, skin residual marks, and wound remnants, and its antimicrobial properties can prevent further breakouts.
You Will Need
One teaspoon of virgin coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Warm the coconut oil by rubbing it between your palms
- Dab it on the scars and leave it on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this every night before going to bed.
8. Vitamin Supplements
Vitamin supplements greatly aid in reducing facial scars, particularly due to the wound-healing properties of Vitamin E. These properties may help reverse the effects of acne scars and blemishes on your skin and leave it looking clearer over time.
You can take a doctor’s prescribed dose of vitamin E supplements. You can also consume foods rich in vitamins, like green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fish, carrots, and avocados.
9. Potato Juice
Potato juice, abundant in phytochemicals, can purify your skin and diminish hyperpigmentation or spots resulting from acne and pimples.
You Will Need
2- tablespoons potato juice
What you have to do
Extract potato juice by crushing a raw potato.
Soak a cotton ball in this juice and apply it to the affected areas.
Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash it off.
How Often You Should Do This
You can apply this juice 2-3 times a week.
10. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil possesses antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This may help fight any inflammatory response to infections on your skin, heal the affected area, and eliminate scars over time.
You Will Need
2-3 drops of lavender oil
One teaspoon of sweet almond oil
What You Have To Do
Mix two to three drops of lavender oil with a teaspoon of sweet almond oil.
Dab a cotton ball with the mixture and apply it to the affected areas.
Rinse your face thoroughly after 10 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 2-3 times daily.
11. Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is composed of bioactive compounds that exhibit wound-healing properties. It is observed that it can speed up the transition of macrophage phenotypes that can help improve scars over time.
You Will Need
- 2-3 drops rosehip oil
- One teaspoon of sweet almond oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix two to three drops of rosehip oil with a teaspoon of sweet almond oil.
- Apply the mixture to the affected areas. Leave it on overnight.
- Wash it off in the morning.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 2-3 times daily. Apart from these home remedies, various treatment options are available to remove scars. In the next section, we will explore medical treatment options for scars.
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Medical Treatments Options for Old Scars
Here are some of the commonly used methods how to remove old scars you can opt for:
The Counter Drugs
Some over-the-counter medications or lotions can create various over-the-counter medications or lotions that can lighten old marks. Still, it would be best to only do so with a doctor’s or pharmacist’s approval. One such cream that can be used to lighten scars is Mederma. It is a chemical formulation frequently used to get rid of surgical scars since it contains onion-aqueous extracts.
It is advised that you consult a licensed dermatologist so that they can prescribe the proper kind of lotion to help you get rid of your previous scars.
Chemical Peels
By employing chemical exfoliants, chemical peels are proven to lighten old scars and enhance skin flaws and texture inconsistencies.
Additionally, this process helps improve the skin’s texture by removing dullness from the skin.
Depending on the type of scar you want to remove, several cosmetic clinics offer a variety of chemical peels. For superficial scars, this technique works well.
Laser Treatments
This method is used on persistent and stubborn scars. Laser therapy employs photothermal energy to stimulate the remodeling of collagen and elastin in the scar tissue and skin. Different lasers are used for different types of scars.
Lasers are the best ways to remove old scars. Many lasers operate on high heat, however, and need to be adjusted for the color and tone of the skin. Thus, one must be careful while choosing a treatment method.
Prevention Tips
Here are a few tips you can bear in mind to prevent scarring:
If you have sustained a cut/scrape, keep the wound covered and clean until it is healed.
You could apply OTC ointments or petroleum jelly to the wounded area to minimize scarring.
Always keep the wound dressing clean and hygienic.
If you had to get stitches for your wound, consult your doctor regarding care for the affected site after it is healed to reduce scarring.
Your skin develops permanent irregularities, such as scars, as a result of wounds, chickenpox, acne, discoloration, burns, and other skin problem, even though
Because these ancient marks are not harmful, everyone wants to eliminate them.
With these home remedies and medical care, these marks would diminish but not disappear. It can be treated naturally using lemon, honey, onion, gooseberry, tea tree oil, coconut oil, vitamin supplements, potato juice, and lavender oil.
If these home procedures do not produce the intended outcomes, you can also visit your doctor about medical treatment choices.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
People have to ask some questions about how to remove old scars
Can Vaseline remove old scars?
Vaseline can help seal moisture during healing by being applied to scars. It lowers the appearance of scars, lessens dryness, and gives the skin a smooth appearance.
Vaseline and other petroleum jelly solutions can visibly enhance the outside appearance of older scars, but they often don’t entirely remove them for obstinate bodies, even acne scars.
Vaseline is an excellent aftercare product to lessen the likelihood of scars from things like cuts.
To repair the damaged skin layer, laser treatments can remove old scars and encourage the growth of new skin cells.
Do scars fade with age?
Yes. While it might not be able to remove a scar completely, scars eventually fade with time. Our bodies, even with age, and because collagen in the skin is constantly lost, scars may worsen. Fine lines, wrinkles, and collagen loss influence scar appearance. If not treated right away, scars might get worse with age.
Does Vitamin E help with scarring?
Vitamin E enhances the aesthetics of injury scars and hastens the healing of wounds. There is no scientific evidence that vitamin E can cure scars or cosmetically improve their look.
Does Mederma work on scars?
Mederma is a popular over-the-counter skin lotion for scar treatment. However, studies have shown that it is less successful than petroleum jelly at removing scars.
Do scars go away if you exfoliate?
Exfoliation may not entirely remove scars. Exfoliating scars, on the other hand, helps eliminate dead skin cells and enhances skin tone and texture. For smoother skin, moisturize after exfoliating.
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