Home Remedies for Acne Scars

Acne scars are relatively common, but that doesn’t make them any less annoying. Thankfully, you probably don’t have to go to the dermatologist to get rid of acne scars. You can complete many of the treatments at home. Take a look at our guide to find out more about how to get rid of acne scars at home.

Home Remedies for Acne Scars

Acne doesn’t always stop annoying you when it goes away. Sometimes, it leaves unsightly acne scars behind that are worse than the acne they replaced. These scars can linger for some time and can be extremely annoying if you just want them gone.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take at home to treat acne scars as they develop, and prevent them from developing in the first place. Take a look at the steps and strategies we outlined below for some helpful information you can use to get rid of your acne scars.

What Are Acne Scars?

The affected pore or follicle will get clogged with oil, dead skin, or bacteria and start swelling.

The inflamed pore will break the follicle wall and present visible swelling. These can vary in severity, but will often go away on their own.

Of course, some acne scars linger much longer than you want them to. A lot of the time, the term “acne scar” doesn’t actually have much to do with scar tissue at all. Instead, you’re likely experiencing post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation. This will happen when your skin experienced something traumatic.

Hyper pigmentation goes away on its own, but it can often take months if not years. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to treat acne scars and prevent them from developing, which we’ll get into in this article.

Preventing Acne Scars

Preventing acne scars isn’t always possible, but you can take a few steps to limit your risk. One of the best tips we can give you is to treat the acne at its source. In other words, you shouldn’t wait until acne scars develop to start treating them.

You can use some natural remedies or over the counter medication to get rid of the acne. Make sure not to use chemicals that are too rough on your skin, though. These products can cause similar “scarring” as the acne scars you’re trying to prevent.

You should also try to limit the inflammation where you can. Soothe inflamed pimples rather than irritating them by trying to pop them. Don’t pick at them, and try to treat the inflammation before it gets out of hand.

Popping pimples – while often satisfying – isn’t the best way to avoid acne scars. In some cases, popping an inflamed pimple can cause the scarring you’re trying to prevent. You should try your best to allow your pimples to heal naturally rather than trying to get rid of them right away.

The same tip goes for scabs. Picking at any scab – whether it’s from a pimple or not – willincrease the chances of scarring. Real scar tissue might develop, here, which will be more difficult to get rid of than traditional acne scars.

Treating Acne Scars at Home

Now, it’s time to give you a few strategies you can use to eliminate acne scars as they develop. Take a look at the following tips and find one that works best for your skin and lifestyle.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the natural solutions for a lot of problems. Acne scars are no different, and using coconut oil before you go to bed at night can clear your skin after a couple of days. Simply dab some of the oil between your palms, rub them together, then apply it to your face. Wash the oil off in the morning and repeat until the scars start to fade.

You can find coconut oil in almost any store. You’ll likely find it in the cooking department. Make sure not to pay too much for coconut oil marketed for skin use. It’s the same thing as the coconut oil for cooking, but companies that sell skincare versions often charge more.

Coconut oil is packed with antioxidants and vitamins that help your skin heal. It will also reduce inflammation naturally, which will limit the problems your acne scars cause.

Keep in mind that coconut oil can be a double-edged sword. It’s often better for those who have dry skin than those who have oily skin, since adding oil can clog your pores and create whiteheads. Those who often get clogged pores from dry skin, however, can benefit from using coconut oil in more ways than one.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is one of the best natural, topical treatments for a lot of skin ailments. It can help with dry skin, sunburns, and of course, acne scars. Scars of all kinds require moisture, antioxidants, and soothing properties in their treatment, and aloe vera has all of these.

Using aloe on your skin will start to reduce the swelling and get rid of your skin’s oil that could be adding to the problem.

You can find aloe vera in both plant and gel form. You can buy a plant and have a nearly unlimited supply, or pick up a bottle of the gel from a local drug store. Rub the aloe on your skin several times a day. If possible, place a piece of plastic wrap over the affected area as you sleep. This tip is more easily applied to other scars, but can still work well for acne scars on your face.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another natural remedy you can use for a lot of topical applications. ACV is perhaps most known for its ability to break down warts, but it can be quite useful for reducing acne scars as well.

Apple cider vinegar has both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to it. This isprobably a better option for those who have oily skin rather than dry skin since the ACV will dry out your skin naturally.

You can find apple cider vinegar at any supermarket. Shake it up and add equal-parts ACV and water to a small glass. Soak a cotton ball in the glass that is about the size of the area of acne scars you’re trying to eradicate.

Place the cotton ball over the affected area and leave it there for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash it off and add more water if the ACV starts to burn. Burning your skin with vinegar can lead to redness, which will only make your problem worse. Wash off the ACV-water mixture when you’re done, and repeat the process every day or every other day until the scars start to fade.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice works similarly as apple cider vinegar but is better at lightening your skin than ACV is. You can choose to buy lemon juice at the store or squeeze some fresh lemons into a glass.

The strategy for using lemon juice is very similar to using apple cider vinegar. Pour some into a small glass and soak a cotton ball in it. Apply for about ten minutes then wash off the excess lemon juice.

Although it’s not as acidic as ACV, you still shouldn’t leave lemon juice on your skin too long. It can end up drying you out, which might lead to other skin problems in the long run. For that reason, some people choose to alternate days when using this treatment.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is one of the common home remedies for acne scars that a lot of peoplerecommend. You can find vials of tea tree oil at a local drug store, and it works best when you combine it with some coconut oil.

Use the tea tree oil in combination with coconut oil and place a few drops on your skin. You can leave the mixture on for a few hours, or choose to sleep with it on and wash it off in the morning. Tea tree oil is also a popular remedy for acne, so it can help fight acne scars at their root. You should use this mixture daily, as it can take some time for the oil to take effect. This is one of the safer remedies for your skin, but the trade off is that it takes a bit longer than some of the others we’ve recommended.

Finding What Works for You

Not all home remedies will work for all kinds of skin. Those with oily skin might find that coconut oil causes more acne in place of the acne scars it treats. Likewise, those with dry or sensitive skin might feel as though apple cider vinegar is too rough on their skin.

You’ll have to find a mixture of treatments that work best for your individual skin. Is theresomething we missed in our roundup that has worked for you? Let us know about it in thecomments!