Nine homemade remedies for removing your old acne scars

Acne is painful and embarrassing. To make things worse, acne often leaves behind dark spots and scars that might actually scar you for life! Don’t worry, though – we have come up with a list of home remedies that can help improve your acne scars.

Read on to know more about how to remove your acne scars.

What Causes The Scarring With Acne?

Acne can be classified into two subtypes – non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne. Whiteheads and blackheads usually fall under the non-inflammatory subtype. While papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts are the inflammatory types of acne. Among these types, it is inflammatory acne that tends to leave behind scars and marks.

Inflamed acne blemishes occur when your pores become engorged as a result of excess oil, dead cells, and bacteria clogging them. This leads to the swelling of the pores, which causes the follicle walls to expand and break. If this rupture occurs close to the surface of your skin, the resulting acne lesion is usually minor and heals quickly. However, if the break on the follicle is deep, the lesion will be more severe, and the infected material may leak out into the dermis (the second of layer of skin), destroying healthy skin tissues.

Types Of Acne Scars

You probably didn’t know this but acne scars are not all the same. There are different types of acne scars but the most common types of acne scars are:

• Ice-Pick Scars: Narrow, deep, and pitted scars
• Rolling Scars: Broad, depressed scars with slanting edges
• Boxcar Scars: Broad scars with sharp edges
• Atrophic Scars: Flat, thin, and depressed scars
• Hypertrophic Scars: Lumpy and thick scars

Regardless of the type of acne scars, the home remedies listed below may help you in combating them naturally. Some are well-studied than others. It is always important to keep in mind that more severe scarring, often requires expert treatment by a dermatologist.

Home Remedies For Pimples

Orange Peel Powder

Orange peel powder has amazing lightening properties that can help to reduce the appearance of acne scars and pigmentation. Mix a teaspoon of orange powder with a teaspoon of raw honey. Apply the paste to the affected areas on your face. Leave it to dry and then wash off. Do this every other day.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has a wide range of benefits when it comes to your skin. It is packed with antioxidants and vitamins E and K that repair your skin and promote the growth of healthy skin tissues. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of coconut oil can prevent the surfacing of new acne lesions. Take a teaspoon of coconut oil. Rub it lightly on your face after rubbing between your palms. Leave it on overnight and wash off in the morning. Do it daily.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a popular remedy among those with acne-prone skin. It not only helps in getting rid of acne but also helps in diminishing the appearance of the scars with its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it may take a little bit longer to show improvement. Add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil to a teaspoon of coconut oil. Mix well and rub on the scars. Wash off the next morning. Do it daily for best results.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar possesses antimicrobial properties that help in keeping acne at bay. The anti-inflammatory properties of apple cider vinegar reduce the inflammation and reddening of your acne scars and help them to fade. It may be drying, so make sure to moisturize. Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons of honey. Add a little water to this mixture to dilute it and mix well then apply on your face using a cotton ball. Wash off after 20 minutes. Do it daily.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera contains polysaccharides and gibberellins that enhance the healing of scarred skin. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote the repair of damaged skin. Extract the gel from aloe leaves. Apply an even layer of the gel to the affected areas. Leave it on overnight. Do this daily.

Baking Soda

Baking soda has exfoliating properties that help slough off the dead skin cells. The slightly alkaline nature of baking soda restores the pH of your skin, thereby helping you combat acne as well as acne scars. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with a tablespoon of water. Apply this mixture to the acne scars. Allow it to dry and wash it off. Do this once daily for best results.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has skin lightening properties that can help in fading acne scars fast. Squeeze the juice from a half lemon and apply over your face using a cotton ball. Wah it off after 10 minutes. Do it every other day.

Castor Oil

Castor oil contains vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids that help in repairing scarred and damaged skin tissues. It also helps in combating pigmentation, reducing the appearance of the acne scars. Apply a few drops of castor oil to the scars. Leave it on overnight and wash off the next morning. Do it daily.

Turmeric

Turmeric is another great way to lighten your acne scars and skin tone. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of turmeric speed up the healing of the scarred tissues and improve skin quality. Mix 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric powder with lemon juice. Apply the paste all over your face. Leave it on for 30 minutes, then wash off. Do it daily.

This article was first published on AfricaParent.com