Home Remedies for Acne Scars
For some people, a breakout is not over when the pimple is gone. In many cases, a pimple turns into a scar that can remain for a long time. There are a few ways that you can help reduce the appearance of pimple scars. In particular, natural acne scar remedies can be very effective on newer and fairly mild scars. Chemical peels are very expensive and harsh on the skin so it’s always a good idea to try home remedies for acne scars first.
- Lemon juice. Lemon juice is one of the most effective ways to treat scars yourself. For this reason, it is near the top of almost every list of home remedies for acne scars. The key to this treatment is patience. It will not work a miracle overnight but with regular use you will notice a drastic reduction in the appearance of acne scars. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which removes the dead skin cells and eventually this causes all of the red spots to even out with the surrounding skin. The best course of treatment is to apply freshly squeezed lemon juice onto the scar daily using a cotton ball. It is most effective if you leave it on the skin to do its job rather than rinsing it off so it’s recommended to apply lemon juice right before bed.
- Olive oil is another natural way to improve your skin tone. It is a natural source of Vitamin E which is proven to regenerate skin cells and plump the skin as well. Although any olive oil will do, the purest varieties work the best so look out for cold pressed extra virgin olive oil for best results. All you have to do is massage a small amount of olive oil onto the affected area each day. If you want to speed up the process a bit, you can hold a warm washcloth over the area after applying because the heat will help it absorb faster, but this step isn’t necessary. If you do this every day, you should notice improvements in your skin after a month or two.
- Egg whites. A mask of egg whites can really help reduce the redness of pimple scars. Break an egg into a bowl and remove the yolk. You can save the yolk for something else but don’t put it on your face. Whip the egg white until it is frothy. Apply it to your face and wait around fifteen minutes for it to harden, then wash it off. In addition to toning down redness, egg whites also help tighten your pores. This doesn’t need to be done daily. Every few days should do the trick.
- Aspirin mask. Salicylic acid, also known as BHA, loosens skin cells to help uncover new, clear skin underneath. You can find BHA in a number of pricey department store acne scar remedies but many people don’t realize you can also find it in aspirin. Buy cheap uncoated tablets of aspirin and crush them up, then add water in small amounts until you are able to form a paste. Simply spread this paste onto the scarred area and leave it there for ten to fifteen minutes or until it starts to flake off. Your red marks will slowly start to fade if you do this every day. Just be careful with this remedy. Some of the aspirin may be absorbed through your skin into your bloodstream so stick to other natural remedies for acne scars if you can’t take aspirin internally for health reasons.
These are some great home remedies for acne scars that have been very effective for a lot of people. Moreover, they are a safer and cheaper than other options so they are a great starting point for anyone who is looking to improve their complexion without a big investment or major side effects. As long as you accept that pimple scars don’t go away overnight and are persistent in applying your chosen remedy, you should notice an improvement over time. For non-natural remedies, check out our article how to get rid of acne scars. Also, be sure to check out our acne tips for advice on how to keep breakouts under control so you have less opportunities for acne scars to form.