It is nearly impossible to go through life without having to deal with scars. It takes patience and determination in healing scars. Different scars arise from different causes such as acne, the aftermath of surgery, animal bites, and many others.

Irrespective of the origin of the scars, one thing is certain; you would really like it to disappear. Though it is highly unlikely to completely eradicate the scars from your skin, the chances of reducing them are very high if use the relevant essential oils. Some of the essential oils for healing scars are very effective as compared to other home remedies.

How Do Scars Form?

Before going further with the different essential oils for healing scars and dark spots, it is important to understand why scars develop in the first case. Skin is comprised of two layers- the epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is the outer lighter layer while the dermis is the deeper lower layer of the skin. If you are cut, burn, or scrape effects only the epidermis; you are less likely to develop scars. However, the cut is deeper and reaches the dermis; the cicatrization process takes place to aid in the healing process.
The cicatrization process involves the development of fibers and pilling of granular skin on the affected part of the skin. Owing to the fact that the newly formed tissues are different from the existing ones, the wounded area will be different from the surrounding skin. This will result in a scar. The scar is different from the normal skin in that it does not have hair, no sweat glands, and is prone to UV light.

Few Best Essential Oils for Healing Scars

To reduce or eliminate the healing scar, you have to deal with the collagen fibers that formed. The ideal time to heal scars is applying essential oils with cicatrisant properties during the formation of the scars. Cicatrisant compounds enhance wound healing by stimulating cell regeneration. If used correctly, the following essential oils also help in leveling, filling, and managing the discoloration of the scars, leaving your skin an even tone and smooth.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils in the market. It is integrated into different skin products and it is used to treat different skin conditions including acne scars. It is topically applied to the healing wounds to prevent scars from forming and also on the existing old scars to reduce their sizes and existence.

Lavender essential oil is highly versatile but gentle and therefore, can be applied topically on the old scars after surgery or acne scars without diluting it with a carrier oil. However, when applying to a fresh wound, it is advisable to dilute it with a carrier oil of your choice to avoid irritation.

Lavender essential oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it effective in accelerating the wound healing process, healthy skin formation, acne scars, psoriasis, wrinkles, and other related skin inflammatory conditions. Lavender essential oil is widely known to reduce redness and helps in the regeneration of both old scars and healing scars.1

Helichrysum Essential Oil for Scars After Surgery

Helichrysum essential oil is highly effective against new and old scars. It is also called immortal and everlasting due to its ability to promote flawless and healthy skin. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that make it important in enhancing fresh wound healing. It is also a perfect pain reliever as well as preventing scar formation. Being an emollient, this oil keeps skin soft and moisturizes the skin, which helps prevent the scars from being conspicuous and also reduce the existence of old scars and scars after surgery. 2

Essential Oils for Old Scars

Tea Tree Essential Oil for Scars

It plays a role in healing scars due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Its use in treating acne scars makes it more affordable, easier, and safer means than chemical peeling and laser resurfacing, used in curing acne scars.

Tea tree oil is part of many skincare products as it is enriched with a variety of compounds that are beneficial to skin health. It has the ability to moisturize dry skin, heal scars on faces and other parts of the body as well as psoriasis.

To counteract healing scars, mix three drops of tea tree oil with one tablespoon of carrier oil of your choice together. Use the mixture to massage the scar area. Use it twice per day for better results. 3

Tea Tree Oil

Neroli Essential Oil

Neroli essential oil is derived from the citrus plant. It is cicatrisant, emollient, and cytophyllactic, making it a powerful skin conditions’ remedy. Cisatrisation is the process of promoting healthy skin regeneration. This explains why Neroli essential oil is used in a variety of anti-mark and blemish skin products.

It is used in treating scars due to its emollient and cytophelatic properties. This gives it the ability to keep the cells of the skin nourished, protected, and moisturized. This is most important when you want to prevent fresh wounds from developing scars. The Neroli oil is important in reducing old scars, scarring of wounds, and protecting new wounds from infection.

Neroli essential oil helps in building new skin cells, keeping your skin elastic and lightening the old scars, reducing stretch marks, and healing broken capillaries. It is also used to treat acne scars.4

Essential Oils to Reduce Scarring

Carrot Seed Essential Oil for Scars on Face

Carrot seed essential oil is derived from seeds of carrot through a steam distillation process. It has antioxidant properties and also it is a well-known tonic for the skin. It helps in eliminating the scars caused by acne, burns, or any other skin infections such as chickenpox. This essential oil is also important in fighting aging signs such as wrinkles and fine lines. The oil is also beneficial in improving skin elasticity.

Carrot seed essential oil is one of the primary ingredients in eczema and psoriasis creams. The essential oil is enriched with Beta-Carotene, Alpha and Beta-Pinene, and Limonene. It stimulates collagen productions that are important if filling scars and leveling out indented scars, for instance, pockmarks. The essential oil also helps in protecting the skin from UV light, this is helpful in regenerating even skin tone, and therefore, eliminating discolored scars. This is because scars are susceptible to sunburns.

Due to its high versatility, carrot essential oil is one of the most effective oils used as a remedy for acne scars and surgical scars, as well as keeping the skin moist.

Lemon Essential Oil for Old Scars

It is best for people with acne scars always striving to improve their complexion and to restore the balanced PH of their skin. Lemon essential oil has been proven to be effective in improving skin complexion and even out the tone of the skin. Due to its hypertrophic nature, lemon essential oil is used to treat acne scars and other skin conditions. You can easily use the essential oil at home to treat old scars by mixing three drops in a cup of warm water. Soak the cotton ball in the mixture and massage the healing, acne, facial, old, and surgical scars.

Cedarwood Essential Oil

Cedarwood is widely used in skin health. The oil is suitable for maintaining both dry and oily skin. It works by eliminating tissue fats and impurities from the skin. It is used to regenerate scar tissues and reduce the existence of old scars caused by burns, acne, stretch marks, as well as surgery.

Geranium Essential Oil

It is one of the best essential oils used in healing scars. It is enriched with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and cicatrisant properties that make it an ideal remedy for scars. When used frequently, geranium essential oil accelerates the wound healing process, prevents the formation of scars in fresh wounds, as well as makes old scars less conspicuous. The essential oil is useful in cell regeneration, therefore eliminating wrinkles, eczema, and psoriasis, making your skin attain a youthful appearance.

Being cicatrisant, geranium oil has two major compounds- Alpha-pinene and limonene. The two chemical compounds help it to penetrate the skin and heal the skin infection from the dermis up. Its antibacterial properties protect the wound from infection as the wound heals. It is also useful in reducing redness and blemishes on the skin.

Calendula Essential Oil

Derived from the flowers of the Marigold plant, Calendula Essential Oil is world-famous for its amazing anti-inflammatory and plant-based antioxidant properties. This oil is widely used in many natural beauty and health products. It contains a high level of flavonoids that help protect cells from free radical damage. This is the reason it has been considered as the first choice for many inflammatory conditions such as dermatitis, diaper rash, and scars.

Many studies have also advocated that, when Calendula is applied to wounds, it accelerates healing at a rapid rate. Thanks to its ability to increase blood flow and oxygen delivery to various parts of the body which makes cellular regeneration occurs at an alarming rate. It is advised to blend Calendula oil with a carrier oil before using it directly onto the skin.

Myrrh Essential Oil

Extracted from the resin of the Commiphora tree, this effective essential oil has been used for years in religious ceremonies and traditional healing therapies and the results are mind-blowing. Apart from soothing cracked and chapped patches, Myrrh Essential Oil does wonders in healing the scars. Its incredible aroma and healing properties make it one of the best essential oil to treat wounds and regenerate skin cells.

This oil contains two active natural compounds, sesquiterpenes, and terpenoids which are considered full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Though this oil does not have any side effects it is best to speak to your doctor or trusted health care provider before using it.

Copaiba Essential Oil

Copaiba Essential Oil is derived from the Brazilian Copaifera reticulata tree. Widely known for its anti-inflammatory properties, this oil is considered to be a rich source of beta caryophyllene-a nutrient that is incredible in treating irritated or injured skin. Being a strong astringent, Copaiba Essential oil is widely used to strengthen the skin and reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes, leaving your skin supple.

This remedy is well-recognized for its incomparable healing properties. Its astringent properties tighten the skin which makes you look younger. One famous study also revealed that a topical application of Copaiba Essential Oil can help reduce the appearance of acne on the face.

Borage Essential Oil

When we talk about the remedies for skin problems, we can certainly vouch for Borage Essential Oil. It is a diamond in the rough. The high concentration of Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids makes it one of the most potential oil in revitalizing skin cells and tissues. Known as a luxury oil, Borage Essential Oil is cold-pressed from the seed of the plant and considered extremely beneficial for skin and hair. Promoting youthful skin, treating inflammatory skin conditions, moisturizing, rejuvenating skin, treating hormonal acne and scars are some of the functions of this miraculous oil.

Patchouli Essential Oil

This bushy plant with soft leaves has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Extracted from steam distillation, Patchouli oil can offer wonderful healing properties For Those who are looking for a natural remedy to fade scars, Patchouli Essential Oil can be the ultimate solution. Patchouli oil does not only helpful in healing scars but can also tighten and tone the skin. This oil has been proved to be highly beneficial for all skin types including aging and mature skin. It is recommended not to use Patchouli oil in undiluted form. Rosewood and lavender oil can be great carrier oils for acne scarring treatment.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Extracted from the gum of Frankincense trees, Frankincense Essential Oil is one of the most popular ingredients in cosmetics for centuries. When it comes to scar healing, this oil has no contender. Frankincense Essential Oil is the treasure world of health benefits. Thanks to its antiseptic, disinfectant, carminative, digestive, astringent, diuretic, tonic, and sedative properties.

Since skincare and anti-aging solutions are what many people looking for, healing scars is an interesting property of Frankincense Essential Oil. Either applied topically or inhaled, this oil can help the scar, boil, acne marks fade at a rapid rate. Even fading of stretch marks, fat cracks, surgery marks are the wonderful results of this oil.5

Castor Essential Oil

Extracted from castor seeds, castor oil has myriads of industrial, medicinal, and pharmaceutical uses. The benefits are not just limited to health and hair but have been typically used for skin benefits too. Healing inflamed skin, fighting signs of aging, reducing acne, moisturizing skin, fading blemishes, preventing stretch marks, reducing scars, and even treating uneven skin tone are some of the miraculous functions of Castor Essential Oil. It can be directly applied to the skin and relatively safe to use. Castor oil has anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antimicrobial, and other useful properties.

Hyssop Essential Oil

Extracted from the steam distillation of the leaves of a shrub called Hyssop, this oil has been used since ancient times to offer various health benefits. Though it looks similar to lavender but belongs to the mint family. Its unique composition helps to alleviate respiratory problems, ward off infections, healing scars, and other stubborn skin marks. Due to its astringent properties, Hyssop Essential oil helps in promoting skin health by toning the skin, reducing the appearance of scars, and providing beautiful young-looking skin in no time.

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Amazing properties such as antiseptic, inflammatory, astringent, a tonic, disinfectant, diuretic, and many more keep Sandalwood Essential Oil always in high demand. Sandalwood oil is used in skin and beauty treatments, medicines, numerous industrial products. With skin-soothing quality, this oil relieves irritation and inflammation and keeps you fresh and cool all the time. Its strong mesmerizing fragrance and Cicatrisant properties help scars and spots heal much faster.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

From promoting oral health to providing relief for various respiratory problems, this colorless oil is the one-stop solution to every problem. When combined with a carrier oil and applied properly, Eucalyptus Oil can be extremely beneficial in healing the old scars and regeneration of new skin cells. When applied on wounds or scars, it creates a protective barrier on the skin leaving the skin spotless. The credit goes to its germicidal and anti-inflammatory properties.

Perfect Recipe for Healing Scars

Lea Harris is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and she has this perfect recipe for healing scars.

8 drops Helichrysum essential oil
8 drops Frankincense essential oil
4 drops Lavender essential oil
20ml Rosehip oil – I use this one.

Instructions

Add all essential oils to a 20ml roller bottle.
Fill to shoulder with Rosehip oil.
Roll over a new scar up to three times a day for best results.

Pros and Cons of Essential Oils for Healing Scars

Many people are now turning to essential oils for healing scars and other ailments due to their proven therapeutic properties. However, it is important to take relevant precautionary measures while using them.

Essential oils are highly potent and are effective in small concentrations. It is important to always dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil of your choice before topical application on the scars. This will prevent skin irritation. Also, ensure that the essential oil is compatible with your skin by first rubbing it on a small area of your skin. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should always consult with their doctor before using the essential oils.

Apart from making the skin look uneven, scars also cause side effects such as itching, pain, tenderness, disruption of sleep, and other daily activities. Mentally, it can lead to low self-esteem, stigmatization, and depression. All these reasons make us strive and eliminate or rather reduce the scars as fast as possible. With frequent use of the above-mentioned essential oils, you will be able to achieve skin even tone, prevent scarring of fresh wounds as well as reduce the existence of old scars.

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