Are you looking for a natural way to help heal your scars? Essential oils may be the answer for you! In this blog post, we will discuss the best essential oils for scarring and how to use them. Keep reading to learn more!
Every year, more than 100 million people get a scar from an injury or medical procedure. It has been estimated that there are 4 million burn scars every year and 11 million keloid scars, and 70% of scars happen to children.
How to Reduce Scarring Using Essential Oils
The fact is that we can’t always prevent accidents from occurring, and avoiding surgery would be detrimental to our quality of life.
However, we can do something to try to reduce the appearance of scars and help the skin to naturally heal.
For thousands of years, people have used herbs and essential oils to help the body to repair itself. There are no harsh chemicals and no synthetic creams, just natural oils derived from plants.
Helichrysum Essential Oil For Scars
Bacterial infection in a wound or injury can prevent the skin from healing properly. Often it will take far longer to heal, and the skin will become very red, itchy and painful.
The first step to reducing scarring is to make sure that the wound is properly cleaned. Helichrysum essential oil is good for this - traditionally it has been used in Mediterranean countries. Both the flowers and leaves are used to make the essential oil. Here are a few reasons to use helichrysum oil for scarring:
- relieve infections
- relieve skin rashes
- increase collagen production
Scientific research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Helichrysum has antimicrobial properties, killing bacteria. This prevents infection, and encourages the wound to heal quickly.
Potentially, this means that scarring will be reduced. Studies also found that this essential oil can also be used effectively to combat inflammation - if a wound is inflamed, it is more likely to leave a scar.
Need a bottle of Helichrysum? Here is a brand we like.
Lavender Essential Oil For Scars
Lavender essential oil is often used to help you get a restful night’s sleep and promote feelings of calmness. The fragrant and the beautiful purple flowers are used in making the oil.
Promote Healing with Lavender
Lavender is also very effective to help reduce scarring following injury or surgery. A 2016 study found that when lavender essential oil is applied topically to the skin, it speeds up the production of collagen, helping the wound to heal naturally. On a molecular level, it promotes the growth factor TGF-B, which helps the skin to contract following an injury, encouraging new tissue to grow.
This speeds up healing time, reducing scarring. Here is our favorite lavender oil.
Lemon and Tea Tree Oil For Scarring
Boost the immune system with lemon and tea tree essential oil.
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is used in traditional medicine all over the world. It is known for its antibacterial properties, and is good for keeping the skin clean. This is why it is commonly used in treatments for acne and other skin problems.
It helps to prevent infection, which can make scars worse. However, research has found that tea tree oil can also boost the immune system. If you have a strong immune system, then the body heals itself better, resulting in reduced scarring.
Lemon essential oil is also a powerful immune system stimulant - you can put it in a diffuser to help prevent airborne viruses. In fact, it is often used to treat e-Coli, some Staphylococcus strains, and influenza.
You should never apply lemon oil directly to the skin, though. It is best to always dilute oils before applying topically. Lemon essential oil is phototoxic if you keep the dilution under 2% (less than 12 drops per 1 oz) there are no worries.
Steam distilled lemon from Plant Therapy is not phototoxic so no need to use caution in the sun with it. Buy that particular one to avoid sun damage from using lemon essential oil when outside or under UV lights.
Geranium Essential Oil For Scars
If you're looking for a natural way to reduce the appearance of scars, you may want to consider using geranium essential oil. This oil is known for its skin-healing properties, and it can help improve the appearance of scars over time.
This flowering shrub has traditionally been used to treat skin conditions such as eczema. Geranium oil is antibacterial and may be used to keep scarring at bay.
Frankincense Oil For Skin Healing
Frankincense essential oil is well-known for its potent inflammatory fighting properties. It also speeds up the skin's natural healing process. It can prevent or neutralize scarring. Frankincense oil can also be used to reduce wrinkles and dark spots.
Therapeutic properties of frankincense:
- Antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- Antimicrobial
- Wound healing
- Scar reduction
How to Use Essential Oil For Scars
Topically applying essential oils is the best and most effective method to treat scarring. Use carrier oils such as coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba to dilute essential oils before applying them to skin.
Dilution of Oils: Use about 2 drops of essential oils per teaspoon of carrier oil.
Apply the oil blend to the area at least two times per day, morning and evening. To maximize and enhance the therapeutic and medicinal effects of essential oils, you can make your own blends. The addition of Vitamin E oil to your mixture can help as well with scarring.
Scar Reducing Essential Oil Blend
This oil blend recipe is perfect for healing scars because of its antiseptic properties which kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. It also has skin healing properties.
- 4 drops Lavender essential oil
- 3 drops Helichrysum essential oil
- 3 drops Tea Tree essential oil
- 2 drops Lemon essential oil
- 1 oz Rosehip Oil
- 1 oz dropper Bottle
Directions:
Add all ingredients into dropper bottle, place dropper top on. Blend oils together by rolling the bottle between the palms of hands. To use, place a few drops onto scar and rub in with clean hands. This recipe is 2% dilution.
For best results, try massaging these oils into your skin twice a day or apply them topically using an essential oil roller ball.
The majority of people have scars. They are part of being human, and a reminder of how fragile and special life is. However, using natural essential oils, we can reduce their appearance and help speed up the healing process.
Author Bio:
Jacklyn Bell is first and foremost a mom to two daughters, and works as a writer. In a previous life she was a health and safety officer and is now a passionate advocate of environmentally sound/friendly methods of cleaning and living.