All desire clear and beautiful skin, but not everyone is blessed with it. Some face the annoying and ugly acne. And on the top of it are acne scars. Acne breakouts happen and then clear but they leave you with terrible marks. No matter how careful you are with the acne, but these happen, and some of them leave behind scary scars. Stressing out on them is no way out. If you are done with camouflaging them with cosmetics and looking for how to get rid of acne scars, read below to know some simple remedies to clear the acne scars.
What Causes Acne Scars?
When the pores of your skin get clogged with excess oil, dirt, bacteria, and dead cells, the pores may swell. The swollen pores cause the breaking of the follicle wall. If this happens near the skin surface, then there will be a shallow lesion which will heal quickly, but if the follicle rupture occurs deep, then it may damage the skin tissues causing a deeper wound. These get repaired too, but some marks are left behind which are the acne scars.
Types of Acne Scars
Following are the different kinds of acne scars
- Atrophic Scars: Atrophic scars are flat and thin scars. These are slightly depressed.
- Ice-Pick Scars: Ice-Pick scars are the pitted acne scars. These are narrow and deep.
- Boxcar Scars: Boxcar scars are the deep scars with sharp edges.
- Hypertrophic Scars: Hypertrophic scars are lumpy and thick.
- Rolling Scars: These are also depressed but are broad with slanting edges.
Natural Remedies for Acne Scar Removal
Acne marks ruin your beautiful skin. These are indeed a cause of worry. But the good news is that you can get rid of them quickly at home without making a hole in your pocket. Learn here about how to get rid of acne scars naturally and treat them easily at home with some cheap and readily available ingredients.
1. Foods That Can Help Treat Acne Scars
How to heal Acne Scars with Garlic?
If you sight an acne scar on your face, then immediately run to your kitchen and grab some garlic. It is one of the best home remedies for treating acne scars(1).
How to use?
- Take one to two garlic cloves and peel them
- Crush them and apply the inner pulp of the clove on the scars
- Leave it on the for the night
- Next, morning wash the area
- Repeat this remedy every alternate day to until the acne scars fade.
Benefits of Garlic
Garlic has essential properties that can help in getting rid of the severe acne scars. When garlic cloves are crushed or minced, they release a compound known as allicin which has potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that soothe the skin and accelerate its healing. Application of garlic also prevents further breakouts, use it to get the beautiful and flawless skin.
Precautions
If you have sensitive skin, then garlic might irritate it. Hence, before using this remedy do a skin patch test. Rub some garlic on your arm, if it causes intense pain then avoid using garlic.
How to Fade Acne Scars by using Potato?
The red acne scars on your cheeks certainly do not present a pleasant sight. These are unsightly and may affect your confidence level. Want to know how to get rid of acne scars? Pick a potato and lighten the awful marks easily.
How to use?
- Take a potato
- Crush or grate it and extract the juice
- Soak a cotton pad in the potato juice and place it on the scars
- Leave the juice on acne scars for around twenty to thirty minutes
- After that, wash the area with water
- Repeat this remedy once a day for some time until the acne scars lighten.
Benefits of Potato
Potato is known to have skin lightening properties that work effectively to heal the acne scars. The alkalinity of the potato juice accelerates the fading of scars.
Precautions
Use unblemished, raw potato for treating acne scars.
Foods to Eat
Healthy and clear skin isn’t possible if you are not healthy from inside. What you eat reflects on your skin. Hence, those looking for how to get rid of acne scars must know that to get clear skin they should include foods that promote skin health and prevent acne breakouts resulting in acne scars. One must add the following foods to their diet to avoid breakouts and promote skin healing
- Foods rich in omega-3 Fatty acids like sardines and salmon
- Foods rich in Vitamin A that promotes cell regeneration like sweet potatoes
- Green Leafy Vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals and with potent anti-inflammatory properties like Kale
- Foods rich in Vitamin C that boost collagen production and eliminate toxins
- Foods Rich in Vitamin E such as almonds that nourish the skin
- Herbal teas rich in polyphenols
Foods to avoid
Consumption of certain foods increases ace break-out and scarring. They may also interfere in your skin’s healing process. Hence you must avoid such foods. The foods that you should stop eating immediately to get healthy skin devoid of any troubles are:
- Milk and dairy products
- Foods high in iodine like sushi rolls
- Foods with a high glycemic index like refined grains, white flour, etc.
2. Herbal Treatments for Removing Acne Scars
How to Remove Cystic Acne Scars with Green Tea?
Green Tea is loaded with antioxidants and essential nutrients that benefit your health in numerous ways. The tea is gaining immense popularity owing to its positive effect on skin and body. Thus, if you are looking for how to get rid of acne scars naturally, then it is one of the best remedies that you can entirely depend upon, it will give you visible results in no time(2).
How to use?
- Take a green tea bag and soak it in water
- Squeeze out the excess water from the bag and place it on the acne scars
- Repeat this activity once every day until the acne scars disappear
- Alternatively, you can also make a face pack using green tea leaves and water
- To quicken the healing of acne scars, consume green tea every day.
Benefits of Green Tea
Green Tea is rich in antioxidants and catechins that reduce inflammation and accelerate the skin healing, thus diminishing scars. The polyphenols present in the tea reduce the enlarged skin pores.
Precautions
Consuming green tea gives favorable results, but you must drink it in moderation. Green tea also contains caffeine which if taken in excessive amount can harm your health.
How to Get Rid of Acne Scars with Neem?
Neem finds use in Ayurvedic medicine owing to its numerous medicinal properties. It is also an effective remedy to remove bad acne scars. Neem leaves help in clearing your skin of all the impurities.
How to use?
- Take some fresh neem leaves
- Grind them to make a paste
- Apply the neem paste on the scars
- Leave the paste on acne scars for twenty to thirty minutes till it dries
- After that, wash it with water
- Repeat the process daily until the acne scars disappear
Benefits of Neem
Neem has a significant effect on acne scars. Application of neem paste on a regular basis will lighten the back acne scars and those on your face over time. It is because neem has strong skin soothing and healing properties that speed up the fading of the acne scars. Further its antiseptic properties prevent the growth of bacteria and future break-outs. Thus, neem is an excellent remedy for treating acne-prone skin.
Precautions
Before grinding the neem leaves wash them thoroughly.
3. Use Essential oils to clear Acne Scars
How to remove Acne Scars with Tea Tree Oil?
Essential Oils are plant extracts with potent inflammatory and skin healing properties; thus these find use in treating various skin conditions. If the deep acne scars are stressing you out and you are looking for effective ways for how to get rid of acne scars, then use Tea Tree Essential Oil). It can quickly clear your skin of the acne marks.
How to use?
- Mix three to four drops of tea tree oil in a teaspoon of coconut oil
- Apply the blend on the scars using a cotton ball
- Leave it on the acne scars for one to two hours and then wash off. You can also leave it overnight.
- Try this remedy daily to get the desired results
Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
Using Tea Tree Oil for acne scars will give you visible results in no time. The strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of the oil help in treating acne and diminishing the acne scars. Using it for some time will give you significant results.
Precautions
You must use tea tree oil in diluted form only as it highly potent and can damage your skin on direct application. Always do a skin patch test before applying the oil. Rub a small amount of dilute tea tree oil on your skin, if it causes redness and inflammation, then do not use the tea tree oil remedy.
Other essential oils that can treat acne scars
Some other essential oils that can effectively heal the acne scars are:
- Helichrysum Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Sandalwood Essential Oil
- Frankincense Essential Oil
- Geranium Essential Oil
4. Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Acne Scars
How to Fade Acne Scars with Apple Cider Vinegar?
Use Apple Cider vinegar for acne scars. The thick, dark liquid works magically on the unsightly red acne scars and diminishes them quickly. It is an excellent remedy for how to get rid of acne scars.
How to use?
- Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons of honey
- Dilute the mixture by adding water
- Mix all the contents well
- Soak a cotton ball in the blend and apply it on the scars
- Keep it for around ten to twenty minutes
- After that, wash the area with water
- Repeat it daily for some time so that the acne marks disappear.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe your skin and minimize the reddening of the acne scars. Further, its potent antimicrobial properties prevent the build-up of bacteria preventing acne.
Precautions
Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic prevent using it in areas with open cuts and wounds. Also, you must apply it in diluted form only.
How to Get Rid of Acne scars by using an Oatmeal Mask?
Acne marks are bothersome, but you need not worry about them much as some simple home remedies can effectively treat them. One such easy home remedy is an oatmeal mask. Use it to heal even those severe acne scars.
How to use?
- Add a teaspoon of honey and a tablespoon of lemon juice to two tablespoons of oatmeal
- Mix the contents and apply the mixture on your face
- Leave the paste for thirty minutes and let it dry
- After that wash off with water
Benefits of the Oatmeal mask
Oatmeal mask works wonders for acne prone skin. Oatmeal absorbs the excess of oil and removes the dead skin cells that clog pores. It has healing properties that repair the scarred skin and damaged tissues. Honey and lemon juice further soothe the skin and aid in the lightening of the scars.
Precautions
Some people have allergy from oatmeal. If you have sensitive skin with a history of allergy, then do a skin patch test before using this remedy.
[ Read: Foods That Cause Acne ]
How does Coconut oil work to Treat Acne Scars?
Coconut oil is known to have skin nourishing properties. It is loaded with essential nutrients that promote healthy and clear skin. Coconut oil is an excellent remedy for how to get rid of acne scars. Know how to use coconut oil for acne scars.
How to use?
- Take some amount of coconut oil
- Rub it in your palms to liquefy it
- After that dab the oil on the acne scars
- Leave for the night and wash off the next morning
- Repeat this remedy every alternate day to clear the acne scars.
Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is rich in antioxidants that aid in skin regeneration. Further the presence of Vitamin E and Vitamin K that repair your skin and also promote the growth of new tissues. Also, coconut oil is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Its application helps in soothing the skin and prevents the development of new scars.
Precautions
Coconut oil is an excellent choice for acne scars. It is mostly safe for use; however, some people are allergic to coconut oil. If you have coconut oil allergy, then refrain from using this remedy. To know that whether you are sensitive to it or not, apply a small amount of coconut oil on your arm, if rashes develop on the area, then you might have a coconut oil allergy.
[ Read: Natural Treatments for Acne ]
5. Natural Treatments for Removing Acne Scars
How to use Epsom Salt for clearing Acne Scars?
Epsom salt works as an excellent remedy for treating mild acne scars. It can help you get rid of acne scars quickly.
How to use?
- Add some amount of water to half a cup of Epsom Salt to make a thick paste
- Apply this Epsom Salt paste on the acne scars
- Massage it gently for some time
- Leave the paste on for around twenty minutes
- After that, wash it with water
- You can use this remedy three times a week to see results.
Benefits of Epsom Salt
Epsom salt has strong anti-inflammatory properties owing to the presence of magnesium. Application of the salt helps in reducing the size of the scars and diminishes them over time.
Precautions
Do not excessively rub the paste on the skin as it may damage it.
How to prevent acne scars?
Acne scars are stubborn and may take time to go; hence it is best to adopt the necessary measures that prevent the appearance of the acne scars. Following tips may help avoid the appearance of the acne marks(3)
- Wash your face two times every day to prevent the build-up of dirt.
- Do not sleep with make-up on. Remove it so that your skin pores can breathe.
- Never prick your pimples.
- Avoid harmful sunrays. If going out in the sun wear sunscreen.
- Switch to a healthy diet that keeps you healthy from inside out.
No one likes those red and ugly acne scars. You don’t have to live by them or try on expensive treatments. Solving acne scar troubles is easy. Nature has answers to all your problems. Try the remedies mentioned above for how to get rid of acne scars and clear them easily.
These cures are simple and do not require much of your time and money. You need to be patient with them, and the results will completely amaze you. These remedies are cheap and safe with no side-effects.
