When treating scars with home remedies

A scar forms as your skin repairs a wound that has penetrated the dermal layer or second layer of your skin. Scars can result from cuts, scabbing diseases such as chickenpox or acne, serious burns, or a severe rash. They are part of the natural healing processes of your body. Scars can be raised or flat, long, short, or round, and flesh-toned, pink, purple, or brown in color.

Some people are more likely than others to develop more pronounced scars. A scar’s formation and appearance depend on general health, age, skin type, condition of skin, skin color, location of the injury (body or face), and the particulars of the initial trauma. The degree to which a scar develops greatly depends on the severity of the damage to the skin and the length of time it takes to heal. The longer the healing process and the greater the damage to the skin, the increased likelihood of a noticeable scar.

A hypertrophic scar is elevated above the surface of the skin, and the tissue forms in direct proportion to the size of the wound. A keloid is similar to a hypertrophic scar, except that the scar tissue forms out of proportion to the amount of scar tissue normally required for repair and healing. In other words, it extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound site and into the surrounding skin. Black skin is particularly prone to the development of keloids.

To avoid scars entirely, you’d need to live in a bubble. Life happens. Once you do have an injury, the best way to minimize scarring is to begin proper care of the wound at once and avoid further injury to the wound site. It pays to keep skin in tip-top shape by conditioning it regularly with nourishing oils, body creams, and lotions and by eating a whole-foods diet to ensure that the skin remains flexible, elastic, and able to heal rapidly.

When treating scars with home remedies, keep in mind that everyone’s skin is unique and reacts differently to different products. For additional assistance, consult with your local pharmacist about nonprescription topical scar treatments. Scars older than a year or two, raised scars, long surgical scars, burn scars, or those that develop and deepen over time, such as acne and chickenpox scars, can be difficult to treat with home remedies and should be addressed by a dermatologist if they cause discomfort or negatively impact your self-esteem.

ROSEHIP AND ROSEMARY RECOVERY OIL BLEND

Rosehip seed oil, rich in essential fatty acids, is highly regenerative, promoting the growth of fresh, healthy new skin. With continued application, it dramatically increases the elasticity of the skin and stimulates the formation of new collagen fibrils, resulting in a smoother, more toned appearance. Combined with skin-conditioning wheat germ oil, plus rosemary and lavender essential oils, this blend synergizes to form a superior scar-preventive treatment when applied to new injuries and a scar-fading treatment when applied to existing scars less than 2 years old.

15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops rosemary (chemotype verbenon) essential oil
3 tablespoons rosehip seed base oil
1 tablespoon vitamin E oil or wheat germ base oil

EQUIPMENT: Dropper, dark glass bottle with dropper top or screw cap
PREP TIME: 15 minutes, plus 24 hours to synergize
YIELD: Approximately ¼ cup
STORAGE: Refrigerate; use within 6 months

APPLICATION:
2 times per day Add the lavender and rosemary essential oils drop by drop directly into a storage bottle. Add the base oils. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously for 2 minutes to blend. Label the bottle and place in a dark location that’s between 60° and 80°F for 24 hours so that the oils can synergize. After 24 hours, refrigeration is required.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Shake well before each use. If possible, immediately after incurring an injury, clean the area and then massage several drops (or more, depending upon the size of the injury) of this formula into the surrounding skin. Massage several drops into the entire wound twice daily as it begins to heal to prevent or at least minimize scarring. Additionally, twice-daily application for at least 6 months can dramatically fade and soften existing scars that are less than two years old. Consistency with application is key.

Bonus
his remedy can be applied twice daily, by the drop, to areas of your face and neck where you notice new wrinkles forming as well as to deeper, existing wrinkles to help plump and nourish the underlying tissue. If you are consistent with application and proper care of your skin, expect to see noticeable results within 6 months.

CALENDULA AND CALOPHYLLUM REJUVENATIVE DROPS

Homemade calendula-infused oil is frequently my go-to herbal remedy base for treating injuries that have the potential for scarring. With calendula and calophyllum oils, along with carrot seed and lavender essential oils, this formula has analgesic, antiinflammatory, antiseptic, and skin-cellregenerative properties, and an amazing ability to assist the skin in successful rejuvenation while restoring elasticity and suppleness. This recipe calls for only a small amount of calendula-infused oil. If you have some homemade Simple Calendula-Infused, great. If not, then purchase a small bottle from your local health food store or herbal supplier. But I do recommend that you always have at least a cup of this multipurpose infused oil on hand — fresh and homemade is best, and much less expensive!

15 drops carrot seed essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
3 tablespoons calendula-infused oil
1 tablespoon calophyllum base oil

EQUIPMENT: Dropper, dark glass bottle with dropper top or screw cap
PREP TIME: 15 minutes, plus 24 hours to synergize
YIELD: Approximately ¼ cup
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year

APPLICATION:
2 times per day Add the carrot seed and lavender essential oils drop by drop directly into a storage bottle. Add the calendula and calophyllum base oils. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously for 2 minutes to blend. Label the bottle, and place in a dark location that’s between 60° and 80°F for 24 hours so that the oils can synergize.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Shake well before each use. If possible, immediately after incurring an injury, clean the area and then massage several drops (or more, depending upon the size of the injury) of this formula into the surrounding skin. Massage several drops into the entire wound twice daily as it begins to heal to prevent or at least minimize the potential for scarring. Bonus When applied by the drop, this blend speeds healing to minor cuts and scrapes, blisters, bruises, dermatitis, and dry eczema, plus it soothes and moisturizes patches of severely dry or cracked skin anywhere on the body.

SKIN-BE-SMOOTH: LAVENDER AND COCOA BUTTER BALM

Lavender essential oil and cocoa butter have long been used to help prevent scarring after an injury. This formula combines these traditional herbal ingredients into one potent blend with antiseptic, vulnerary, antiinflammatory, analgesic, and skin-cellregenerating properties that will aid in healing the injury and rejuvenating the skin so that scarring is minimized. It is gentle enough to be used on children over 6 years old. The blend has a lovely lavender-cocoa cream smell and is readily absorbed into the skin upon application.

Note: This is an extremely mild, yet aromatherapeutically concentrated formula, so use only as directed.

2 tablespoons cocoa butter
2 tablespoons jojoba base oil
50 drops lavender essential oil

EQUIPMENT: Small saucepan or double boiler, stirring utensil, glass or plastic jar or tin
PREP TIME: 20 minutes to make the balm, plus up to 36 hours to synergize and thicken
YIELD: Approximately ¼ cup
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year

APPLICATION:
2 times per day Combine the cocoa butter and jojoba oil in a very small saucepan (a ¾-quart size works great) or double boiler, and warm over low heat until the cocoa butter is just melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes, stirring a few times. Add the lavender essential oil and stir again to thoroughly blend. Slowly pour the liquid balm into the storage container. Cap and label. This particular blend of ingredients can take up to 36 hours to synergize and properly thicken, depending on the temperature in your kitchen. If after 36 hours it has not thickened to at least a soft salve consistency, then give it a good, gentle stir and place the container in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Remove the container after that time, and allow the product to return to room temperature before use.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
If possible, immediately after incurring an injury, clean the area and then massage a small dab (or more depending on the size of the injury) of this formula into the surrounding skin. Massage a small dab into the entire wound twice daily as it begins to heal to prevent or at least minimize the potential for scarring.

Bonus
This gentle yet highly effective balm is wonderfully healing for minor to moderate cuts and scrapes, blisters, and poison plant rashes.