Let’s be honest – scars are a morale deflater. Scars are typically the result of a cut, laceration or burn. They can also be caused by stretch marks from pregnancy or significant weight changes, or an incision due to surgery. Acne may also be a cause. They can be flat, or they may protrude. While they can be difficult to live with, especially if located on the face or the hands, there are, thankfully, many natural scar treatment options available without having to resort to surgical procedures. In addition, many of these home remedies are also used to prevent acne, which will leave your skin feeling healthier all over.

1. Shea Butter and Coconut Oil

If you’ve experienced a cut, laceration or a burn, keep the area moist and cover it, allowing the scar to heal. To keep the wound moist you can use shea butter or coconut oil. This will help prevent the scar from getting too large, deep or itchy.

One of the benefits is that the omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in both the shea butter and the coconut oil have been shown to inhibit keloid scar tissue and repair the skin. They are also very effective at moisturizing the skin and can be used as a continued regimen to help minimize the scarring. All you need to do is apply the shea butter or the coconut oil to the skin two to three times a day. You don’t need to wash it off, however, do be careful when wearing silk garments, as it may stain.

2. Silicone Gel Sheeting

Silicone gel sheeting is another option you can use to help get rid of scarring. It is a sticky, clear pad that goes over a cut and can speed the healing process up. It also makes the scar less red and painful. They have been widely used in clinical practice since the early 1980s.

Although gel sheeting can be an effective treatment, there are some downsides to some of the conventional gel sheets. According to some patients, skin reactions to the tape, excessive sweating and difficulty and frustration in its application were reported. Furthermore, the visibility of the treatment on scars located in visible areas like the face, can be both obvious and unattractive.

3. Onion Extract/Gel

Another natural option is an onion extraction which can be used because it contains several unique bioflavonoids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, and cephalin.. A study in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology asked six subjects to apply onion extract to the affected areas for a period of four weeks. It was reported that while some subjects experienced mild stinging, it resolved pretty quickly. At two weeks, the subjects rated the gel-applied scars to be significantly softer than the control scars. After applying the onion extraction for four to eight weeks, all appearance variables of the gel-applied scars had significantly improved. Thus, it was decided that the onion extract gel is safe and significantly improves scar appearance after four weeks of daily application.

4. Pressure Garments

Pressure garments are another treatment option. A mechanical compressive force exerted by pressure garments to treat scars in burn patients was first prescribed in 1860. Currently, elastic compression using elastic garments is the predominant means of using pressure garments.

However, some studies suggest no noticeable healing, but others, like a 2010 study published in the Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, have claimed that pressure therapy achieves regression success rates of 60 to 85% in scarring.

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has long been used as a great natural remedy to help heal many skin conditions, including the treatment of scars. It soothes damaged skin and can help regenerate the damaged tissues by boosting the healing process. Be sure to opt for pure aloe vera gel, which can be purchased from a health food store, and simply apply directly to the scarred area. Leave it on for about 30 minutes or longer. You can also sleep with it as it dries up quickly. Apply two to three times a day, and this will help diminish your scars and give a nice glow to your skin, making it tighter whilst reducing wrinkles.

6. Essential Oils: Tea Tree and Helichrysum

For an amazing natural remedy to heal scars, use tea tree oil. It’s effective because it has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is also effective in treating and healing acne scars. But its biggest benefit lies in healing hypertrophic scars, in fact, it may gradually diminish the scar. Simply take two to four drops of tea tree oil combined with coconut oil and rub onto the affected area twice a day.

Another alternative would be to use helichrysum essential oil which is a great choice for helping to diminish the appearance of scars because of its antibacterial properties, much like tea tree oil. Due to its antioxidant properties, helichrysum helps prevent and regenerate damaged skin.

Source: Internet and others