Sep 21, 2022

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Remove Old Scars: Top 10 Medical Remedies Plus Natural Options

There’s no known way to make scars totally disappear, but many will become lighter over time on their own.

There are also some medical treatments and over-the-counter (OTC) options that can help reduce the appearance of scars.

Silicone gels or sheets

Silicone gels and sheets can be used on healing skin, not open wounds. They’re soft- and flexible-style gels or sheets that are applied like a self-adhesive dressing. They’re designed to help soften the skin and flatten the scar.

Worn daily, they can be washed and reused for up to 3 months. You don’t need a prescription — they can be bought over the counter at your local store.

Steroids

Corticosteroid injections can be effective at treating certain types of scars, like thick or keloid scars.

They’re injected directly into the scar tissue to help decrease the itching, redness, and burning sensations that these scars may produce. They aren’t used on other types of scars because they can cause a permanent indentation if injected directly into a flat scar.

The injections reduce swelling and flatten the scar. The injections tend to be given on multiple occasions over a series of months. You can ask a doctor if this is something they can offer you.

Laser therapy

Also referred to as laser skin resurfacing or laser scar revision, laser therapy targets blood vessels that can reduce the appearance of a scar.

While it can’t eliminate the scar completely, the pulses of light can make the scar flatter, reduce redness, and lessen pain and itchiness.

Laser therapy is carried out by a doctor or an aesthetic professional.

Dermal fillers

Injectable dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected underneath your skin.

Normally, they’re made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that organically forms occurs in your body. They can sometimes be used to plump pitted scars, for example, if you have deep scarring as a result of acne.

Dermal fillers are injected by a doctor or an aesthetic or dermatology professional.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels can be used to treat mild scarring. The chemical solution dissolves the outermost layer of the skin to help increase cell turnover and reveal a smoother, less irregular complexion.

This treatment works better for people with lighter skin. Aesthetic professionals normally carry out chemical peels.

If you have darker skin, a glycolic acid peel may be more effective. Azelaic acid is also a good option for treating acne and pigment on the face.

Regardless of skin tone, make sure you use sunscreen daily and reapply if you’re exposed to the sun, as peels make the skin extremely sensitive to light and ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Subcision

Subcision is another common aesthetic treatment used to treat acne scarring. It involves inserting a small needle into your skin to release the acne scar from the underlying tissue.

This can be particularly effective for depressed or indented scars.

This allows the skin to rise and diminish the acne scar’s appearance. It’s carried out in an aesthetic or dermatology clinic.

Punch excision

This acne scar treatment uses a surgical tool that matches the size of the scar.

Much like the name describes, the scar is removed with the tool and then stitched up. It’s one of the best ways of removing these deep styles of scars, like ice pick or boxcar scars.

Visit an aesthetic or dermatology clinic to learn more.

Microneedling

Microneedling can be used on a whole host of scar types.

As the name implies, the treatment uses microneedles to prick the skin and create microchannels. This stimulates collagen production, which helps to restructure the skin and reduce the appearance of scars.

Aesthetic or dermatology clinics normally offer microneedling.

Medicated creams

Depending on the type of scar you have, a doctor may be able to prescribe a cream. Some prescription-only creams may be more effective than what you buy over the counter.

These products often contain a high-strength retinoid or a topical steroid to decrease itching and swelling.

OTC creams

There are a wealth of OTC options too.

These creams don’t contain active prescription-only ingredients but instead contain other alternatives that aim to reduce the size and appearance of scars as well as combat redness or itchiness.

Natural remedies for getting rid of scars

There are also several natural remedies that may help with the appearance of scars.

Aloe vera

In one 2019 reviewTrusted Source that looked at 23 trials, researchers concluded that aloe vera can improve wound healing and can help with scars when used alongside other methods.

To use it:

Remove the dark green “skin” from the flatter side of an aloe vera leaf.
Scoop out the almost clear light-green gel.
Apply the gel directly to your scar using circular motions.
After half an hour, wash the gel off with fresh, cool water.
Repeat twice each day.

Vitamin E

The scientific evidence around vitamin E and scars is inconclusive. Research on how vitamin E can treat acne and heal its scars is inconclusive.

In a 2016 study, researchers concluded that there isn’t enough evidence that topical vitamin E has a significant beneficial effect on scars to justify its widespread use. They noted the need for more high quality studies.

Try it:

Cut open a vitamin E capsule over the scar and squeeze the oil onto the scar (you might need more than just one capsule to get enough liquid for full coverage).
For about 10 minutes, massage the oil on and around the scar.
After about 20 minutes, wash off the oil with warm water.
Repeat this process a minimum of three times per day.

Honey

There isn’t scientific evidence that honey can help with scars.

One 2016 studyTrusted Source that looked at the impact of manuka honey on scars found that while honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it didn’t make a difference in scar appearance when applied topically.

Try it:

Before going to bed, cover your scar with a layer of honey.
Wrap the honey-covered scar with a bandage.
Leave it on for one full night.
In the morning, remove the bandage and wash off the honey with warm water.
Make this part of your routine every night.

Coconut oil

There’s limited scientific evidence to support the use of coconut oil to fade scars.

A 2018 reviewTrusted Source noted that coconut oil is effective at promoting wound healing by:

encouraging collagen synthesis
reducing inflammation
repairing the skin barrier
having an antibacterial and antioxidant effect

Try it:

Heat a few tablespoons of coconut oil just enough to liquefy it.
Massage the oil into the scar for about 10 minutes.
Let the skin absorb the oil for a minimum of 1 hour.
Repeat two to four times every day.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been shown to help with preventing acne scars.

One 2014 studyTrusted Source attributed this to the succinic acid present in ACV. Succinic acid can control inflammation caused by acne, which in turn may prevent scars from forming.

Try it:

Combine 4 tablespoons of distilled water with 2 tablespoons of ACV.
Dip a cotton ball into the water-cider mixture and generously dab your scar.
Let it dry.
Do this every night before you go to bed, washing the area in the morning.

Lavender and olive oil

Research suggests that lavender essential oil could help with wound healing.

One 2016 studyTrusted Source on rats found that the surface area of wounds topically treated with lavender oil was significantly decreased when compared with that of the control group.

Try it:

Mix three drops of lavender essential oil into three tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil.
Massage the mixture into the scarred area for about 5 minutes.
Leave the oil in place for about 30 minutes.
Rinse the area with warm water.
Repeat this process a minimum of three times a day.

Lemon

There’s no solid medical evidence that lemon can help scars.

One 2018 study on mice found that topical application of lemon oil helped to reduce skin inflammation and skin damage in mice.

Try it:

Cut a wedge from a fresh lemon.
Gently rub the juicy side of the lemon on the scar while you squeeze the juice onto the scar.
Relax for about 10 minutes before rinsing off the area with cool water.
Do this every day at approximately the same time.

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Remove Old Scars: Top 10 Medical Remedies Plus Natural Options

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