Home Remedies and Herbs for Scars

Scars come in many shapes and sizes. They form on the skin after it’s been damaged. The more severe the injury, the more likely you are to form a scar. When you injure your skin, your body produces a fiber called collagen that works to reconnect the skin tissue that’s been broken.¹ Collagen is the tough natural fiber that gives your skin its flexible and strong qualities.¹ Your body then produces a scab to protect the wound. Once your body heals, it sheds the scab. If the injury was minor, you may not have a mark at all. However, if you suffered major damage to the skin, you may come away with a pale pink, brown, or silver mark.¹

What Causes Scars?

Scars can form due to a number of reasons. Cuts, burns, surgery, and even acne can produce scars.² Anything that damages the skin, no matter how small, can result in scarring.

Scars Symptoms

Scars can appear anywhere on the body as a result of infection, injury, or surgery.² They’re marks that can look flat, sunken, lumpy, and colored, and they can be painful or itchy.² The exact appearance of a scar will vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of injury, depth of injury, how fast it healed, the location of the injury, your age, and a number of other factors.²

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Scars

Scars are a natural part of the healing process. They aren’t dangerous, but depending on the severity of the scar, it can impact skin flexibility and range of motion, such as if there’s excess scar tissue or if the scar affects the natural tension lines of the skin.³ In these cases, surgery may be used to treat the scar.³ Oftentimes, however, scars are simply a cosmetic issue. Scars typically fade the longer they age,² but you can use the following scar herbal remedies to help reduce scar visibility or decrease your chance of forming a scar after an injury.

• Aloe Vera - Aloe vera is said to help aid in skin healing. Apply it to your injury or scar daily to help your body heal and to reduce the appearance of your scar.
• Coconut Oil - Coconut oil acts as a natural skin moisturizer and can help reduce the appearance of scars. Apply to the skin daily for best results.
• Cucumber Juice - Cucumber juice acts as a natural scar home remedy thanks to its nutrient content that nourishes the skin when applied topically.

References

1. https://www.aad.org/public/kids/skin/scars
2. http://dermatology.columbia.edu/conditions/scars.html
3. http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/scar-revision