Essential oils for scars

Essential oils may help reduce scars and help reduce inflammation. Some essential oil help rejuvenate your damaged skin cells. This helps improve the appearance of scars and generally promote healthier skin. Some essential oils will help your skin glow and balance your skin tone.

Some essential oils are used for their wound healing properties, as well as their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. There are several such essential oils you can try on your skin to see which ones yield the best results for your specific skin type.

Used properly, essential oils are great for your skin. You must make sure to always combine your essential oils with a gentle carrier oil.

Can essential oils help with scars?

Essential oils are made from plants and each of them has a different attribute when used on your skin. Essential oils are used in alternative medicine to treat a range of issues including scars and wounds. That's because some of the essential oils have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

To understand how essential oils can help with scars we must first understand what scars are. Scars form when an injury goes beyond the first layer of skin. Once they heal, scars have a different colour than the rest of your skin. Some essential oils may help these wounds to minimise the appearance of scarring. But it's important to note that old scars are usually difficult to treat, even with essential oils.

So the best use for essential oils is to keep infection and inflammation away, and generally help a wound heal faster. Some essential oils will help minimise the appearance of the scar making it less visible.

Always check with your doctor before using essential oils on a wound or scar, to ensure you are safe to do so. For example, essential oils are generally not safe during pregnancy and may cause side effects. We also recommend doing a patch test before using essential oils on your skin.

Essential oils that may reduce the appearance of scars

Let's look at the effects of essential oils on wound healing and scars. We researched several essential oils which may help reduce the appearance of scars. These oils help soothe the skin and reduce inflammation as well. Here is our list of essential oils for healing wounds.

Helichrysum essential oil

Helichrysum oil comes from a variety of species of these flowering plants, grown in Mediterranean countries. If you travel to Spain or Italy you will find an array of alternative medicine practitioners that use these plants for their leaves and flowers.

Some research indicates that these plants have antimicrobial properties. As they could prevent infections, Helichrysum essential oil is used to help heal wounds. It's used for soothing scars and reducing their appearance.

Using Helichrysum essential oil on wounds can help prevent inflammation which usually results in less scarring.

Frankincense essential oil

One of the best smelling essential oils on the market, Frankincense has a variety of uses. Frankincense can help fight bacteria and it's known to tighten the skin. This essential oil can promote wound healing faster, and soothe the scarring tissue.

Frankincense is known particularly for its relaxing smell and can be used for any type of skin including dry and normal skin.

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Chamomile

We all know the anti-inflammatory effects of chamomile. We've been using this flower as a medicinal herb since ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. Today, you can purchase it as a tea, cream or essential oil.

Some people like to use chamomile tea to treat the common cold, while others drink it to soothe anxiety and stomach problems. But chamomile is also great for the skin, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Chamomile helps promote faster wound healing and applying chamomile on scars can help reduce their inflammation.

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Lavender essential oil

The lavender essential oil may help prevent scarring thanks to its antibiotic, antioxidant and antiseptic properties. Some studies suggest that lavender oil helps with faster wound-healing. Applied topically, lavender oil could help wound closer and scar shrinking.

Lavender is also used to promote relaxation and calmness as well as in cosmetics that help your skin glow.

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Cedarwood essential oil

Cedarwood is especially used for treating acne and acne-related scarring. Thanks to its antiseptic properties, cedarwood is great for oily skin prone to inflammation or acne.

Cedarwood is a potent essential oil and it should always be used in combination with a carrier oil. Make sure to test it on a small patch of skin to ensure it doesn't cause any allergic reactions.

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Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is used for its antiseptic properties. It's especially used for skin with acne issues and scarring. It's great to promote wound healing thanks to its antimicrobial properties.

Some studies already suggest that tea tree oil could be used to treat inflammation and wounds. Tea tree usually comes already diluted but it's best to double-check as this is a potent essential oil.

Make sure to always check with your doctor if it is safe to use it on your skin.

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Neroli essential oil

Neroli essential oil is known to smell divine. Neroli is essentially the flower of the orange, so you can imagine the citrusy delight which has calming effects. Neroli essential oil is great for mature skin that needs rejuvenating.

Neroli oil is used to treat a variety of skin conditions and it's particularly well known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. It could help promote faster wound healing and decrease the chances of permanent scarring.

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How to use it properly

You should always take care when using essential oils as they are very potent and can irritate the skin. Some essential oils can interact with your medication which is why is important to always ask your doctor about them.

To use essential oil properly for your wounds and scars, you can apply diluted essential oil directly to the skin. Below you will see a chart that teaches you how to dilute it properly.

Apply a thin layer of the mixture to a scar or around a healing wound. Don't ever use undiluted essential oil and keep it away from children, pets and pregnant women.

Which carrier oils help prevent scars and heal wounds

Carrier oils can have their own properties and usually, you can select the one that works best for your skin type.

Normal skin – We recommend grapeseed oil as that has anti-ageing properties.

Oily skin –Use grapeseed oil, sweet almond or apricot kernel.

Dry skin – Choose Avocado, Sweet almond or argan as the best carrier oils for you.

Acne-prone skin – Argan oil is your best friend as it won't clog up your pores.

Maturing skin – Choose Jojoba oil or Sesame carrier oil.

Summary

Essential oils may help promote wound healing and scar reducing but scars may not disappear completely. But with essential oil, it's promising that you can reduce the harshness of the scar and its visibility.

Don't expect immediate or drastic results because it can take months or even longer before you can begin to notice changes to your scars. Experiment with the oil mixtures that work best for you. Sometimes, scars of wounds can increase our anxiety and essential oil can also help ease our worries.

Essential oils may play a role in wound care but it's always advisable that you talk to your doctor before using essential oils.