Acne scars can present themselves in different ways – flat, raised, pitted – but they are all equally frustrating and often hang around for years affecting both your confidence and your bank balance. Did you know your kitchen cupboard could be storing the answer to your acne scar woes? Before trying another expensive and invasive cream or treatment, give one of the following home remedies a go that is sure to be healthier for your body and your wallet!
1. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been a superstar ingredient of late, with a mile-long list of reported benefits, but did you know it can work wonders for acne scars too? Its acidic content, including a combination of alpha hydroxy and amino acids, effectively sloughs off dead skin cells, fading acne scars while restoring the skin’s acid mantle to prevent further breakouts.
How to use it: Mix together one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and three tablespoons of water, soak a cotton pad with the solution and swipe it over the face.
2. Honey
If this magical skincare ingredient was good enough for Cleopatra, it’s definitely good enough for us! Legend has it the Egyptian Queen would bathe in the stuff for its moisturizing benefits, but we now know that honey’s healing properties make it the perfect remedy for diminishing acne scars. Not any old supermarket-shelf honey is going to cut it though; make sure you look for raw honey which still contains all its living enzymes. Better yet, go for Manuka honey which contains a concentrated powerhouse of skin healing benefits.
How to use it: Massage honey onto damp skin and wait at least 10 minutes before washing it off with warm water.
3. Aloe Vera
Having an aloe vera plant on hand after getting cut, burnt or stung can be very useful, as the soothing and healing properties it possesses are incredibly fast-acting! Used topically for thousands of years, this plant provides a gentle solution to the soreness and inflammation associated with acne and can speed up the healing process for acne scars.
How to use it: Slice open a section of an aloe vera leaf, scrape out the jelly and massage it into the face. There is no need to wash it off.
4. Oatmeal
You might view oatmeal as a mere breakfast option, but its skincare benefits are surprisingly extensive! The vitamin E and amino acids found in oatmeal act to lighten acne scars by correcting hyperpigmentation and redness, while its oil absorption properties purge pores and calm irritation.
How to use it: Mix 1-2 tablespoons of instant oats with a little water, spread the mixture onto the face and wait 10 minutes before washing it off with warm water.
5. Baking soda
Baking soda is magical stuff for cleaning, baking, and acne scar fading! Whether you need an exfoliant to reduce the density of acne scars or a topical treatment to lighten dark spots, the oil absorption and anti-inflammatory properties of baking soda will act quickly and gently to achieve a smoother, brighter skin surface.
How to use it: Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with a little water until a thick paste is formed. Spread the paste onto affected areas and wait 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water.
6. Castor oil
Castor oil may seem like an unlikely ingredient for fighting acne scars, but its properties allow it to treat the skin at the surface level and below! The fatty acid content penetrates scar tissue and encourages cell turnover, resulting in a reduction in acne scars over time.
How to use it: Simply massage the oil onto affected areas and leave on overnight. You can then wash it off in the morning with a warm face cloth.
7. Egg whites
What is cheap, effective, and likely to be in your refrigerator right now? Eggs! Already known as a beauty hack for purging blackheads, egg whites contain a combination of proteins and amino acids which makes them fantastic for lightening acne scars and encouraging cell turnover as well.
How to use it: Apply the egg white onto affected areas with a cotton pad or face brush for easier application, wait 15 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.
8. Turmeric
Spice up your skincare regimen with this effective ingredient! The curcumin found in turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant and works to inhibit the hyperpigmentation left behind after a breakout and heal scar tissue.
How to use it: For the turmeric to stick to your face you should combine it with an ingredient like milk, honey or yogurt. Combine 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder with any of the suggested mixers, spread it onto the face and wait 15-20 minutes before washing it off with warm water.