Scarring is a normal bodily response to trauma or injury. Acne scars are as traumatic as acne breakouts and generally lead to self-esteem issues and semi-permanent disfigurement. If you are suffering from acne scarring, perhaps these remedies may alleviate your condition and lead to smoother, softer skin. No scar can be permanently removed without cosmetic surgery, but with persistence and the right tools, many can be significantly diminished over time.
Reduce Acne and Scars with Clay
Skin masks work wonders for improving the skin’s texture and softening any scars. Gentle exfoliating masks include clay, ground oatmeal, and cucumbers. Use them separately or as a mask base. Clay comes in several different types including green, grey, and red. Each type has different mineral properties, which have different effects on the skin. Grey is the most drying and red is the most moisturizing, while green is reported to have mild antibiotic properties. Using either clay, ground oatmeal, or pureed cucumbers as a base, add other ingredients to the mask recipe as found in the next paragraph for different effects on the skin. All three mask bases work to draw out impurities, tighten pores, mildly exfoliate the skin, and improve its texture and health.
You can add different ingredients to the clay masks for different effects:
- Lemon juice lightens skin tone and scar pigmentation.
- Sandalwood reduces swelling.
- Rosewater improves the skin’s texture and balances the skin.
- Fresh ground tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, which reduces oil production, bacteria, and pigmentation.
- Vitamin-A has been shown in clinical trials to reduce scarring and acne breakouts.
- Olive oil, coconut oil, hemp seed oil and other oils high in EPAs moisturize the skin and help rebuild damaged tissues.
- Raw honey contains natural antibiotic properties and vitamin E, which may improve the skin’s texture.
- Cucumber cools and balances the skin, tightening pores and reducing swelling.
- A couple of drops of lavender oil in face masks may reduce bacteria.
You can use all of these ingredients in a single face mask or mix and match for something that works right for your skin and what you are trying to achieve. Always test an area of skin before using the mask on your entire face in case of allergic reaction. Leave the mask on for about 20 minutes and then wash off using warm water. Follow it up with a toner and a skin cream.
At home, the best medicine is preventative care. Treat acne at the first sign of outbreaks. Gently exfoliate the skin using oatmeal, clay masks, or natural skin masks and microdermabrasion. Religiously wash the skin at least twice per day to prevent acne infections and exfoliate up to three times per week (at night) to prevent keratin plugs or infected lesions from being trapped and causing more damage. Never pop, pick, or squeeze a pimple and avoid damaging the skin with your fingernails or other devices. The skin has an amazing renewal process at night, so exfoliate gently and religiously at night and apply topical skin creams and acne remedies right before bed.
