Burn scars are damage marks caused by the skin's attempt to heal burnt skin tissue. In the process of mending a burn wound, the skin often overproduces the amount of collagen fibers needed to heal the skin, resulting in a visible mark that is inconsistent with the surrounding skin. While generally expensive surgical procedures such as skin grafting, dermabrasion or laser treatments are required to fully remove the appearance of a burn scar, many marks can be diminished to the point of invisibility through natural home remedies.
Step 1
Create a schedule of your current weekly eating habits and look for foods that are high in vitamin K, such as whole grains and leafy green vegetables. Increase your servings of foods rich in vitamin K such as broccoli, cabbage and asparagus.
Step 2
Cut a 1-inch chunk of organic papaya using the kitchen knife and lightly grate the inside of the fruit with the knife blade. Apply a new chunk of freshly-cut papaya directly to your burn scar twice a day. Press the fruit against the skin so that the juices permeate the epidermis and loosen the dead skin cells from the affected area. Let the papaya sit for 10 minutes before washing the papaya juice off and drying with a towel.
Step 3
Pour 2 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton ball or tissue so that it is completely saturated with the oil. Apply the oiled ball directly to your burn scar and the surrounding tissue twice a day for 10 minutes before adding garlic.
Step 4
Crush the clove of organic raw garlic and mince it into tiny shreds using the kitchen knife. Apply the chopped raw garlic directly to your oiled burn scar and gently rub the oil and garlic together to allow the juices to permeate the skin. Let the garlic oil salve rest on your scar for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off and drying with a towel.
Step 5
Cut a fresh organic lemon in half and squeeze the peels of each lemon half to release the juices onto the burn scar. Continue squeezing until the scar has been completely saturated with lemon juice and let the juice sit for 15 minutes once a day before rinsing off. Note: as lemon is a natural bleaching agent, this remedy only works for light-skinned individuals and can actually cause burn scars to appear more dramatic on those darker skinned. Set the juice directly on the burn scar to minimize the amount of skin lightened by the treatment.
Tips and Warnings
- While each of these treatments can safely be performed each day, you may mix up the remedies so that you are applying the papaya, olive oil, garlic and lemon on different days as needed. Additional burn scar remedies include applying honey to the scar overnight and sealing it with a bandage.
- Never apply topical ingredients to open burn wounds or third-degree burns. For immediate burns, apply fresh aloe vera juice directly from a live plant and contact your dermatologist or personal physician immediately.
Things You'll Need
- Organic papaya
- Organic raw garlic clove
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Cotton balls or tissue
- Kitchen knife
- Organic fresh lemon (optional)
