Acne scarring comes in two main forms. The scar will either cause a raised tissue growth--known as a keloid--or it will cause depressions in the skin. Small crater scars are known as ice pick or boxcar scars for the shapes that they form. Rolling scars cause a wavy texture which appears as a series of saucer like depressions and keloids. This happens when the skin's underlying support loses its tension, notes SkinCarePhysicians.
Post Inflammatory Hyper-Pigmentation, or PIH, is the natural healing process for repairing scarred tissue. It aids ascorbic acid in the regeneration of collagen fibers to rebuild tissue and blood vessels.
Step 1
Grate the cucumber into a juicy pulp. Then, squeeze the juice of lemon into a small dish.
Step 2
Create a paste using 1 part baking soda and 2 parts water. The paste should be sticky and pliable in texture. Add the cucumber pulp and mix well.
Step 3
Apply the cucumber paste to the scarred area. Gently rub the paste into the skin and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Cucumber is considered to have astringent and anti-inflammatory properties and can smooth skin and tighten pores.
Step 4
Drench a cotton ball in the lemon juice and apply it to the scars. The ascorbic acid content can help rebuild collagen fibers, aiding the PIH process. It also kills bacteria and uses its natural bleaching components to fade the dark scarring. Rinse after 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 5
Massage the paste in circular motions into the scarring. This acts as an exfoliate. The granules in the soda erode away at the blemishes and smooth out the skin. After several minutes, reverse the circular motion direction and repeat. Rinse the paste off with warm water.
Step 6
Apply olive oil as moisturizer. Acne scarring such as the rolling scars type can cause the underlying collagen fibers to loose their elasticity and suppleness. Olive oil will seep into the hair follicles and pores and provide nutrients to the rejuvenating tissue and fibers.
Tips and Warnings
- These home remedy ingredients can also be used as individual treatments for acne scarring. The bleaching and exfoliation processes can cause skin irritation and dryness in some skin types and so the moisturizing is recommended. Lemon juice has been reported to increase photo sensitivity levels in skin. For this reason, it is advisable to also use an over-the-counter moisturizer containing a high SPF, as well as the olive oil.
- According to ScarInfo, despite treatments, a scarred area will never completely return to normal due to the fact that sweat glands and hair follicles do not re-grow. PIH will cease to rejuvenate after a period of approximately 2 years. A trained medical professional will be able to advise on the best action to take concerning individual cases and they should also be consulted before beginning any home treatments. The total effectiveness of home remedies is still lacking in clinical evidence, notes MayoClinic.com.
Things You'll Need
- Cucumber
- Grater
- Lemon
- Dish
- Baking soda
- Cotton ball
- Olive oil
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