Acne scars form when the damage caused by a pimple affects the lower layer of the skin known as the dermis. These scars can either be raised growths of tissue or depressed indentations named after the shapes they form, such as boxcar, ice pick and rolling. Rolling scars disrupt the underlying support fibers of the skin and this then can create a wavy texture to large areas where the skin has lost its tension, according to Skin Care Physicians.
PIH, or Post Inflammatory Hyper-Pigmentation, is a natural healing process that the body employs to repair scars. It helps in the regeneration of collagen fibers and blood vessels to the sight, notes American Chronicle.
Step 1
Cut lemon. Squeeze juice into a small dish.
Step 2
Take 1 tbsp of baking soda and mix with 2 tbsp of water. Mix this in a bowl until it forms a textured and pliable paste. Add more baking soda and water in same ratios if require extra.
Step 3
Dice and mash slices of cucumber so that they form a juicy pulp.
Step 4
Coat a cotton ball in lemon juice and then dab onto the scarred area. Use generously. Leave for 15 minutes and then rinse. Lemon juice is a natural cleanser. It will kill off bacteria on the surface as well as in the pores. It will then use its citric acid bleaching properties to help fade the blemishes.
Step 5
Massage the baking soda paste into the scarring using the index finger. Massage in a circular motion one way and then the other, to help the exfoliating granules have better effect. Rinse.The granules act like a home microdermabrasion kit, wearing away at the scars. Microdermabrasion is the erosion of blemishes and skin abnormalities by the use of a fine mist of crystals, often used at dermatology clinics.
Step 6
Massage the cucumber pulp into the acne scarred area. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse. Cucumber is reported to have soothing and anti-inflammatory effects as well as skin tightening components. This will help close the cleansed pores and leave skin feeling fresher.
Step 7
Moisturize with olive oil. The oil will seep into the pores and help enrich the collagen rebuilding fibers in the PIH process and help soften the skin's texture.
Tips and Warnings
- All of the components can also be used as individual treatments for acne scarring. Exfoliating with baking soda and the acidic content of lemon juice can cause skin irritation and dryness. Moisturizing with an over-the-counter high SPF moisturizer is also recommended if using the lemon juice treatments as it is known to cause increased photo sensitivity.
- The PIH process generally stops approximately 2 years after the first pimple. At this point the skin will still not be completely healed as sweat glands and hair follicles do not return to the site. Home remedies may have little effect on scars older than 2 years and, in fact, MayoClinic.com admits that more evidence must be collected to support the effectiveness of home remedies in general. Speak with a health care professional before using home remedies as treatment and for a discussion on other viable options.
Things You'll Need
- Knife
- Lemon
- Dish
- Cotton balls
- Tablespoon
- Baking Soda
- Bowl
- Cucumber
- Olive oil
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