The early history of rose hip seeds lives in echoes from the southern Andean Mountains in Chile to the cascading hills of England, where they represented seasonal change and regeneration. While rose hip seed oil was eventually utilized in various folklore treatments, its ability to combat surgical, acne and sun scarring was officially documented in 1983 by research at the University of Santiago. The oil has since undergone extensive research before reaching its current widely accepted position of being an effective treatment for the majority of scars.
Cell Regeneration
Powerful antioxidant abilities are present in rose hip seed oil that works to prevent or reverse scarring by correcting damage of tissues in superficial skin layers. The most notable antioxidant is vitamin C, a free radical scavenger and necessary component for the synthesis of collagen. According to the cosmetic research company Provital Group, a 26-percent rose hip seed oil solution was an effective treatment in enhancing growth of epithelial skin cells for women with post-surgery wounds.
Skin Conditioning
A high content of essential fatty acids in rose hip seed oil contributes to the overall elasticity of the skin and its ability to bounce back after trauma. According to PG, the fatty acids in rose hip seed oil are responsible for creating ceramides, an outer skin barrier made of emollients that soothe and repair the skin by preventing moisture from escaping. Research performed at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in San Francisco found that topical oil-based skin barriers, such as those found in rose hip seed oil, accelerate the healing of skin layers by increasing epidermal DNA synthesis.
Tissue Restoration
Rose hip seed oil contains the vitamin A offspring, trans-retinoic acid. According to Rosehipoil.com, trans-retinoic acid is marketed commercially as "tretinoin," an FDA approved topical treatment for reducing the scarring associating with photo-aged skin and acne. This is achieved by the removal of dead skin and the regeneration of collagen, a necessary component for skin flexibility and resilience. Trans-retinoic acid's knack at irrigating the skin's cells positions it as a natural anti-inflammatory capable of abetting tissue restoration, a vital component in the reduction of scars.
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