Not everyone is blessed with smooth porcelain-like skin. Many among us bear scars from childhood falls, mishaps on careless or unfortunate days and from the noble act of bringing a child into the world. Some scars can be unsightly especially when they are on the face, neck and arms. Having a visible scar is not the end of the world for there are many ways to get rid of them, naturally. Here are 8 items from your kitchen or home that you can use to lighten your scars; some of these are even items that you might discard!

  1. Lavender oil

Now there are even more reasons to have lavender essential oil in your home. Besides giving out a lovely fragrance and helping you to unwind and relax, lavender oil helps to reduce scarring. Burns may heal without any scarring at all if lavender oil is applied to the wound with gauze every few hours. Lavender oil is also a powerful antiseptic which serves to accelerate healing and reduce pain through its skin-cell rejuvenating properties.

  1. Cocoa butter

You would have known by now that skin moisture is vital for the healing of scars as well-hydrated skin encourages tissue growth. Cocoa butter has been used for ages to reduce the appearances of stretch marks in pregnant women. Being a type of fat, cocoa butter is a great moisturizing agent that is also easily absorbed by the skin. Cocoa butter isn’t just for the ladies; anyone with prominent scarring will benefit from the application of this effective emollient.

  1. Aloe vera

Another of the aloe vera’s many uses is to increase moisture to the skin, regenerate skin tissue and prevent inflammation of the affected area. Due to its cooling properties, aloe vera is especially useful if it is applied to burns. Simply slice a leaf off the plant, slice it lengthwise to get to the gel and rub the gel onto the broken skin.

  1. Coconut oil

Another substance rich in fatty acids is the humble coconut oil. Coconut oil works to improve the appearance of scars by acting as an antioxidant – preventing further damage of the skin by free radicals. Application is easy; simply drop a few drops of oil into a cotton pad and wipe over the scar. The greasiness and smell might be a little unappealing to some but its benefits far outweigh the relatively minor discomfort.

  1. Lemon and tomato juice

The combination of lemon and tomato juice is perfect for scar removal. First, soak some cotton into some lemon juice and dab onto the scar. The acidity of the lemon juice helps to lighten the scar. Next, dab some tomato juice on the affected area; the juice works as a strong bleaching agent to lighten your scar. If the scar or burn mark is new, the scar can be ridden in just a matter of days with this lemon and tomato juice combo.

  1. Turmeric

A common spice that is easily available in markets and grocery shops, turmeric has been long used in ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine) due to its many ‘powers’. Turmeric is an antioxidant, antiseptic and an antibacterial anti-inflammatory agent. The combination of all these properties reduces the redness of the scars, evens out the skin discolouration and soothes inflammation. The easiest way of applying turmeric to scars is by making a paste. Mix some turmeric powder with water, sesame oil or coconut oil, then apply the paste to the scar and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off the mixture. For quicker healing, you can add lemon or cucumber juice to the paste to make a very potent concoction.

  1. Potato skin

Who would have thought that the skin you’ve peeled off your potatoes is an effective scar treatment? The next time you peel the skin off your potatoes, put them on your scars as potato peels aid scar removal by providing your skin moisture. The peels also have anti- bacterial properties which assist in the healing process. Potato skins are great for burns too; doctors from the Jubilee Mission Medical College in Kerala, India have found that potato peels are better bandages for minor burns than conventional dressings.

  1. Green tea

Green tea is so rich in antioxidants that it is as many as 200 times more powerful than vitamin E in fighting cell-damaging free radicals. Green tea is antibacterial too; it kills the cells that cause skin damage. That’s not all. Green tea is also great for treating inflammation. Any redness on the scar and surrounding skin will dissipate upon application of the tea on the skin. You are already reaping the benefits of green tea when you drink it but if you want to speed up the recovery, you can simply dab the used tea bag on your scars.

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