I’ve been lucky enough to be stuck with several large acne scars on my face. They never seem to want to fade! I even had a scar from a fall when I was a kid. I’d tried a few over-the-counter scar removal treatments, but I was unimpressed. Some scars can only be removed with peels or lasers, but essential oils can also be very helpful.
My Six Must-Have Essential Oils
Quite a few essential oils are effective at helping with scars, but some are better than others. I’ve found six that are powerful and can be mixed to get the best results.
I’d recommend trying each of them on their own to see which are most effective for your own scars and skin type. For instance, lavender is better for sensitive skin. (Please note that anyone can be allergic to anything—natural or not—so do a patch test before using.)
My six must-haves are:
- Carrot seed essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Frankincense essential oil
- Helichrysum essential oil
- Calendula oil
Carrot seed oil works wonders to help heal scars, and I’ve also noticed firmer skin and a more even skin tone after using it. It’s also great if you have psoriasis or eczema.
Lavender oil treats scars and wrinkles. It’s one of my favorites because it’s not quite as potent as the other oils and doesn’t have to be diluted as much. I recommend it if you have sensitive skin or want a good starter oil.
Rosemary oil is perfect for using as a cleanser or mixing in with your cleanser. I mix it with a carrier oil and add to my nightly face wash. It boosts skin rejuvenation so scars fade faster.
Frankincense oil is another favorite because it helps even out my red skin patches while fading scars. I’ve also had less oily skin since using it.
Helichrysum oil is probably the most effective oil on the list, but it’s far more expensive than the others. I’ve used it on some of my deeper, more stubborn scars, but I tend to save it until I really need it.
Calendula oil does help fade scars, but I’ve found it’s most effective at preventing them to begin with. Using it when you first get a cut, scrape, or other potentially scarring injury helps reduce the amount of scarring. In most cases, I haven’t noticed any scarring at all unless it’s a deep cut.
Using Carrier Oils
The last thing you want is an adverse reaction to any of these oils. I made the mistake of putting carrot seed oil directly on a scar and had itchy, red skin for a few days.
These oils are potent and need to be diluted in a carrier oil before applying them. My preferred carrier oils are:
- Almond oil
- Olive oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Rosehip seed oil
Any of these work well with the above essential oils. I usually use almond oil or apricot kernel oil because they’re easy to find.
Mixing and Using
Mixing the carrier and essential oils are easy. I mix one ounce of a carrier oil with five drops of essential oil. If you’re using lavender, use up to 10 drops because it’s a weaker oil. You can mix in multiple essential oils, but I never use more than two at a time. I’ve noticed my skin gets oily when using more than two.
Once the oils are combined, apply the mixture directly to your scars. I apply it twice a day until the scar fades away. Some scars may be gone in a month, whereas others could take much longer.
I keep a special mixture of calendula and almond oil specifically for cuts, which I apply once a day to the cut to prevent scarring.
Remember: the older the scar, the longer it’ll take to fade away. I had to keep reminding myself to be patient, but the wait was well worth the results. Seeing large scars reduced within six months made all my patience worth it.