How to remove scars

Lemon is a great source of vitamin C, which helps the skin in regeneration. Due to this regenerative property of lemon, it can be used to replace scar cells with entirely new skin cells. Moreover, lemon is known for its bleaching effect. So, it can help in lightening of old scars. Apart from this, lemon is also a great source of antioxidants. These are active compounds that promote skin cell regeneration and healing of the affected tissue. Here is an easy way to use lemons for fading and removing scars.

What you will need: 

• Lemon
• Clean water
• Clean container
• Brush or cotton ball

Procedure:

• Extract some lemon juice in a clean bowl
• Add some water to lemon juice to dilute it
• Clean your affected area properly and pat it dry
• Apply this juice on the affected area with a brush or cotton ball
• Leave it for some time and wash it off with plain water

Precautions:

• Dilution of lemon juice is really important. Lemon juice is concentrated citric acid. If not diluted, it can cause more damage to the skin.

Commonly known as Amla in Hindi, Indian gooseberry has many therapeutic properties. For starters, it is one of the richest sources of vitamin C in the plant kingdom.
The antioxidant value of Amla is too high due to the presence of ascorbic acid and low molecular weight tannins. It also has nourishing and immunostimulating (stimulates the immune system) properties that help improve skin health and improve skin barriers. This helps treat wounds and promote healing without scar formation. To get rid of scars, you can use amla in the following way:

What you will need:

• Amla
• Grinder
• Water
• Clean container

Procedure:

• Dry Amla under the sun, this may take a few days
• Once it dries properly, make power out of it by grinding
• Store this powder in a clean airtight container
• Apply this power on the affected area by mixing it with some water and making a paste
• Make sure to clean the affected area before application
• Wash it off after a few minutes with plain water

Tip: Apart from applying amla on the scar, you can also add it in your diet. This will just add on to the healing process, promoting scar fading.

Aloe vera is an all in one solution for skin issues. It promotes healing of wounds, reduces inflammation and also prevents scar formation. But don’t worry, aloe vera can still do wonders for you if you already have skin scars. This is because aloe vera has a huge amount of antioxidants that help skin cells to regenerate. Topical application of aloe vera decreases the scar tissue size promotes fading of old scars quickly. But to get the maximum benefit from it, it is important to apply aloe vera daily.
You can easily make aloe vera gel at home by following these simple steps:

What you will need:

• Aloe vera leaves                                                                         
• Blender
• Clean water
• Container
• Knife or peeler

Procedure:

• Take an aloe vera leaf
• Remove its peel using a knife or peeler. Be careful while using the knife
• Extract the gel and blend it in a clean blender
• Take a clean airtight container and store the gel in it  
• Apply this gel 2-3 times daily on the affected area
• Wash it off with plain water

If you are too lazy to make your own aloe gel, you can buy pure aloe vera gel from the market. It is also available as a primary ingredient of various lotions, and creams. However, wherever possible it is best to use unprocessed aloe vera gel.

Tips:

• Your skin will quickly absorb most of the aloe vera gel on application. So, it is not important to wash it off.
• Ensure that your aloe vera gel is blended properly before storing.

Tea tree oil is extracted from leaves of  Melaleuca alternifolia, tea tree, which has various therapeutic properties. The major components of tea tree oil are terpinen-4-ol and 1, 8-cineole. The terpinen-4-ol is known to possess anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which makes tea tree oil a great remedy for wounds and scars. It protects wounds from any microbial attack and also reduces swelling and redness in the affected area. Tea tree is also known for its excellent anti-oxidant effect that helps promote the regeneration of cells by protecting them from actions of free radicals (harmful oxygen ions produced in the body).
Unfortunately, it is impossible to make essential oils at home but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy it.  Look for good quality tea tree oil from trusted brands. Make sure to check labels for purity grade and botanical name of the plant.
Then dilute it in an appropriate carrier oil (coconut oil , almond oil) or lotion before application.
What you need:

• Diluted tea tree oil
• Cotton ball

Procedure:

• Dab a cotton ball in diluted tea tree oil
• Remove excess oil by squeezing the cotton
• Gently apply it over the scarred area

Tip: You can apply tea tree oil at night and wash it off the next morning for better results.

Onion is one thing that is always available in all the kitchens all times. It exhibits anti-inflammatory properties (reduces swelling) and inhibits over-production of collagen in the scarred region. This helps in the gradual reduction of the scar. Apart from this, onion also has antioxidant properties, which promote skin healing and tissue repair. All these properties make it an excellent remedy for scars. Applying onion regularly on the affected area also helps in fading old scars with time.
What will you need:

• Onion
• Knife
• Strainer
• Grinder
• Clean container

Procedure:

• Take an onion and peel off its outer layer
• Rinse it properly with water
• Cut the onion bulb into small pieces with a knife
• Grid these pieces in a grinder to make a paste
• If you want, you can also strain this paste to collect the onion juice in a clear container
• Apply this paste or onion juice on the affected area
• Keep it on for some time and then wash with water

Tips:

• If the smell of onions causes irritation in your eyes, you can mix it with other remedies like lemon juice or orange juice. This will not just reduce the irritation but the vitamin C in these can add on to scar reduction.
• It has been found in research that red onions have more amount of antioxidants than that of white and yellow onion. Hence it is advised to use red onions. But if you can’t find them, you can still opt for any onion available in your pantry.

(Read more: Home remedies to reduce swelling due to injury)

This yellow coloured spice in your kitchen has the most number of therapeutic benefits. It hosts an array of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compounds that not only help in improving the symptoms of diseases, but also are effective in prevention of various health conditions. When applied to open wounds, it promotes skin healing and prevents the growth of harmful pathogens. The antioxidant and anti-neoplastic (stops abnormal and rapid cell division) properties present in turmeric further aid in the prevention of scarring and fading of skin scars. In fact, it has been used for the treatment of many skin disorders from ancient times and is an important ingredient of many topical ayurvedic formulations. You can also make your own anti-scar remedy at home using turmeric in the following way:
What will you need:

• Turmeric powder
• Clean bowl
• Water

Procedure:

• Take some turmeric powder in a clean bowl
• Mix some water in it to make a paste
• Wash the scar area properly to eliminate all the dirt and germs
• Apply this paste on the affected area
• Leave it until the paste dries
• Wash off with plain water

Tips:

• You can mix turmeric with some raw milk as well. This gives better nutrition to the skin and makes it soft.
• Alternatively, you can add turmeric to your diet to get more of its benefits.

There is no better oil than coconut oil when it comes to skin health. It provides moisture and nutrition to skin tissues and has a deep penetration capacity, so your problem can be dealt with from the root. Furthermore, coconut oil is a great source of vitamin E, which is a lipid-soluble antioxidant.  So the topical application of coconut oil can help in the reduction of the scar. It is effective in healing all types of scars including general wounds to burns. What’s more, it is easily available and doesn't have any side effects. Application of coconut oil is the easiest. Here is how:
What will you need:

• Coconut oil
• Hot water

Procedure:

• Just take a few drops of coconut oil
• Apply directly on the scar
• Do this regularly
• Coconut oil tends to solidify in cold temperatures. In this case, warm the coconut container by dipping it in a hot water tub. This will increase the temperature and melt the oil

Tips:

• Use coconut as a natural moisturiser after taking a shower.
• Using virgin coconut oil can be a better option. Since it has not gone through any chemical procedure during extraction, it is believed to have better therapeutic effects.

Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants. These antioxidants help skin cells in recovery and regeneration, which facilitates fading of scars. Apart from this, green tea helps in reducing swelling in scars because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It also provides nourishment and hydration to the skin, which further contributes to skin regeneration.
Here is how you can use green tea as a remedy for scars.
What will you need:

• Green tea or green tea bags
• Clean utensil
• Gas stove
• Water
• Clean container

Procedure:

• Take some green tea in a clean utensil
• Add some water to it and turn on the stove
• Let the water boil for a few minutes
• Turn off the stove and let the liquid cool down
• Strain the green tea leaves and collect the liquid in a clean container
• Apply this liquid on the scar daily
• Make sure to clean your skin properly before applying green tea extract

Tips:

• You can also apply green tea as a natural toner for your face. It will lead to even skin tone and reduction in scar tissue.
• You can also put tea bags directly on the scar. Leave it for some time before washing.