Scars can happen for many reasons – often the result of a burn, minor injury or skin complaint. No matter how they occur, it’s completely understandable they can impact our self-confidence, and most of us would love to reduce them altogether or at least minimise them.
In this blog, we explore natural ways to reduce scarring and the best essential oils to support scar healing and skin tissue repair.
Are Essential Oils Good For Scars?
Essential oils can be a useful addition to your scar care routine, particularly when used correctly and consistently. While it varies from one person to the next, certain oils may support the skin's natural healing process and help improve the appearance of scars over time.
How effective they are can depend on factors such as the type and age of the scar, your skin and the essential oils you use. It's also important to remember that essential oils should never be applied directly to broken or healing wounds.
So, what makes certain essential oils good for scar care? Let's take a closer look at some of their potential benefits.
Benefits Of Essential Oils For Scars
How are essential oils good for scars? It mainly comes down to their natural properties.
Some essential oils have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties that may help support the skin's natural healing and renewal processes. Different oils offer different benefits, which is why choosing the right essential oil can be an important part of your scar care routine.
Using essential oils for scars may help with:
- Balancing skin tone
- Reducing the appearance of redness
- Easing inflammation
- Moisturising and nourishing the skin
- Supporting healthy skin renewal
- Improving the overall appearance and texture of scars
Of course, not every essential oil offers the same properties or benefits. Choosing the right one will depend on the type of support you're looking for and the individual qualities of each oil.
Let's explore some of our favourite essential oils for scar care and what makes each one worth considering.
Best Essential Oils Good For Scars
If you're wondering which essential oil is good for scars, the answer is actually several! Different essential oils offer different properties that can make them useful additions to your skincare routine, from soothing and nourishing the skin to supporting its natural renewal process.
This means the best essential oil for scars may depend on your skin, the type and size of scar, and what you're hoping to achieve. You may even find that combining complementary oils works best for you.
So, which ones are worth trying? Below, we've picked out a few of our favourites for scar care:
Frankincense Essential Oil
Rumoured to be used by Cleopatra herself, Frankincense Essential Oil is now popularly used in skincare for concerns such as scarring, acne and stretch marks.
With its spicy yet warm and woody aroma, Frankincense Oil contains farnesol, a compound associated with supporting skin elasticity. This can also help to reduce the appearance of scars, blemishes, and acne.
How To Use Frankincense Essential Oil for Scars
You can use Frankincense Oil for scars in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply to the affected area. We recommend a 2 – 4% dilution for skin application and a 1 - 2% dilution for facial application.
Moisturiser: You can also add Frankincense Oil to your chosen moisturiser and apply to your skin. For facial application, we recommend a 1- 2% dilution.
Helichrysum Essential Oil
Helichrysum Essential Oil has a warm, herbaceous aroma with a slightly sweet undertone. Highly regarded in skincare, it is known for its anti-inflammatory and restorative properties and may help support the skin's natural renewal process, making it a popular choice for scar care.
Research has also explored the potential skin-protective and wound-healing properties of Helichrysum, with studies suggesting it may support processes involved in skin repair. This makes Helichrysum Oil a great addition to your skincare routine when you're looking to improve the appearance of scars.
How To Use Helichrysum Essential Oil for Scars
Helichrysum Oil can be used for scar support as follows:
Diluting: Add a few drops to your favourite carrier oil, add this dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply to the affected area. We recommend a 2 – 4% dilution for skin application and a 1% dilution for facial application.
Moisturiser: You can also add a few drops of Helichrysum Oil to moisturisers or skincare products to enhance their existing benefits.
Rose Geranium Essential Oil
With a sweet, floral aroma, Rose Geranium Essential Oil is known for its astringent, anti-inflammatory properties, making it a popular choice for supporting overall skin health. These natural properties may help soothe the skin, support healthy skin renewal and improve the overall appearance and texture of scars over time.
Rose Geranium Oil is also commonly used in skincare routines to help balance and tone the skin, making it a versatile option for those looking to care for both scars and the surrounding skin.
How To Use Rose Geranium Essential Oil for Scars
To promote scar healing, you can add a few drops to your favourite carrier oil, add this dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply to the affected area. We recommend a 2 – 4% dilution for skin application and a 1% dilution for facial application.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Originating from Morocco, Cedarwood Essential Oil carries a subtle sweet, woody aroma and is valued in skincare for its antifungal, antiseptic and astringent properties. These qualities make it a popular choice for supporting overall skin health and caring for blemish-prone skin.
When properly diluted, Cedarwood Oil can also be a nourishing addition to your skincare routine, helping to soothe and care for the skin while supporting a healthy-looking complexion. Its astringent properties may also make it useful when looking to improve the overall appearance of scars and the surrounding skin.
How To Use Cedarwood Essential Oil for Scars
Cedarwood Oil can be used for skin support in the following ways:
Face Serums: Add a few drops of Cedarwood Oil to your favourite carrier oil, add this dilution to a glass pipette bottle and gently apply to the affected area. For facial application, we recommend a 1- 2% dilution.
Moisturiser: By adding a few drops of Cedarwood Essential Oil to any base moisturiser (such as Sorbelene cream), you can boost any existing benefits to help soothe, promote healing and reduce the appearance of scars.
Rose Essential Oil
Rose Essential Oil has a delicate, floral scent and is valued in skincare for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and soothing properties. When properly diluted, it may help calm and nourish the skin while supporting its overall health and appearance.
Rose Oil is also associated with helping to maintain the skin's moisture balance and soothing the appearance of redness and pigmentation. These qualities can be particularly useful in scar care, where uneven skin tone and discolouration may contribute to the overall appearance of a scar.
How To Use Rose Essential Oil for Scars
Skin Serum: Create a skin serum by diluting your Rose Oil in a carrier oil to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and pigmentation. Simply apply the formulation to the affected areas and let the oil absorb into the skin.
Moisturiser: Rose Oil can also be added to any base moisturiser (such as natural Sorbelene cream) or any skincare products to enhance their existing benefits.
Dilution Guidelines & SAFE USE
Essential oils are extremely potent, so it is important to ensure that you are using a safe amount when diluting and applying to the skin. When using essential oils for scars, we recommend diluting essential oils with a carrier oil and follow the dilution guide below (or see the recommended dilution percentages in our Best Essential Oils Good for Scars section).
Some of our most popular carrier oils include:
- Coconut Oil
- Almond Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Rosehip Oil
- Unscented Massage Oil
While essential oils are natural products, they can cause serious harm if used incorrectly. For this reason, we recommend the following:
- In line with the Therapeutic Goods Act, we do not recommend ingesting essential oils without the guidance of a registered Aromatherapist or Naturopath.
- Avoid using essential oils during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- We recommend storing your essential oils in a cool, dry place at room temperature, ensuring that they are not directly exposed to sunlight and are out of reach of children or pets.
- Essential oils can be very concentrated and are likely to cause irritation or reactions if applied directly to the skin. After dilution with a carrier oil, always perform a patch test on a small area of skin before wider use.
Other Tips For Managing Scars
Essential oils aren’t the only option when it comes to caring for scars. There are several other ways you can support your skin as it heals and help minimise the appearance of scarring over time.
Depending on the type of scar and stage of healing, you may want to consider:
- Aloe vera: Commonly used to soothe, hydrate and care for the skin.
- Moisturising: Keeping healed skin moisturised can help maintain hydration and keep scar tissue feeling soft and supple.
- Scar massage: Once the wound has fully healed, gently massaging the area with a suitable moisturiser may help soften the scar and keep the tissue flexible.
- Silicone gels or sheets: Silicone-based scar treatments are commonly used to help soften and flatten raised scars and improve their appearance over time.
- Sun protection: Protecting scars from UV exposure with sunscreen and clothing can help prevent them from becoming darker and more noticeable.
- Over-the-counter scar creams or gels: There are a variety of products designed specifically for scar care. Your pharmacist can help you choose one that's suitable for your skin and the type of scar you have.
Remember, scars can take time to change and mature, so consistent care and a little patience can go a long way. If you're concerned about a scar, it's painful or uncomfortable, or it doesn't appear to be healing as expected, speak to your doctor or another healthcare professional for advice.
Where To Buy Essential Oils For Scars
While essential oils are generally available to purchase at health, wellness and retail stores, it is important to keep in mind that the purity and quality of these essential oils will vary. That is why we recommend finding a reputable supplier.
Here at AWO, we have a wide selection of 100% pure essential oils and organic essential oils that are sold at reasonable prices. Because our stock is purchased in bulk quantities our costs are significantly less, allowing us to offer our high-quality products at affordable prices. We are also based right here in Australia!
FAQs
What essential oil is good for scar tissue?
Essential oils such as Frankincense, Helichrysum, Rose Geranium and Rose may be useful for caring for existing scar tissue, thanks to properties that can help soothe and nourish the skin and support its overall appearance.
Essential oils should only be used on skin that is fully healed. They should never be applied to an open wound or torn skin.
Do you need to dilute essential oils for scar healing?
Yes. Essential oils are highly concentrated and should always be diluted with a suitable carrier oil before being applied to the skin. The appropriate dilution can depend on the essential oil, where you're applying it and your individual skin sensitivity, so always follow the recommended dilution guidelines for the oil you're using. It's also a good idea to patch test your diluted oil before applying it more widely.
Can you use essential oils on old scars?
Yes, essential oils can be incorporated into your skincare routine for older scars as well as newer, fully healed scars. While an established scar may respond differently from a more recent one, properly diluted essential oils can help moisturise, nourish and care for the scarred skin and may help improve its overall appearance.
Just remember, there's no guarantee that using essential oils on scars will reduce their appearance, and results will vary depending on factors such as the scar type, size and age. If you have an older scar that you'd particularly like to reduce, a dermatologist or other qualified healthcare professional can advise you about suitable treatment options.