Does Coconut oil Help with Scars And How To Use It?

can coconut oil help heal scars

“A few days back, I had scars on my face for which I lost my confidence. Then I came to know about coconut oil, an exceptional healing agent.”- Mrs. Desai. Don’t worry, you are not alone Mrs. Desai. 99% of the world’s population has scars on face some or other day in their life-time. Scarring, part of the healing process, is caused due to wound repair in the skin. People try many creams to remove scars and even go for surgery. However, you may try coconut oil as a home remedy. This article will discuss how to use coconut oil for scars.(1)

Does Coconut Oil Treat Scars?

Anti-fungal and anti-viral properties of lauric acid of coconut oil help to kill the bacteria, which causes acne scars. Coconut oil reduces redness and inflammation that are caused by scars. It soothes and moisturizes the skin. In addition, it encourages the growth of new skin.(2)

How to Use Coconut Oil for Scars

Coconut oil can be used alone for treatment of scars. You may also combine coconut oil with other natural ingredients to remove scars. Though scars are permanent, coconut oil helps to lighten the scars. We have discussed below many combinations of coconut oil and you may select any one of them that suits you best.

1. Vitamin E Oil and Coconut Oil for Scars

Vitamin e oil helps to reduce scars and dark marks. Many creams contain vitamin e as it shows results fast. It is also available in the form of capsule.(3)

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp vitamin E oil

Preparation time: 5 minutes.

Procedure:

  • Mix coconut oil with vitamin E oil in equal proportion.
  • Apply it to scars
  • Massage gently
  • Leave it overnight
  • Rinse off with water next morning

How it works: This mixture is a good home remedy for removal of scars. It can be used all over the face.

Repetitions: Daily for 1 month

Best time to apply: Before sleep at night

[ Read: How To Remove Scars with Vitamin E oil ]

2. Castor oil and Coconut Oil for Scars

Castor oil has been used for treating scars through generations. It lubricates the scars and promotes healing process.(4)

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle organic coconut oil
  • 1 bottle castor oil

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Procedure:

  • First, clean the face with cleanser.
  • Pat dry
  • Mix coconut oil with castor oil in equal proportion
  • Apply the oil to scars
  • Leave it overnight
  • Rinse with cold water in the morning
  • Again, pat dry

How it works: this mixture has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, this mixture can remove scars for long time.

Repetitions: Daily

Best time to apply: Before sleep at night.

[ Read: How to Use Cocoa Butter to Get Rid of Scars ]

3. Turmeric and Coconut Oil for Scars

Turmeric kills the bacteria, which causes scars. It reduces inflammation and redness and speeds up the healing process.(5)

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder.

Preparation time: 5 minutes.

Procedure:

  • Mix turmeric powder with coconut oil
  • Apply the mixture to scars
  • Massage gently with wet fingers for 5 minutes
  • Wash with warm water first and then with cool water.
  • Let it dry

How it works: An antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help to prevent free radicals and its anti-bacterial property kill bacteria causing acne scars.

Repetitions: Daily

Best time to apply: Before bath

[ Read: How To Remove Scars with Apple Cider Vinegar ]

4. Baking Soda and Coconut Oil for Scars

Baking soda removes dead skin cells and slows the aging process. It thus lightens the scars. Anti-inflammatory property of baking soda helps to soothe redness of scars.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Procedure:

  • Mix baking soda with coconut oil
  • Apply it to the affected areas
  • Massage with it
  • Leave it for 5 minutes
  • Wash with cold water.

How it works: this mixture reduces the appearance of scars on the skin. It restores pH balance of the skin and thus fades away the scars. It acts as a natural bleaching.

Repetitions: Daily

Best time to apply: before bath

5. Honey and Coconut Oil for Scars

Honey is a good natural remedy for scars. Coconut oil penetrates deep into the skin and moisturizes the skin. Honey also acts as a natural moisturizer and softens the skin with scars.(6)

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 4 tbsp aloe vera gel
  • 1 tbsp raw honey

Preparation time: 10 minutes.

Procedure:

  • Mix coconut oil with raw honey and aloe vera
  • Apply the mixture to the scars
  • Leave it for 25 minutes
  • Wash with cold water
  • Let the skin dry

How it works: You can use this mixture to treat scars on your face. Raw honey is effective for scars because it stimulates the healing process and tissue regeneration.

Repetitions: 2 times a week

Best time to apply: before bath

6. Camphor and Coconut Oil for Scars

A mixture of camphor and coconut oil lightens scars and dark spots on face. It reduces the appearance of scars and lessons the recurrence of scars.(7)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup coconut oil
  • 2 teaspoon crushed camphor
  • Small glass bottle

Preparation time: 5 minutes.

Procedure:

  • Mix the ingredients in an air-tight bottle.
  • Apply it to the scars and massage it
  • Leave it over night
  • In the morning, rinse off with warm water and pat it dry

How it works: this mixture has penetrative property i.e. it penetrates deep into the skin in order to clean dirt and unclog pores.

Repetitions: Daily

Best time to apply: Before sleep at night.

7. Lemon Juice and Coconut Oil for Scars

As lemon juice is rich in vitamin C, it improves the immune system. In addition, it prevents free radicals and thus slows the aging process.

Ingredients:

  • 4 tbsp organic coconut oil
  • Juice from 1 lemon

Preparation time: 10 minutes.

Procedure:

  • Extract juice from lemon
  • Mix the juice with melted coconut oil
  • Stir it well
  • Apply the mixture to scars
  • Massage gently
  • Leave it overnight

How it works: it does not irritate the skin. Without irritating the skin, it removes acne, blemishes and scars.

Repetitions: 3 times per week

Best time to apply: Before sleep at night

How Long Does it Take for Coconut Oil to Remove Scars?

Removal of scars from face with coconut oil will depend on how old the scars are. If the age of scars is more than 3-4 months, it is not possible for coconut oil to remove the scars. In fact, scars are permanent. Some people report that they have got good results from coconut oil.

When you use coconut oil and other above-mentioned ingredients as a treatment for scars, you must take some precautions. Use of lemon juice increases the skin’s sensitivity to ultraviolet rays of the sun. If you use turmeric powder in huge amount, then turmeric may stain skin. Only, organic extra-virgin coconut oil is effective to this treatment. And, if you are allergic to coconut oil, then never use it. So, do a patch test before using it.

Scientific Evidence:

  1. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
  2. Effect of topical application of virgin coconut oil on skin components and antioxidant status during dermal wound healing in young rats- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20523108/
  3. Vitamin E for treating children’s scars- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781083/
  4. Effects of Essential Oils on Scars and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36070793/
  5. Intravenous curcumin efficacy on healing and scar formation in rabbit ear wounds under nonischemic, ischemic, and ischemia-reperfusion conditions- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25230783/
  6. Honey, Wound Repair and Regenerative Medicine- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6023338/#:~:text=Honey%20possesses%20anti%2Dbacterial%2C%20anti,wound%20healing%20and%20tissue%20regeneration.
  7. The Healing Effect of Sesame Oil, Camphor and Honey on Second Degree Burn Wounds in Rat- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5890368/

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