I got three different questions today about acne scarring, so I figured it was an appropriate time for a post about it!
Here’s the deal with scars. There are two types:
- Pigmentation Acne Scars. These are your typical acne scars and most people are only dealing with this type… they’re basically just red or brown marks after your acne has healed.
- Hypertrophic and Atrophic Acne Scarring. This type of scarring is more rare, and it refers to acne scars that cause either an indent in the skin (atrophic) or acne scars that become raised scar tissue (hypertrophic).
Almost everyone gets pigmentation scars after a breakout, and the good news is that these will always fade away with time.
There is a second kind of pigmentation scar called hyper pigmentation, and that is when there is a dark or black mark, or a white or pale mark left at the site of the former lesion.
These are a little more stubborn, and it is best to treat them as soon as possible after they show up as to avoid them hanging around for years, or even permanently.
Unfortunately, if you have hypertrophic or atrophic acne scarring, the prognosis isn’t as optimistic.
You can try natural treatments, but there is a chance that they may not work, especially if the scars are old and deep (or very raised). There are plenty of conventional, cosmetic procedures out there that can help you, but they may be expensive.
Mind you, there are some over-the-counter treatments that are popular – such as Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), a weak chemical peel. Again, you will have more success with this type of thing if your scars are new and relatively shallow.
Natural Remedies for Acne Scars
For now, I am going to concentrate on some natural remedies that will help you to speed up the healing of your pigmentation scars, and possibly your raised or indented scars as well.
- Vitamin E – Vitamin E is a well known antioxidant that can stimulate the production of collagen, which is a fibrous protein that helps to make up skin. You can get concentrated Vitamin E oil from any health store. I would probably mix it with some jojoba oil, as it helps to carry the large Vitamin E molecules into the skin. If you don’t, they may clog your pores. And don’t use it on open wounds, wait until the lesion has healed completely, or it may make things worse.
- Lemon Juice – I remember being a young teenager, putting lemon juice in my hair, and then going out in the sun in order to try and lighten it up. This is because lemon juice has a lightening effect – and it can help to lighten your scars if you put it on your skin. I’d mix it with something soothing like honey or aloe if you are going to use it though, because it can also be kind of drying.
- Aloe vera – Aloe vera will help with the inflammation and redness from the acne and scars. It can also really help to prevent acne from turning into bad, permanent scars if you use it while you still have inflamed sores, so I would recommend this at all stages.
- Manuka Honey – Manuka honey is the honey from bees that collect pollen from the Manuka tree – only found in New Zealand. This stuff is special because it has a very high antibacterial quality compared to other honeys and plenty of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It also promotes tissue growth and protects the new tissue from infection! It’s actually very helpful for healing acne as well as the scars, so it’s all around awesome (I just picked up my first jar of it, so there will be more in depth info about this soon).
- MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) – This is a supplement that you can take internally that can help prevent scars as well as heal existing scars. The sulfur in it helps in the tissue regrowth while acne is healing, preventing scars, and once you already have scars, it helps to break up scar tissue. People have had very good success with this. There are also MSM creams that you can apply directly to the skin. Some people have had success with MSM cream even for indented scars.
- Exfoliation – Gently exfoliating the skin can help your acne scars to go away quicker. This is because it gets rid of the dead skin cells that sit on top of your skin and gets to the new healthier skin underneath quicker. I would avoid too much exfoliation if you still have inflamed acne though, or it will likely make things worse. And even if you don’t have inflamed acne, I only recommend exfoliating a couple times a week in order to avoid irritation. But anyway, when and if I do exfoliate, I like to mix some sort of spice with honey and gently rub it on my face… I’ve used cinnamon before and lately I’ve been using powdered dulse (which is a seaweed that contains plenty of vitamins and minerals).
Alright friends, I hope this has helped you. I made a video some time ago in which I showed you a honey, lemon, and cinnamon mask for acne scars, and people seem to really like it… so check it out!
And remember that the best thing you can do for scarring is to prevent it – which means DON’T PICK YOUR SPOTS!!
Lauren says
August 11, 2011 at 1:22 pmI don’t have horrible acne, but I have PCOS so if I get a breakout it’s pretty nasty. I use Sally Hanson’s Vitamin E oil, found in the “manicure stuff” section of any drugstore. I brush it on then cover the spot with a tiny band-aid. Heals right up in 1-2 days.
Tyler says
August 11, 2011 at 6:30 pmI am so tempted to start using coconut oil on my skin. It is so dumb of me I know, I have been like probably every acne sufferer in that I move from product to product, but at least I move from natural product to natural product, maybe that is better? haha (just trying to justify it to myself). I started using dr. bronners on my body a while back, totally cleared up my backne, then started using it on my face, had great success, although it did dry it out a little too much. Not really down to dilute the stuff either, because full power is perfect for my body. So if I use dr. bronners as a facial cleanser I have to use jojoba oil and I really don’t like moisturizers, never have, never will lol. However, I want to try giving up all facial cleansers, and only use coconut oil of my face (but I am scared because of how comedogenic it is) although some people absolutely RAVE about it clearing acne, and even hyperpigmentation. See that is the thing I most desperately want to get rid of, the hyperpigmentation and I don’t think jojoba oil is going to get me there all it really does it lower sebum production supposedly. I am considering lessening my skin care protocol even further and just using dr. bronners for my shampoo, and body wash, and rubbing a small amount of coconut oil on my body/face after my shower. Any ideas tracy?
Mary says
August 11, 2011 at 6:49 pmSorry to cut in, but I wanted to say that I tried coconut oil for a few months and it did help a Lot with pigmentation scars. Unfortunately, it gave me a massive breakout, which left new scars. So, be careful! I think I used too much and left it on too long and should have washed it off. Make sure you have some guidance or a good plan and of course to only use the organic virgin unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil.
Tracy says
August 12, 2011 at 9:49 amHi Tyler…. I don’t know, I’m scared of coconut oil because some people report such bad experiences…. but yeah… some people report great experiences! I put it on my leg the other day when it got a bit dry and it felt lovely…. but… I don’t know. Give it a shot if you are brave! You may be one of the lucky ones! And yes, absolutely make sure it’s unrefined, organic, extra virgin coconut oil
Tyler says
August 11, 2011 at 6:33 pmI know it is antibacterial, antifungal, and has a high % of lauric acid and is super food in all senses of the word. Saturated fat is the #1 nutrient acne sufferers need too (so really I want to give it a shot)
Shelly says
August 11, 2011 at 8:06 pmI’m suuuper guilty for picking at my acne and scars…and face…and just about everything. =[ I have a lot of atrophic scars on my cheeks and recent hypertrophic scaring alone my jawline. I’m really interested in incorporating aloe vera and manuka honey into my regimen in the near future — so looking forward to your next video/post about it! =]
Annie says
July 12, 2012 at 6:45 pmmanuka honey mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg, left on a clean face all night a few times per week is aaaaaaaamazing at clearing any of these issues mentiomed….especially scarring. I personally tried it. I skip a night or two in between. Use an old or dark towel, dont use white or good sheets, lol.
Sampson says
August 11, 2011 at 11:27 pmI still have some mild scarring even though my acne is gone. I’ve had professional lactic acid peels and they leave your skin sort of red afterwards, but the next day your skin is so smooth and even it’s crazy. That’s pretty much the only “unnatural” skincare product I would use
Also I’ve used coconut oil on my skin and it hasn’t broken me out (surprisingly.) I used virgin UNREFINED coconut oil though (the Spectrum brand which is pretty common in even non-healthfood store groceries.) I actually found it sort of dried my skin out as strange as that sounds, but my overall complexion got better.
Lavinia says
February 16, 2015 at 1:52 amThis is way more helpful than annyhitg else I’ve looked at.
Jen says
August 12, 2011 at 7:13 amjust wondering, what’s the dosage of MSM you’ve taken in a supplement?
p.s. i sent you an email to tracy[at]thelovevitamin[dot]com, on wednesday; that’s the address i get your email updates from, but would it be possible to send something to you there?
Tracy says
August 12, 2011 at 9:52 amActually, I haven’t tried MSM myself, but I’ve heard it’s great. I need to write an article about that… I don’t know whether I should only ever talk about things I’ve personally tried….. anyway…. I got your email and I just replied!
Jess says
August 12, 2011 at 2:27 pmI was wondering if you use a moisturizer and if so which brand or such? and for Aloe Vera did you use the actual plant or one that came in a jar?
Tracy says
August 13, 2011 at 12:46 pmI would say the plant is probably better… I once tried to do the whole plant thing, but it died on me… I don’t think it makes that much of a difference for the convenience. I like lily of the dessert organic aloe gel or aubrey organics aloe 🙂
Tyler says
August 12, 2011 at 6:08 pmI think ima put coconut oil on just the left side of my face and see what happens lol
Tracy says
August 13, 2011 at 12:43 pmGood plan! Let me know how it works out!
Jeff says
August 14, 2011 at 8:40 pmWhat manuka honey did you get? I see one on amazon that has pretty awesome reviews!
http://www.amazon.com/Wedderspoon-Organic-Manuka-Active-17-6-Ounce/dp/B000VK08OC
expensive though o.O
Tracy says
August 16, 2011 at 9:36 amThat’s the exact one I bought!! And YES it’s expensive !! agh… I dropped like forty bucks on it. Jeez.
I think with UMF, those below 10 aren’t very useful, 10 – 15 ish are somewhat useful and 15 and above is highly beneficial. So… yeah. I’m not sure how well 12 would work!
Jeff says
August 15, 2011 at 6:37 ami also found the same brand in 12+ UMF factor, not 16+. It was a lot cheaper because it was in a smaller jar.
Is there a noticeable difference between the two numbers?
Jeff says
August 16, 2011 at 10:19 amHmm … i’ll see how it goes then. I’m sure it’ll do something! I got that for 13 bucks (8,8 oz) so it was a good deal and if I finish it and still like it, then i’ll stick with it. If not, I’ll try the 16. how’s it been working for you, though? have you noticed any improvements in any red spots?
Tracy says
August 16, 2011 at 10:38 amYep… I’ve been having a bit of a breakout lately… I’m not sure from what… maybe detoxing from using MMS, but I don’t know. It actually started immediately after I started using the manuka honey… I suppose the manuka could produce an initial breakout… drawing bacteria out of the pores and that kind of thing. I’m not going to be quick to blame it on the manuka though, it’s probably a coincidence! I think it’s keeping the inflammation down from the breakout though and helping them to go away quickly… and my skin texture is improving I think. I don’t know, we’ll have to see what happens!
Luis Enrique says
October 15, 2011 at 3:13 amHello tracy I have a quick question. First thank you for this website. Well my acne problems started in high school and I used clinique’s acne treatment which included sun lotion a cleanser and benzol peroxide for a few years. The treatment helped my acne but a few months ago my acne got really really bad,seriously red and hurtful acne.I went to the dermotologist and he prescrived me isotroin(30mg) per day,plus no alcohol which sucks.Well to the question, I found this aloe vera in a pharmacy which i asked the lady if it was 100% organic and she said it was,but its drinkable, is that Ok to spray on my face?the substance is really liquidy like water its not like syrup or anything. I want to leave my dermos treatment cause I’m not the medicine type I hate meds lol.Also ive been looking for manuka honey but no luck so far.
Thanks again Tracy much love from Mexico 🙂
Tracy says
October 15, 2011 at 7:36 amHi Luis! Yes, Manuka honey may be tricky to find in Mexico… could you order some from the States? As for the pure aloe juice.. it’s the type you drink for soothing the digestive tract right? Apparently that aloe is very concentrated and many find it to be way too strong to use on the skin. That’s what I’ve heard anyway… but you could always try and if not, just drink it! It’s very good for digestive health, and a healthy digestive tract will lead to clear skin!
Luis Enrique says
October 15, 2011 at 2:33 pmWow thank you so much Tracy for your quick and responsive answer, Can’t say that I love you enough haha. I might have to check in for that Manuka Honey (which sounds like gold to me) when I get some more bank lol.Yea its that aloe for the digestive tract. I am definately going to try it, it is actually very cheap here due to the free healthcare I guess.. its like 3 dollars a bottle which lasts like 3-4 weeks maybe 🙂
Thank you for your fantastic and hard work, wish I could have found this site earlier.
Looking forward you your future work
monica says
June 13, 2012 at 12:01 pmi know my reply is kinda late but aaanyway, for further reference 😉 i´m from mexico too and i know where you can find manuka honey 😀 i found it in a health store called amayal in monterrey
Dee says
December 21, 2011 at 11:46 amhey tracy I am trying to heal my scars at the same time as my acne so I have the honey, jojoba and aloe in my tool box. Im wondering though how do i use all three? I will wash and mask with the honey but can i mix the aloe with the jojoba?? i cant decide between the two as to what to put on after i wash casuse i believe in both of them. I know you mix the honey and jojoba at night for a quick wash but i think aloe deserves a place in there somewhere no?! tea tree is much too drying and strong for me so i decided agains that one plus the manuka comes from the tea tree so i feel like its in there somehow. So anyways, do you use your aloe still?? Ahh the questions….
Dee says
December 21, 2011 at 11:55 amOh and i was also curious Tracy, what was your skin routine like in your before picture? Im just curious if the natural skin care stuff came before or after those bad skin moments in your life?
Tracy says
December 21, 2011 at 10:21 pmHi Dee,
I would just mix the jojoba with the aloe and put it on after you wash your face with the honey.
As for what my skin routine was like when my skin got really bad… well I was kind of just bouncing around between stuff… over the counter kind of stuff. And then I was using Carley’s Clear and Smooth for about a month before I started breaking out all over my forehead. I’ve read since that other people have had bad experiences with their products too. But then I quit using it and it just got worse and worse… so I don’t know if I could blame it on Carley’s Clear and Smooth… I imagine it might have triggered it and the stress of that just took it away to new heights. But I will never really know.
Dee says
December 23, 2011 at 9:54 amThanks tracy 🙂 ya i dont know if anything topical can really cause that much damage, maybe some initial irritation, especially if we have allergies and what not but breakouts in my opinion come from within. I believe more and more in keeping it natural though, i wanna give my skin nutrients not rob it of it anymore like i was doing with proactiv for years! meh. You continue to be my motivation because seeing how far youve come keeps me hopeful. By the way has anyone used African Black soap??? I keep hearing all about it and im kinda being swayed by the convenience of just a bar of saop and keeping it simple. Any thoughts?
Tracy says
December 23, 2011 at 5:35 pmYeah it’s true… all acne pretty much comes from within, it’s more like an irritating product can bother a clogged pore (which happens because of internal things) until it gets inflamed… so you might have a lot more inflamed acne from using irritating products than if you don’t
Also be careful of any bar soaps Dee… they all have a very alkaline PH which can disturb the skin because it’s naturally slightly acidic. That’s one reason I use honey instead of a natural bar soap is because it’s on the acidic side.
Dee says
December 23, 2011 at 6:08 pmAhh i knew there was a catch in there, bar soap just seemed to easy! so the outside is acidic but our insides are better alkalized?! im learning. You know what it is, when i see people with normal skin i always ask them what they use and they’re always all like ” uh whatever just some soap”.. grrr! especially guys they always just use the same soap they wash thier body with on thier face. gah.
Tracy says
December 23, 2011 at 7:44 pmhah yeah… I know it’s frustrating. It’s just because they naturally aren’t acne prone that they can use anything and get away with it
Jen says
January 27, 2012 at 4:46 pmHas anyone had any success treating indented scars?
Chelsea says
May 5, 2012 at 8:19 pmi’ve had acne since 5th or 6th grade and this past fall/winter of 2011, it got the worst it’s ever been. all the years before this, i’ve switched between products because they didn’t help, made it worse, or helped but stopped working. i do find that during the summer, when i’m in the sun and at the beach (salt water + sand = best natural exfoliation), my acne is completely clear, then i would use mederma scar gel and aloe, which made my scars clear up nicely. yet my acne would always come back in the winter. i’m going to try this organic/natural diet to see if it helps. but an antibiotic (deoxycyclin) i recently started is helping a lot and i’m weary to stop taking it. you and your blogging really have inspired me, and before i saw this, i was strongly thinking of becoming a dietitian/nutritionist. i’m also thinking of making a blog myself one day. 🙂 thaaanks!
Tracy says
May 6, 2012 at 7:13 amThanks Chelsea 🙂
Annie says
July 12, 2012 at 6:56 pmIf you have congested skin you can try ground oats mixed with baking soda and veeeeeeeeery gently massage veeeery lightly for a minute or two all over the face (and anywhere else you have clogged pores or blackheads etc). I do this several times per week as my skin just doesnt seem to turnover (exfoliate/shed dead cells) on its own.., which will cause acne if I dont use this homemade scrub. I even add dried green papaya powder once a week and it helps with scars. I add Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel afterwards. 🙂
Hannah says
October 11, 2012 at 5:46 pmScaraway helps. It’s sheets of silicone. I don’t like the drugstore brand even though it’s cheaper, because the drugstore brand won’t stick stay on. Aloe vera from the fresh plant is nice, but I don’t remember to do that and for scars you have to tape it on your face. The “scaraway” is more expensive but easier. I like to use 99% pure aloe that you can drink as astringent after washing my face in the morning and at night. Cetaphil is the best thing I’ve washed my face with so far and, I hate to say it, but NO drinking alcohol, and NO processed food, and minimal carbs (bread, pasta, fruit, and potatoes.) I was so at my wits end I nearly went on the pill but I went back to that diet, which I’d been following with great results, and knock wood, my skin has been good. I’m working on some scars now. I had bought cod liver oil but can’t bring myself to take a teaspoonful because of the ugly fish on the bottle. Can I make salad dressing with this stuff or will it be gross? It’s the cheaper kind, not the fermented one.
Sunbury says
April 10, 2013 at 9:10 pmHi Tracy,
Greetings from Indonesia. I found really useful information from your web and Thank you so much for sharing cause i’ve been desperate with acne and scar. My face condition more or less like Dee; acne on my chin, small bump on forehead. And i also have pigmentation acne scars. I’m just starting to use raw honey to wash my face followed with jojoba oil mix with aloe vera as a moisturizer for day and night. Is this good enough to heal my acne and scar? I read an article about MRM which i’m very interested with, but i’m not sure if i should apply this on my face cause i’m quite satisfied with jojoba oil + aloe vera? Thanks
Mickey says
May 2, 2013 at 11:41 pmI feel despondent about scars. Although I know there is a lot I could do to make my acne better, I really think the rough texture of my skin from atrophic scarring is what make it so unattractive (by my standards.) I feel embarrassed to stand in the sun where they become more visible!
Everywhere I read the same thing and am sad to hear it here too: “unfortunately, if you have atrophic acne scarring, the prognosis isn’t as optimistic. You can try natural treatments, but there is a chance that they may not work.” Anybody have any ideas? Or is something like laser resurfacing the only way to go fix something like this? I tried a chemical peel once and found it mostly unhelpful…Thanks a million. Any hope is somewhat desperately sought…
Tracy says
May 3, 2013 at 8:46 amHey Mickey,
Since I wrote this, some people have been trying out this MSM cream and seeing improvement in rolling or pitted scars. Not everyone but it seems to work for some: https://thelovevitamin.com/3586/rolling-acne-scars-msm-cream/
Alice says
January 16, 2014 at 10:42 amHi Tracy!! I am 14 years old and found your site a few months ago. I have mild to moderate acne and like 10 awful looking acne marks that WONT go away! I have almost no self esteem and i tried so many products but it turns out all the salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide made me break out!! I stopped using anything but moisturizer and aha cream to help with the marks and didnt break out anymore, until a few days ago i was desperate to get rid of the post acne marks and put everything on my face that i could, and lo a nd behold 3 new angry red pimples! I am so mad at myself!what are the best natural products that arent very expensive that can help with acne marks and acne prevention?? I know im rambling but i hope you can answer!! Thank God for your site!! God bless you!
Alice says
January 16, 2014 at 10:46 amAnd i forgot to add my diet is pretty good-i only eat out once a week at most, i eat fruit afterc every meal and veggies almost every day. Im actually underweight cuz i have a super fast metabolism haha:)
Svea says
January 17, 2014 at 2:29 amHi Alice,
please don‘t expect extremely fast results in just a few days. It will take time for your skin to adjust, maybe weeks or months, but your skin needs this time. Natural methods can never be as fast working as conventional products, but give quite subtle impulses, usually with a long-lasting effect though 😉
Oils that naturally contain lots of vitamin e (jojoba, olive or almond for instance) are great skin tissue softeners and will make those kind of scars less noticeable. Hemp oil which is slightly green can take a little redness off your skin. Sea Buckthorn seed oil and rosehip seed oil in a good quality (CO2 expelled or cold pressed) are great too. At first, these oils might seem expensive, but you only need 1-2 drops every time you moisturize your skin.
MSM might be of great help as well. Just add 3 heaped teaspoons of MSM powder to 100ml (30oz) of floral water, aloe vera gel or simply some mineral water, shake well and use it as a spray to moisten your face before applying your oil. Store in the fridge.
As far as MSM is concerned: try to avoid impure grades of MSM imported from China and the Far East, synthetic, petrochemical or animal derived MSM or MSM powders containing fillers, flow agents or additives. Crystal flakes seem to be the most effective MSM product. I’m getting mine from Raw Gaia (UK). I think it’s best to write an email to the supplier and ask them a few questions:
– Country of origin?
– Organic or synthetic? Is it pure?
– Level of purity?
– Crystal flakes or powder?
– Does it contain flow or bulking agents?
Tanja Nussbaumer says
February 9, 2015 at 11:39 pmHi everyone,
I was just wondering whether anyone has used 100% Pure Goats milk bar soap to cleanse their face? I know bar soap is not good- yet goats milk has a PH level incredibly close to humans plus it is high in Vitamin A and also supposedly gently exfoliates. I’ve been using it for about 2 1/2 months now (as the only cleansing product) and I love how it makes my skin feel clean without it feeling tight. I think it has really helped my skin condition
Jess says
April 15, 2016 at 12:23 pmI have a lot of acne scars! But I am happy to share that within two months they have healed by about 70%. The secret is a high percentage of Vitamin C. I have been using Paula’s Choice C15 and Vitamin C 25% Spot Treatment. I’m sure there are other great products out there too!
Hannah says
April 28, 2016 at 5:20 amHi, just wanted to give back some since I’ve been helped so much by this site. I never knew that I was sensitive to vitamin E as tocopheryl acetate until I started using it by itself. I was taking a large amount of vitamin a (not really safe but desperate times call for desperate measures). My skin was looking good but dry so I was using pure E on my lips, which swelled. The dryer and nd worse they became, the more E I used. I would pour it on the top of my hand and it wasn’t until my hand developed a rash that I realized it was the E messing up my lips! Vitamin E as tocopheryl acetate is in SO many things, including Cetaphil. Shampoos, lipsticks…for years I could only use aquaphor on my lips because every other lipstick contains tocopheryl acetate and would dry my lips and make them itch. It’s in SO many makeups, also. It’s actually a common allergin because of the acetate part, I’ve discovered through some reading. There are different sources: some wheat, some corn, and some from soy. Not aure which is my problem so i just try to avoid all of it if possible (really hard.) Obviously everyone has different sensitivities but I thought I would bring this up because it was the last thing I would have suspected would be bothering me. Another thing I’ve found is that lysine is a good collagen builder. You can crush it or open capsules or buy powdered and add it to oils you use topically. I can’t take vitamins orally. They irritate my skin unless I take once in a while (like a different vitamin every few days, never a multi.) People I know who can take lysine orally seem to have very nice skin. Hope all is well with you and thanks for all of your great advice!