Scarring

Usually, the only purpose of a scar is to forever remind you of an incident that you’d rather forget—an injury, illness, vaccination or surgery.

But these often unsightly marks don’t have to be permanently etched in skin. Often you can help scars fade faster or even avoid them by treating your skin right during the healing process. Don’t pick at a wound while it’s healing, since that can increase your chances of developing a scar. And protect new scars from the sun’s ultraviolet rays with sunscreen. Scars have less pigment than the rest of your skin, so they’re especially vulnerable to sunburn and prolonged redness, making them even more prominent. The natural remedies in this chapter, used with your doctor’s approval, may help minimize scarring, according to some health professionals.

Aromatherapy

While treating her daughter’s chickenpox scars, Victoria Edwards, an aromatherapist in Fair Oaks, California, discovered the skin-saving power of rose hip seed oil. Her recipe calls for one ounce of rose hip seed, one drop of rose and two drops of everlast (also known as immortelle or helichrysum) essential oils. Edwards says to store the mixture in a dark glass bottle and apply it to scars once a day after bathing. “It’s a little expensive because of the rose oil, but there’s simply nothing better for minimizing scarring,” she says. She also recommends it for preventing keloids, which are enlarged, elevated scars that sometimes result from cuts, burns and surgical incisions.

For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including cautions about their use, see page 19. For information on purchasing essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.

Ayurveda

To keep scar tissue from forming, David Frawley, O.M.D., director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, recommends this remedy for the week immediately following surgery: Blend ¼ teaspoon of turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon of myrrh and a pinch of saffron (it’s for flavor, so it’s optional) with a little warm water or honey, then take this twice a day. You can get myrrh in most health food stores or through mail order (refer to the resource list on page 634).

Herbal Therapy

Calendula’s bright orange flowers help reduce inflammation and promote the healing of wounds, says Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Look for Calendula gel or cream (available in most health food stores), he says, and follow the label directions for application.

Homeopathy

A 1X or 10 percent ointment made from Thiosinaminum, which is oil of mustard seed, is an effective remedy for painful scarring if it is applied two or three times a day for several weeks, says Mitchell Fleisher, M.D., a family practice physician and homeopath in Colleen, Virginia. Although it is usually not available, some homeopathic pharmacies will prepare the ointment for you if you request it. For homeopathic pharmacies with mail-order services, see the resource list on page 637.

Massage

A technique called rolling can help you loosen and break down stiff scar tissue, suggests Elliot Greene, past president of the American Massage Therapy Association. Do this only on well-healed scars, he cautions. Start at one end of the scar and pinch it gently between your forefinger and thumb. Moving lengthwise, continuously roll the scar between your fingers as you work your way to the other end of the scar. Work a fresh scar for one to two minutes. If the scar is older, work it for three to four minutes. Stop if you feel discomfort or tenderness. Once you are finished, you can rub on some vitamin E oil to soften your skin. (You can either buy the oil, which is available in most health food stores, or break open a capsule of vitamin E.) Greene recommends doing this once a day unless you notice redness or soreness. If you develop these symptoms, he says, stop until they subside.