Your Questions, Answered: Which Oils Are Helpful In Preventing And Diminishing Scars?

A customer recently asked about this so I thought it would be a good time to address it on the Salt Lady Blog! I'd like to talk about some aspects of essential oils that may help reduce the appearance of scars and help prevent them from developing. Keep reading for my favorite blend that I think is great for this purpose.

--First things first--
**Remember when applying essential oils to help heal wounds, DO NOT apply the oil ON/IN the wound... apply AROUND the wound!**

Now... to the oils!

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

One important aspect of helping your skin heal is using oils that are anti-inflammatory.

Keeping inflammation down may allow your skin to heal more quickly. Just a few (there are many more!) great oils for keeping inflammation at bay are Frankincense, Helichrysum, and Lavender.

Another key ingredient you'll want in your blend is an oil with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

Tea Tree oil is known to be great for its antiseptic properties, and it is also antimicrobial and antifungal. Eucalyptus oil, and Lemongrass are also useful for preventing infection. 

Don't forget pain relief!

If you're using an oil to help prevent scarring, you may also find yourself in need of some pain relief. Again, remember to apply the essential oil around the wound, and not directly over the open would.
Lavender is a go-to for its pain relieving effect (try it for bee stings and/or mosquito bites!) 

Interestingly, the oils useful for healing wounds and preventing scars are the same oils useful in reducing the appearance of scars which have already formed.

Research has shown that a compound in certain essential oils (such as lavender, rosemary and ylang ylang) has been shown to increase "cell growth and cell migration critical to wound healing".

Now for a blend I like to recommend for healing and preventing scars!

FRANKINCENSE CARTERII
I like to start with Frankincense Carterii. One of the key ingredients in Frankincense is boswellic acid which is what gives it its anti-inflammatory benefits. 

PATCHOULI
Second on the list is Patchouli. Patchouli is an amazing oil that can be helpful for skin issues like dermatitis, acne, and dandruff. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and can help with pain. 

BULGARIAN LAVENDER
And finally, I like to add Bulgarian lavender. Lavender is often used to help with sleep and has a calming effect, but it has also been shown to help with wound healing by encouraging new tissue growth.



And, as always, keep in mind when creating your own blends that you'll want to make sure your oil is diluted properly, and be sure to research any interactions.