15 Essential Oils For Reducing Scars

Over the years, we collect marks on our bodies. They can be caused by bites, scratches, burns, acne, or surgical wounds that have had trouble healing, for instance. In some cases, scars leave ugly marks that you would like to see fade away. What's better than nature to heal you? The properties of essential oils are numerous, and they can respond to multiple problems if their use on the skin is safe. Essential oils can accelerate healing, reduce itching, prevent infection, and completely reduce the size of your scars.

This process is called aromatherapy, which refers to the power of using distilled plants and extracts for their medical benefits (via Medicine Net). From patchouli to lavender, there are many essential oils that can help you take care of your scars in a completely natural way. However, some essential oils aren't recommended for children or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding (via John's Hopkins). Moreover, dermatologists recommend doing a patch test by putting a couple of essential oil drops on the inside of your arm and leaving it for 24 hours (via Medical News Today). If no negative symptoms arise, you can safely use your essential oil.

A scar can be more or less deep and visible. Depending on the extent of the injury, the time since it happened, and the care given to it, it may take many weeks or even months to disappear. Nevertheless, it must be treated as soon as possible to get the best results. Therefore, don't waste a minute: essential oils are here to help you reduce your undesired scars.

With a wide range of essential oils available, how do you know which one to select? Here are 15 essential oils that are best suited to reduce your scars and help you heal.

Recognizable among a thousand others, the smell of lavender will transport you to Provence, the region in the south of France known for its lavender fields. With its purple color, lavender is also a flower that beautifies gardens. Is that all? Of course not! Lavender also has many benefits, sometimes unknown, for the skin.

A star ingredient in many facial care products, lavender has been used for a very long time as a natural remedy. Its essential oil is the first oil used to heal the body. According to a study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, this oil "has the potential to promote wound healing in the early phase by acceleration of formation of granulation tissue, tissue remodeling by collagen replacement and wound contraction." According to the same study, lavender oil has antibiotic, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties. 

It also promotes the protein of collagen and reduces redness due to scarring. This study showed that "wound closure progressed more rapidly with topical application of lavender oil." In order to use it, you can directly apply one pure drop of lavender essential oil on your scar up to three times a day, or you can mix three to five drops with ½ tablespoon of coconut oil, which will boost your collagen production (via Draxe).

Originally found in the south of France, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, helichrysum is a small plant that has multiple powers over the human body (via Draxe). Also known as "everlasting," these yellow flowers can take care of your skin when turned into an essential oil (via Frontiers). According to the American Chemical Society, helichrysum prevents wound infection. Moreover, its anticoagulant and circulatory action as well as its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties create a perfect combination to heal a scar and make it fade away with time. This essential oil can be used pure, directly on the affected area, at a rate of two drops, twice a day, until the scar is completely healed (via Laboratoire Altho).

Helichrysum essential oil has even made chemist and essential oil distiller Kurt Schnaublet, Ph.D., say, "Its effects are so convincing that it has never met with any kind of criticism," in a review published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

Another option that will make your scar fade away drop by drop is patchouli. This plant, native to Indonesia, is used for its leaves. Transformed into essential oil, patchouli acts effectively thanks to its anti-inflammatory virtues to avoid the appearance of red scars (via Healthline). According to an experiment done on a hypertrophic scar — a thick and wide scar — patchouli essential oil has antibacterial and antioxidant effects and creates collagen (via Medisains), which is necessary for the proper functioning of the skin. 

This protein, created by the body, allows the tissues of the epidermis to regenerate and preserve their elasticity (via Healthline). It will help, when having any type of scars, to provide more collagen to the skin because "atrophic acne scarring is most likely related to inflammatory mediators and enzymatic degradation of collagen fibers," as explained by a study in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Apply two to three drops in six drops of vegetable oil and massage the area both in the morning and in the evening. You can continue as long as necessary (via Juicy Chemistry).

The beauty of flowers can transform your skin, and geranium is here to prove it. These colorful petals enclose a real skincare power. If you are looking for an essential oil great for a new scar, geranium essential will be your skincare hero. This oil is a natural cicatrizant and is particularly efficient in case of new scars. It prevents contamination of the scar by fighting bacteria thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties (via a study in the Libyan Journal of Medicine).

Close to the benefits of patchouli, geranium essential oil is more astringent and will tighten the skin (via Netmeds). It helps to accelerate healing and to avoid stains and marks in the long term. To use it safely, geranium essential oil has to be diluted. In four drops of vegetable oil, add one drop of geranium essential oil. Massage gently the scar and repeat it every day until healing. Your scar should gradually fade and be significantly reduced.

You probably know the benefits of this flower when drinking it as a herbal infusion, but it is therapeutic when used as an essential oil. This daisy-like flower will take care of your scars in many ways. Indeed, it is favorable to the process of cicatrization and allows at least to decrease the redness of the wounds and to de-swell them. According to research published in the International Journal of Molecules Science, chamomile essential oil is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which makes it a perfect ingredient for your scars.

It has to be diluted with a carrier oil such as argan or olive oil but can also be mixed with another essential oil such as lavender, lemon, or geranium to maximize the benefits of the chamomile. Simply mix one drop of this essential oil with four drops of the carrier oil of your choice and apply it to your scar every day to see great results (via New Directions Aromatics).

Often referred to as the "king of essential oils", frankincense is present in many beauty bags. Produced from the resin of Boswellia trees, frankincense is recommended for the skin thanks to its healing, repairing, and regenerating properties. If you have a scar that is difficult to heal, this essential oil is a must! Its chemical composition has important soothing properties for the skin. It is known for its ability to revitalize the skin and give it a healthy appearance when used topically (via The Yoga Physician). 

But as if that wasn't enough, research published in Biochimie Open recommends using frankincense essential oil, saying, "The robust, anti-proliferative activity of frankincense essential oil in skin cells could also contribute to better wound healing." This essential oil can be irritating to the skin, so it must be diluted to 20% in vegetable oil before any skin application. Mix two to three drops of frankincense essential oil with a carrier oil or a lotion before applying it to your scar (via Draxe).

Queen of flowers since all times, the rose is famous for its delicate perfume, its beauty, but also for its multiple virtues. Roses are as useful as they are beautiful since they do a little more than embellish gardens with their colorful and fragrant petals. Its essential oil is a real beauty asset. The rose hip seeds are harvested for their dermatological benefits and are transformed into essential oil. Rich in omega 3 and 6, which help regenerate skin cells and keep the skin supple, this essential oil will promote the production of collagen and thus help firm the skin to restore its elasticity (via the Cleveland Clinic). 

In addition, rosehip oil contains trans-retinoic acid, a natural derivative of vitamin A known for its use in dermatology for its firming and healing properties (via Cosmetics Specialchem). Thus, in case of skin lesions, cuts, burns, and scars, rosehip oil will participate in cellular reconstruction while soothing the skin and preventing the growth of the epidermis. Indeed, it reduces the relief of hypertrophic scars, even old ones, and homogenizes the color of scars (via research in the Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications). Practical because it can be applied directly onto the skin, rosehip essential oil is massaged into the damaged area for a few minutes and applied morning and evening for optimum effectiveness.

Enter small white flowers with intense perfume: the neroli flowers. The essential oil of neroli is derived from the distillation of the delicate white flowers of the bitter orange tree. When turned into an essential oil, it is particularly effective against scars. A study conducted by the Journal of Biological Sciences on the effects of this oil shows that it is antimicrobial and antifungal. When applied to the skin, neroli essential oil intensely moisturizes the skin and strengthens the epidermis by accelerating the natural skin regeneration process. 

This essential oil should be diluted before applying to the skin. You can mix two to six drops of it in a couple of drops of carrier oil, such as jojoba oil (via Healthline). A daily application allows you to profit from all the benefits of this oil and significantly reduce the unpleasant scar you desire to make disappear for good.

In juice, in salads, or in cakes, the carrot is a vegetable that brings only good benefits to your health. Then why not exploit the many advantages of its essential oil? Not only good for your eyesight, carrots also have benefits for skin problems, too. The carrot seed essential oil has healing virtues and helps to minimize marks and scars left by pimples. The secret of their effectiveness? The carotol molecule, present in abundance in the product, is combined with draining, detoxifying, and slightly anti-inflammatory molecules (via research published in Industrial Crops and Products). 

This essential oil also increases the production of collagen, which guarantees the elasticity and firmness of the skin (via Very Good Light). Moreover, a study published in Chemistry & Biodiversity demonstrated that carrot seed essential oil is antifungal and antibacterial. To use it safely, carrot seed essential oil needs to be diluted. Mix a few drops with 1 tablespoon of the carrier oil of your choice and apply it every day. The effects can be seen after several weeks or several months of regular use. The key word is patience, considering scars take time to heal.

If you're looking to buy essential oils to add to your skincare routine, you'll definitely want to consider cedar wood. Cedarwood essential oil is extracted from the wood of the cedar tree and is widely used in cosmetics and perfumes. With a woody scent, this oil is also very beneficial for the skin. It will protect the body against harmful bacteria because it is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal, per Healthline.

Some essential oils cannot be ingested, which is the case of cedar wood. This essential oil is used for external use only. To create the perfect recipe to reduce the appearance of your scars, mix two to three drops with 5 teaspoons of carrier oil and apply it directly on your scars for 20 minutes. You can also mix it with other essential oils such as patchouli or frankincense to maximize its effects. Repeat once or twice a week to see great results (via Healthline).

It's safe to say that this beautiful, colorful herb and essential oil has made a statement! Hyssop is a plant whose therapeutic use is thousands of years old. Its beautiful, violet-blue flowers are very appreciated in aromatherapy; therefore, the leaves and flowers of hyssop are used to create an essential oil. Only for external use, this oil contributes to the purification of the skin. It permits to keep, even to improve, the tonicity and the vitality of this one. 

In only one drop of essential oil, the power of this plant can heal your scar and reduce its appearance thanks to its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties (via a study in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity). For a local application, dilute two to three drops in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (via Draxe). Apply it two times a day to help your scar heal faster without leaving an undesired mark on your skin.

Essential oils are making a difference in the beauty world, especially when they can heal you naturally. This medicinal plant, which is also consumable, is a wild plant that's very widespread in Europe. It grows in meadows and along roadsides and is often trampled on, without realizing it has immense power over scars.

 Yarrow essential oil is a rare and precious oil because it requires a large quantity of distilled flowers for its production. Putting that aside, It has several medical virtues: it accelerates the healing of wounds of all kinds and also relieves eczema and acne that can produce scars. It is intensely soothing, restorative, cicatrizant, astringent, and anti-inflammatory: the perfect combination to reduce the appearance of your new or even older scars. To use it safely, it is recommended to dilute the essential oil of yarrow to 20% in vegetable oil before applying it to the skin (via Organic Facts).

When not used to enhance the taste of your salads, lemon can be a great ingredient to add to your beauty routine. Obtained by cold pressing lemon peel, the essential oil of lemon is astringent and antimicrobial. According to a report published by Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, "the healing rate of chronic wounds is affected by bacterial infections, inflammation [...], and thus infection and inflammation control may assist in accelerating healing." That is why the essential oil of lemon prevents any infection and helps the skin heal properly.

Particularly great for acne scars, the anti-pigmentary, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties of this oil are effective in fading dark spots and redness caused by acne scars. The skin will appear clearer and brighter (via Purodem). Its great healing and antiseptic power make it unsafe to use alone. In fact, oil should never be applied directly onto the skin and be only mixed with vegetable oils. Depending on your preferences, you can choose soybean, olive, or coconut oil, for example.

In South America, especially in the heart of the vast Amazon Rainforest, grows the copayer, a tropical rainforest tree also known as the diesel tree. The resin of its red wood is used for various purposes, and one of them is skincare. Unbelievably versatile, it has been used for centuries. The essential oil of copaïba has a healing and regenerating action on the skin, with scientists moving toward using it to treat scarring (via a study in Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases). 

In fact, it helps to close wounds and to support cicatrization. A great advantage of this essential oil is that it can be applied directly on the skin, but it can also be diluted with the carrier oil of your choice to add hydration to your skin (via Organic Facts). Don't forget to take it anywhere you go, and apply it every day to your scars.

Another option you can consider if you desire to reduce scars is tea tree essential oil. Whether you have acne or surgical scars, the essential oil of tea tree is a must-have in any beauty routine for its healing properties. Tea tree oil is antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-infectious and also helps to reduce the appearance of scars. This oil is derived from the distillation of the leaves of an Australian tree, the Melaleuca, and is used all around the world (via the Mayo Clinic). Tea tree is a powerful antiseptic against bacteria and is very gentle on the epidermis. Indeed, the skin tolerance of this product is exceptional, which is why it is possible to use pure tea tree oil on the skin. 

Add a few drops on your scar twice a day until you start seeing results, and remember that consistency is key when using essential oils (via Healthline).