Onion for Healing Acne Scars

Onion is the essential taste giver in some of your favorite dishes. But, did you ever think of using it topically to treat your acne? Perhaps, you're frowning at the very thought of it! Yes, it makes you cry and is not a pleasant smelling thing to apply on your face, but you're sure to disregard that drawback, once you understand that it's pretty much effective in treating acne scars. Now that you're keen on learning that magic formula, let's get into the details!

What are the positive attributes of onion to help your skin? It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that have helped in treating some internal ailments. From something as simple as fixing your appetite, to reducing the risk of colon cancer, onion has remarkable medicinal properties. Onion juice is known to give positive results in treating scar tissue and also influences collagen production. But, before you begin to treat your acne scars, make sure that your acne is under control. There are several ways to control your acne, be it applying topical lotions or adopting an acne diet. Treating from inside out is always better.

Acne scars generally appear in two forms - raised over the skin, and depressed, i.e. saucer-shaped. They form when damaged skin layers under the epidermis, i.e. the outermost skin layer, result in the production of excessive collagen fibers, which in turn, disturb the skin pattern and show as scars. Onion extract controls collagen production and is particularly useful in clearing keloid scars - a type of scar caused by collagen buildup over acne, resulting in a raised area. At the same time, onion extract stimulates collagen production when applied on depressed scars, making the skin more resilient and reducing the depth of the saucer-like scars.

An onion mask effectively heals your acne scars. Grind one peeled medium-sized onion in your food processor to make a paste, and mix it with 3 tablespoons of oatmeal that is already softened by pouring boiling water over it and keeping aside for five minutes. Make sure that the oatmeal is still warm. You may also add honey if it is not thick enough. Apply it on your face, leave for five minutes and rinse off with warm water. The mix will stay fresh for a week in your refrigerator. Alternatively, mix a tablespoon each of onion juice, carrot juice and olive oil with the yolk of one egg. Apply the mix on your face and wash after 20 minutes. It has a noticeable toning effect.

The brownish acne marks left behind by pimples eventually fade, but they are also likely to become stubborn scars. You must remember that squeezing or picking your pimples increases the risks of scarring. Acne scar treatment depends on the extent of your scars. Severe scars may require the intervention of a dermatologist, who may suggest remedies, ranging from the simple chemical peel to the expensive and complex laser resurfacing. So, if you wish to take a wise approach, it's important to understand that acne is chronic, starting at puberty and continuing into adulthood. Whatever natural acne remedies you try, make sure that you're committed and consistent!