At one time or another, many of us have accidents or surgery that can result in unsightly scars. The same can happen from difficult cases of acne. Even stretch marks from pregnancy or significant weight loss can leave permanent un-smooth textures on the skin. There are few treatments available beyond silicone patches, and these won’t work in all cases. If one is looking for a natural means to improve skin appearance as a wound heals, or to smooth old scars or stretch marks, scientific aromatherapy literature provides some formulas that may help.
The Essential Oils
Certain essential oils are often used for healing and regeneration of skin tissues. We’ll review these and their companion carrier oils, then present some formulas for particular situations. The first of these essential oils is Helichrysum Italicum, an oil with an earthy aroma, distilled from the small flowers of an herb native to the Mediterranean region. This is the premier oil called for where the skin is in need of regeneration, and where inflammation may be present.
The Power of Helichrysum
Helichrysum essential oil is the cornerstone for many blends for healing the skin, and is the only one truly necessary for supporting currently healing skin damage – it should be used at appropriate concentrations with Rosehip Seed, Tamanu and Hazelnut oils, as mentioned later in this article. As noted by well-known aromatherapist Kurt Schnaubelt, “The triple unsaturated fatty acids (of Rosehip Seed oil) strengthen the cell membranes and, combined with the regenerative qualities of Everlasting oil (Helichrysum), heal wounds with minimal or no scarring”.
Wound Healing Properties of Lavender
Lavender essential oil the most commonly used aromatic oil due to it’s pleasant, soothing aroma and broad range of healing effects. Lavender is also included in many skin care blends as it also contains ketone molecules which stimulate tissue regeneration (similar to those in Helichrysum). Lavender, also like helichrsum, is an anti-inflammatory, and is generally thought to bring synergy to essential oil blends, improving the efficacy of any formula.
Salvia Officinalis: Sage for Old Scars
The essential oil distilled from the leaves of common Sage is included in blends where the wounds are old – where the healing happened some time ago and has left some unsightly scarring. This can work on keloid scars, acne scars, etc., though application need be regular and should continue for 3 to 6 months. The sage oil is included in essence to break up the scar tissue and to stimulate regeneration with it’s powerful components. Sage oil should be used with great care and in small amounts. While it is called for in formulas for stretch marks, it should only be use after pregnancy, and not during by expectant mothers. Sage is best used for wounds and scars that have already healed to reduce appearance.
Rosemary to Stimulate Cellular Metabolism
Rosemary of the Verbenone chemotype (rather than Cineol, which does not have the same properties) contains regenerative ketones like Lavender and Helichrysum, plus has the added benefit of stimulating the skin’s metabolic process. This oil can bring greater circulation to skin tissues, delivering nutrients and eliminating cellular waste and toxins — functions which are crucial during the healing process. Rosemary Verbenone can be used for healing new or old wounds.
Carotenoid Containing Essential Oils Speed Healing
Other essential oils can offer important nutrients that may speed the healing process. Most importantly, they offer carotenoids and carotenes — natural vitamin-A-like compounds needed for increasing the strength of the healing tissue. Vitamin A is considered absolutely critical to normal skin development, and indispensable during wound healing. Carotenoids are also strong antioxidants, which can ‘mop up’ free radicals at the site of an injury. Two essential oils can be chosen from: Sea Buckthorn and Carrot Root. These are both found as Supercritical Carbon Dioxide extracts with deep colors, indicating the high levels of nutrients.
Antiseptics/Antimicrobials For Wound Care
For wounds that are currently healing, a small amount of an antiseptic essential oil can help the process. It can prevent redness and irritation that is the result of your body dealing with bacteria at the sight of the injury. Lavender and Rosemary do have some antiseptic properties, and may be enough if you feel the wound has been well-cleaned. For stronger antiseptic activity, 1-5% Tea Tree essential oil can be added to any recipe. The use of the Tea Tree can be discontinued once the wound has sealed completely. If you’re really not fond of the aroma of Tea Tree, Palmarosa essential oil can be used as a more mildly-aromatic substitute.
Proper Dilution with Carrier Oils
Finally, these essential oils need to be diluted carrier oils, which are seed or nut oils made up of fatty acids. These oils help the skin absorb the essential oils, and provide important nutritive oils to help the skin heal and look its best. The most important is Rosehip Seed oil, cold-pressed from Rosehip Seeds native to mountainous regions of South America. In addition to its unsaturated fatty acids, this oil contains natural vitamin A compounds similar in effect to the pharmaceutical preparation Retin-A but without the over drying or redness that often accompanies its use. Note that Rosehip seed should NOT be used for acne scars where acne outbreaks are still likely to occur. Tamanu Nut oil — or Callophylum — is a little known oil that actually lies somewhere between a ‘fixed oil’ and ‘essential oil’ in its chemistry. Tamanu is an excellent choice for healing all types of wounds. Finally, oils containing high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids can help healing by providing important nutrients while reducing inflammation.
Choosing Your Recipe
For effective wound healing of recent cuts and scrapes (and has been used successfully on surgical incisions), to 1 ounce Tamanu Nut oil (also called Callophyllum) and 1 ounce Rosehip seed oil add 1 milliliter of Helichrysum essential oil, 1 milliliter of Lavender essential oil and either 1 milliliter of Sea Buckthorn or 3 milliliters of Carrot Root CO2 extracts – apply twice a day for 7 to 10 days. For older scars from wounds or acne, including keloid scars, replace the Lavender in the previous recipe with Rosemary essential oil or Sage essential oil (not to be used during pregnancy). Where acne can reoccur, do NOT use Rosehip seed — instead use Evening Primrose or Hemp Seed oils. Apply regularly for 3 to 6 months. For the healing of stretch marks, postpartum, use 1 ounce Rosehip seed and 1 ounce Tamanu or Evening Primrose oil with 1 milliliter Sage essential oil and 2 milliliters with Rosemary Verbenone essential oil; again apply regularly until the marks are no longer visible.
So there are a few effective combinations of natural botanical ingredients that can support certain skin care conditions. Many, many more skin care formulas are available when blending essential oils – with many oils able to aid with very particular situations. If needed, a little research should go a long way in helping you find what you need. And as always with aromatherapy oils, go slowly, pay attention to your body’s reactions and remember that increasing concentrations of the essential oils will not make a more effective blend. Be safe and enjoy.
The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using peppermint here: http://www.anandaapothecary.com/aromatherapy-essential-oils/peppermint-essential-oil.html
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