When dirt, dead skin cells and other toxins clog pores, trapping oil beneath the skin, bacteria thrive, causing infections that result in breakouts. Acne itself is painful and embarrassing enough. No one wants to deal with the scars it leaves behind.
Fortunately, there are natural, affordable, effective DIY home remedies to reduce the appearance of acne scars without spending money on expensive creams that may not work. Did you know you can use coconut oil for acne scars? Before we tell you exactly how… let’s take a look at why it works.
Does Coconut Oil Help With Acne Scars?
- The lauric acid in it is anti-fungal and anti-viral, so it kills the bacteria that cause acne.
- It cools and soothes the skin, reducing inflammation and redness caused by acne.
- It is similar to sebum, the skin’s natural oil, so when used as a moisturizer, it’s less likely to clog pores and cause acne.
- It stops oxidation and accelerates the skin’s healing process.
- It stimulates bowel movements, ensuring proper function of the digestive system, which is essential to clear skin.
- The anti-oxidants in coconut oil protect against the free radicals that cause acne while promoting the formation of new, healthy skin cells.
- It contains caprylic and capric acids and vitamins E and K, all of which encourage the growth of healthy new skin.
- It supports the production of collagen, which improves skin’s elasticity, keeping it smooth, firm, and scar free.
- It helps even out skin tone and lightens scars and dark marks.
How To Use Coconut Oil For Clear Skin:
You have a few options when using coconut oil for acne scars. The oil can be used alone OR in combination with other natural ingredients that reduce the appearance of scars. Try all the methods below until you find the one that works best for you.
1. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- Use fingertips to apply the oil to clean skin, massaging in circular motions for 5 minutes.
- Leave on 10 minutes, then remove with tissue paper.
- Rinse with warm water followed by cool water, and pat dry.
- Note: you can also leave it on overnight.
2. Diluted Coconut Oil
- Mix 1 tablespoon of oil with ½ tablespoon of rose water.
- Massage into skin and leave on 10 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water followed by cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily to reduce scars.
3. Coconut Oil and Baking Soda
Baking soda exfoliates to remove dead skin cells and lighten scars.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of oil with 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
- Massage into skin and leave on 5 minutes.
- Wet fingers and massage gently for 10 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily.
4. Coconut Oil and Brown Sugar
Brown sugar exfoliates to remove dead skin cells.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of oil with ½ tablespoon of brown sugar to make a paste.
- Massage into skin with wet fingers.
- Leave on 5 minutes, rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat 2 times a week.
5. Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera
Aloe vera soothes irritated pimples, repairs acne wounds, kills acne bacteria and erases acne scar.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of oil with 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel.
- Wash face using one of the above methods.
- Apply oil-gel mixture to skin and leave on 10 minutes.
- Massage with wet fingertips for 5 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water followed by cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily.
6. Coconut Oil and Raw Honey
Raw honey has natural bleaching properties, and it kills the bacteria that cause acne while moisturizing skin.
- Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 tablespoon of raw honey.
- Massage into skin and leave on 15 minutes.
- Massage with wet fingers for 5 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water, pat dry, and apply to moisturize.
7. Coconut Oil and Turmeric
Turmeric reduces redness and inflammation while killing the bacteria that cause acne and accelerating the skin’s healing process.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of the oil with 1 teaspoon of turmeric power.
- Apply to skin and leave on 15 minutes.
- Massage with wet fingers for 5 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water followed by cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily.
8. Coconut Oil and Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour removes dead skin cells, absorbs excess oil, heals broken skin, and lightens scars and blemishes.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of chickpea flour, 3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt, and 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to make a paste.
- Wash face with water and pat dry.
- Massage oil into skin for 5 minutes.
- Apply chickpea flour paste over coconut oil and leave on 15 minutes.
- Massage skin in circular motion with wet fingers for 5 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water followed by cool water and pat dry.
- Apply moisturizer.
- Repeat daily.
9. Coconut Oil and Lemon Juice
Lemon juice exfoliates to remove dead skin cells, and it kills the bacteria that cause acne. It also contains natural bleaching agents that lighten scars.
- In a blender, mix 2 tablespoons of oil with 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice until it emulsifies and becomes smooth like lotion.
- Apply to skin, massaging gently for 5 minutes, and leave on 15 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- This remedy can be made in larger quantities and stored in a glass bottle for up to 3 days to make daily use more convenient.
- Note: avoid contact with broken skin and apply only to scars and marks rather than to healthy skin.
10. Internal Treatment
When consumed, coconut oil detoxifies the body from the inside, killing the bacteria that cause acne.
- Swallow ¼ teaspoon of extra virgin coconut oil before each meal.
- Gradually increase your dosage to 1 teaspoon per meal.
- Add it to water, juice, tea, coffee, and smoothies.
- Use for cooking and baking.
Tips and Precautions:
For best results, follow the advice below when using coconut oil for pimples and to reduce the appearance of acne scars.
- When applied to clean skin as a moisturizer and left on, the vitamins and essential fatty acids in coconut oil absorb into skin, nourishing and healing it to reduce the appearance of scars. If you find it uncomfortable, rinse it off with a natural oil-free cleanser.
- When used regularly as an internal and topical treatment, coconut oil heals acne, reduces scarring and prevents future breakouts.
- When using lemon juice, make sure to wear sunblock as it increases the skin’s sensitivity to UV rays that cause burns.
- Do not use more turmeric powder than recommended as it may stain skin.
- Always use pure, organic extra virgin varieties. If you can’t find it in stores, order it online.
- If you see no results after 10 days, consult a dermatologist.
- Before starting regular treatments, do a patch test to make sure you’re not allergic to it.
Have you tried any of these methods for lightening acne scars? Tell us which ones worked best for you!
Hi everyone, this is Rajee!
I live the beautiful city of Baltimore, where my husband works.
I’m from India. I have been visiting India on and off for past few years and my mom was an inspiration for me to start this site. She has a wealth of knowledge on home remedies for a large number of health problems, and we grew up in an environment where frequent visits to the doctor just wasn’t logistically or financially feasible.
Despite this, she managed to raise a family of healthy kids, and my goal here at Home Remedies for Life is to pass on some of her knowledge of natural remedies.
Can the coconut oil n lemon mixture be used overnight on body?
Yes, you can.
Can I just use virgin coconut oil instead of extra virgin coconut oil?
Yes, you can.
can you use baking soda and coconat oil, brown sugar, lemon to scrub your face daily.
The combination is good enough for exfoliating and healing acne scars. However, we don’t recommend using it daily as it can dry out the skin excessively which can further lead to excess oil production. So, it is better to repeat the process 2 – 3 times in a week.
can pure coconut oil be used with lemon or the coconut oil with baking soda for black skin type?
You can use any of them as per your convenience.
??
all through the night
Yes, you have to leave the application all though the night. Use old bed sheets or cloth to avoid staining.
Can i use coconut oil wid lemon over night to reduce scares on face due to pimples
You can but for some people the citric acid present in lemon can cause burns if left for a longer period. So it is safe to rinse off after 15 – 20 minutes or application.
Parachut coconut oil is ok for face at night
Apart from containing coconut oil, parachute also contains added preservatives and fragrance. They are not for your skin. It is good to use cold compressed coconut oil.
How long it takes to reduce marks?
It is very difficult to mention the exact time as everyone’s skin is different. So, please be patient and repeat the process regularly until you achieve the results.
What am battling with is sunburn and stretch marks and early gray hair ,I don’t know if you have solution to that pls .thanks
For sunburn remedies read this article – http://homeremediesforlife.com/sunburn/, for remedies related to stretch marks – http://homeremediesforlife.com/stretch-marks/.
For grey hair – you can apply alma (Indian gooseberry) paste, coconut oil – lemon mixture, curry leaves paste or henna paste to deal with early gray hair. You can apply any one of the pastes on the scalp and along the hair, leave it for an hour and wash the hair thoroughly. Repeat the application 2 times a week for effective results.
How many days will it take to remove the scars completely if I use only coconut oil once a day?
It is difficult to tell the exact time, as everyone is different. So try the remedies regularly with some patience. Apart from that, you have to exfoliate and moisturize regularly for effective and quick results.
Sir …i use coconut oil on face after bath….i am using this oil without washing face with face wash…just wash my face and moisturize with coconut oil….i have acne scars..is it ok……any advice ?…thank you
Just washing with water doesn’t remove the oil from face. So it is better to use any mild soap to wash your face first. Then you can apply a small amount of coconut oil.
I am 22 yrs old…i have some acne scars on my face…Is only coconut oil is best for reducing marks??
Yes, it is effective in removing acne scars but if your skin is oily is better to try different methods. You can find other methods mentioned in this article –
http://homeremediesforlife.com/acne-scars-1/.
I have to three black spots on my face can i use only coconut oil on black spots
Yes, you can use. You can also try remedies mentioned in this article – http://homeremediesforlife.com/brown-spots-on-skin/
Can coconut oil fade off scar from injury?
Yes, it can help. Apply a small amount of coconut oil on the scars and leave it to dry completely. Repeat the process daily for few times until you achieve the results.
Hello,
I’m recovering from an outbreak of Shingles on my forehead. It has left a deep dark red scar and I have been told to not put anything on it by Pharmacists but now my doctor suggested Aveeno – possibly for the oatmeal ingredient. I’m now worried that I should have kept the scar moisturised over the few weeks, when the scab came away. I have Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in my cupboard and wondered if I could use it to help reduce the deep scar I have. Would you suggest massaging it into the scar and leaving it overnight rather than as a facemask?
You can apply coconut oil to reduce the deep scar. Apply coconut oil and leave it overnight. Repeat the application daily to notice the improvement.
i have red spots as well as pimples that pops up frequently. are you sure, using coconut oil daily at night will reduce them? it wont lead to anymore pimples?
Yes, coconut oil application will help to reduce the pimples. If you have oily skin, avoid coconut oil application. Remember the method which works for me may not work for you and vice versa. So try different remedies for few days and find out which one works best for you. You can find more remedies in this article – http://homeremediesforlife.com/pimples/
Hi I get pimple and when it goes away it leave marks will coconut oil help to remove the marks away
and can i sleep over night with it
Yes, coconut oil will be helpful as it contains caprylic and capric acids which encourage new and healthy skin cell production. You can leave the application overnight.
hie,i have scars and dark marks on my legs .will coconut oil help.and how do i use it on my legs
Yes, coconut oil helps to lighten the scars and dark marks on the legs. Mix coconut oil and baking soda or sugar. Mix well and apply on the affected areas. Gently scrub for few minutes and leave it on for another few minutes. Rinse it off with water and pat dry. Repeat the process 3 times in a week.
can coconut oil and camphor also remove acne scars?
If I use lemon on my face and It caused dryness can coconut oil help to remove the dryness
Yes, it can. The fatty acids present in coconut oil moisturize the skin and regulate the production of skin’s natural sebum.
Can I use 100% pure eligible coconut oil?
Yes, you can.
I have used a skin lightning cream “Dreams Mild” ….near to my lip area the cream has resulted in a dark spot which is really not looking good,can i use coconut oil to reduce the spot ????
Yes, application of coconut oil helps to lighten the dark spot. Repeat the application daily once in the morning and again before going to bed daily until you achieve the results.
I started using coconut oil with a few drops.of lime 3days ago. I use it overnight.. My skin looks amazing. It has clear up the acne and the many dark spots are hardly visible anymore. My skin tone looks even… Soooo happpyyyy!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hello… is parachute coconut oil is okay for skin or not… if any other coconut oil is not available in the market.. so should I use parachute coconut oil or not…
Parachute coconut oil is not cold compressed oil and contains preservatives, don’t use it to remove acne scars. If organic cold compressed oil is not present in any local stores then you can purchase it in online stores like Amazon.
Is cold pressed coconut oil alright for removing acne scars too?
Yes, cold compressed coconut oil is effective for treating acne scars.
Coconut oil and aloevera which best for remove black spot on face
Choosing one among them is difficult as both are effective in reducing the appearance of acne scars. The best one for you depends on your skin type. If you have oily skin, then use aloe vera. It you have dry skin, then try coconut oil. If you have normal skin, choose any one among them as per your preference and try it regularly. If it doesn’t show any results in few weeks, try another one.
Can l use coconut oil on my face whilst l have eczema
Yes, you can apply coconut oil on your face whilst you have eczema. In fact coconut oil helps to treat eczema. For more information you can read this article – http://homeremediesforlife.com/coconut-oil-for-eczema/
I have used acne scar cream and applied overnight and it caused burnt skin…please suggest me remedy to lighten the scar
Try any remedy mentioned above in the article. Apart from that, exfoliate and moisturize the scars regularly.
For the baking soda scrub, ten minutes of massaging seems a long time. I’ll do it! But can times vary?
Yes, you can reduce the time as per your comfort. If ten minutes is too harsh then reduce it to 4 – 5 minutes or less depending on your skin sensitivity.
I have oily skin, and I used a remedy for acne spots before involving lemon juice and milk but a few days after I stopped the usage my skin became extremely worse than it was before…. I want to know if the coconut oil remedy will have the same effect and if I can stop the remedy once my skin is revived… plus can you please list the name of the best coconut oil products suitable
Topical treatments only provide relief from the present acne, they don’t prevent the new breakouts. If you want to prevent them then you can try the method mentioned in this article – http://homeremediesforlife.com/acne/ . While choosing coconut oil, check the label for organic and cold compressed. Any brand with these two specification is fine.
can use coconut and turmeric pest overnight
Yes, you can.
If the lauric acid in coconut oil has antiFUNGAL and antiVIRAL properties, how does it kill bacteria?
Lauric acid also has antibacterial properties so it is effective in killing bacteria causing acne.
hello pls I made my own coconut oil. hope it work as d ones sold in d market? I wanna use for d marks n scars I sustained on my legs as a child.
Yes, you can.
Hello,
can I use coconut oil only instead of virgin coconut oil?
thank you
If it is cold compressed and doesn’t contain any chemicals then you can use.
can I use only coconut oil without mixing it, but d coconut oil is natural it doesn’t have any chemical
Yes, you can apply only coconut oil without any application. Coconut oil alone is effective in treating acne scars.
My skin is oily . So only using coconut oil.is effective?
Yes, using only coconut oil is also effective in reducing the appearance of acne scars. If your skin is too oily, then you can try baking soda to reduce the oiliness and acne scars. You can find the remedies in this article – http://homeremediesforlife.com/baking-soda-for-acne-scars/
Can I use organic coconut oil to get rid of my acne scars?
Yes, organic coconut oil is effective in reducing the appearance of acne scars.
hey can i use coconut oil ,honey and aloe vera gel mixed together for a night will it work for me coz i have dark spots
Yes, you can use the mixture of coconut oil, honey and aloe vera to treat the dark spots. But make sure to repeat the process regularly to achieve the results.
I only have cooking coconut oil that remains a liquid .Can I use this for blemishes and raw acne on my face to help with infection? How do you know if it cold compressed?
Nope, don’t use cooking oil for treating raw acne and blemishes. Check the label of the coconut oil product to know if it cold compressed or not.
I have acne scars + pimples and black dots too all over my face. Please suggest me good oil with combination. (Coconut oil with baking soda/lemon/brown sugar).
You can try coconut oil with baking soda.
Thank you very much. Am very happy with the results, using the remedy for last 20 days, pimples seem to be gone. But acne scars, and black dots are left.
Kindly suggest treatment for that.
Im using coconut oil over night and after 1 week i got acne breakouts!!!!!it is normal???or I should stop using it????