How to Remove Scars on Legs

Use vitamin E oil. Vitamin E has been used for many years in many health and beauty treatments, and many people claim that it is very effective in treating scars. Vitamin E oil is moisturizing and contains powerful antioxidants that help repair skin and repair damaged tissues.

• You can take vitamin E tablets or apply vitamin E oil by breaking a vitamin E capsule with a pin and applying the oil to the affected area. ^[2]
• You may need to test a small amount before applying it to a large area of skin, as vitamin E oil can cause such an allergic reaction in some people as to warrant a visit to a dermatologist. ^[3]
• Be careful not to exceed the recommended daily dose of vitamin E oil, whether you’re applying it topically or taking it by mouth.

Try cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is a natural product that can fade scars by moisturizing and softening the outermost and middle layers of the skin, while smoothing the surface of the skin. You can use pure cocoa or use a lotion containing cocoa butter applied to the scarred area 2-4 times per day. ^[4]

• It is recommended to massage cocoa butter into the skin using a circular motion, making sure the cocoa butter is completely absorbed into the skin.
• Note that cocoa butter is more effective for new scars than for old scars, but you should still see an improvement in both types of scars.

Apply lemon juice. Lemon juice is the most commonly used home remedy for scars, despite mixed reviews. It is believed that lemon juice can fade scars thanks to its bleaching effect to help reduce redness, and at the same time, it has a peeling effect to help regenerate the skin. Although lemon juice helps some people fade scars, this method is not recommended by dermatologists, because lemon juice can be harsh and drying on the skin, and it is not scientifically proven. It has scar removal effect. ^[5]

• If you still decide to use lemon juice to fade scars, cut a small piece of lemon and squeeze it directly on the scars. Let the lemon juice stay on your skin overnight or for hours. Do not apply fresh lemon juice more than once per day.
• If pure lemon juice seems too strong, you can dilute it with water before applying to the skin, or mix it with grated cucumber to reduce the strength of this remedy.

Use aloe. Aloe vera is a plant known for its moisturizing and soothing effects. Aloe vera is often used to treat burns, but it can also be used as a natural and effective scar treatment. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, so it works best when treating new scars (although it shouldn’t be applied to open wounds). Aloe soothes and regenerates the skin, so scars also fade over time. ^[6]

• Break a branch of aloe vera and take the clear gel like tree sap and apply it directly to the scarred skin. Massage the gel into the skin with a circular motion. Aloe vera is very gentle on the skin, so you can apply it up to 4 times a day.
• If an aloe plant isn’t available (although it’s available in most nurseries), there are many creams and lotions that contain aloe extract, which are equally effective.

Try olive oil. Olive oil is another natural remedy that can improve scars. In particular, extra virgin olive oil is said to provide the best results due to its higher acidity than other olive oils and higher amounts of vitamins E and K. ^[7] Olive oil softens and moisturizes the skin, slows the growth of scar tissue, and the acid in the oil helps slough off dead skin.

• Apply a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil to the scarred area and massage in a circular motion until the oil is absorbed into the skin. You can use olive oil to exfoliate your skin by mixing it with a teaspoon of baking soda and massaging it onto the scars, then rinsing it off with warm water.
• You can increase the effectiveness of this therapy by mixing it with another oil. Combine 2 parts olive oil with 1 part rosehip, chamomile or calendula oil and apply the mixture on the scars. Additional oils will enhance the soothing effects of olive oil.

Try cucumbers. Cucumber is a natural remedy that is said to dissolve scar tissue, while cooling and soothing the inflamed skin around the scar. As with the above remedies, cucumber works best when treating new scars. Peel a cucumber, cut it into chunks and put it in a blender to make a smooth paste. Apply a thin layer to the scarred area and leave it overnight, or apply a thick layer and wash off after 20 minutes. ^[8]

• The rest of the grated cucumber can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for several days, and you should continue to apply the cucumber to the scarred area every night.
• You can increase the effectiveness of this therapy by mixing grated cucumber with some of the remedies described above such as lemon juice, olive oil or aloe vera.

Try a scar-fading cream or gel. There are many over-the-counter products sold in pharmacies that claim to fade or even remove scars. Whether these products work for you depends on the type of scar and how severe it is.

• Although medical professionals are not optimistic about the success rates of these creams ^[9] , many people still find products like Mederma and Vita-K to be effective.
• Mederma works well for stretch marks and other types of scars if used regularly 3-4 times daily for 6 months. It has the effect of softening and smoothing the scars on the legs or any other skin on the body. ^[10]

Use silicone scar patches. Silicone scar patches are a great new way to treat scars, especially for ugly scars. This is a self-adhesive silicone pad, so it will stick to the skin, while the silicone technology works to provide moisture, soften and fade scars. You can buy silicone scar patches over-the-counter at pharmacies or online, and each box usually provides an 8-12 week supply of patches.

• Silicone patches have been shown to effectively treat scars, but it also requires time and patience to see visible results. The patch will wear away the scar daily, 12 hours a day, for a period of 2-3 months. ^[11]

Try bleaching cream. Bleaching creams, such as those containing hydroquinone, work to fade scars such as stretch marks and dark spots by improving the hyperpigmentation that causes dark brown scars. , black, magenta or purple. These creams work to lighten the color of scars, so they will fade over time.

• Note that hydroquinone-based creams, while effective, are banned in the European Union because of their potential carcinogenicity and increased risk of skin cancer. ^[12]
• Hydroquinone products are still available in the US in up to 2% strength. Products with higher concentrations require a prescription.

Try the abrasive method. Dermabrasion is a method of peeling away dead skin, using a rotating metal brush or diamond grinding head to remove the outer layer of skin above and around the scar. Within a few weeks of treatment, new skin will grow back and scars will fade. Dermabrasion is usually used for acne scars and other scars on the face, but can also be used to treat scars on the legs with a good surgeon. Foot dermabrasion is a delicate procedure because the skin on the feet is very thin and risks more harm than good if done incorrectly. ^[13]

• Dermabrasion on the legs is usually only applied to dark spots or concave scars caused by mosquito bites, etc. Keloid or hypertrophic scars (floating scars) should not be applied.
• Make an appointment with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is able to assess your scarring and determine if dermabrasion is right for you. Note that insurance usually does not cover cosmetic surgery.

Chemical peels. Chemical peels can be used to treat superficial scars, and are especially effective for scars on the legs caused by hyperpigmentation. During a chemical peel, your dermatologist will apply an acidic solution to the scar and leave it on for about 2 minutes. You will feel a burning sensation but it will go away when the acid is neutralized and the solution is washed off. Two weeks after the treatment, the top layers of skin will begin to peel off, revealing new, smooth skin underneath. ^[14]

• Depending on the condition of your scar, it may take several sessions of a chemical peel before you see a noticeable difference in your skin.
• Note, the new layer of skin after chemical peeling will be extremely sensitive; you must protect by staying out of the sun and using a high SPF sunscreen for many weeks afterward.

Try laser therapy. Laser therapy is a great option for improving scars that are deeper than those that can be treated with chemical peels and dermabrasion. Laser therapy works by burning scar tissue, allowing new skin to grow and replace the scarred surface. The skin will be numbed with a special cream before the procedure begins, so this treatment is painless. Another advantage of this therapy is that the laser can target the scar precisely, leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. ^[15]

• Laser therapy should only be performed in a reputable hospital and with carefully trained staff, as lasers can be dangerous if used incorrectly.
• You may need to return to the hospital for a multi-session treatment to get rid of the scar completely. The disadvantage of this therapy is that it is quite expensive, costing from several million to hundreds of millions of dong, depending on the size and depth of the scar.

Steroid injections. Steroid injection therapy is used in the treatment of keloids, which are notoriously difficult to treat. With small keloids, steroid injections with substances such as hydrocortisone are injected directly into the skin around the scar. Larger keloids are sometimes cut and frozen prior to steroid injections. ^[16]

• Steroid injection therapy is more of a process than a one-time procedure, and you need to go back to the hospital every two to three weeks for the injections.
• This therapy has a high success rate, but is relatively expensive and can discolor the skin if the patient has dark skin. Consult a plastic surgeon to determine if this therapy is right for you. ^[17]