Eczema Scars: 10 Effective Ways To Improve Their Appearance

About 31.6 million people in the US (17.1% of the total population) have some form of eczema. Surprisingly, most of these cases are undiagnosed and undertreated (1). Although eczema scars are uncommon, chronic and untreated eczema patches can thicken and cause dark patches on the elbows, wrists, ankles, and knees. Scratching these uncomfortable patches can also lead to a bacterial infection, resulting in complications, scars, and skin damage.

A cross-sectional study that was conducted to determine the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the population of the United States revealed an average prevalence percentage of 7.3%, as indicated by results from 1,278 participating adults. In terms of intensity of the disease, 60.1% had mild, 28.9% had moderate, and 11% had severe forms of the disease.

This article talks about how to treat eczema scars with efficient home treatments and techniques. Keep reading to find out more!

Can Eczema Leave Behind Scars?

Usually, eczema does not cause scarring. However, some complications may lead to scarring.

Eczema is an inflammatory condition that affects the epidermis (top layer of the skin). You may develop itchy, red patches and blisters during flare-ups. However, once the flare-up subsides with proper treatment, the epidermis can rebuild itself. This means your skin heals without any scars and marks.

However, eczematic patches can thicken if left undiagnosed and untreated, especially in body parts like your elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. Further scratching may also injure the skin and cause a bacterial infection that may affect the deeper skin layers. As a result, you may develop scars. You may also experience skin depigmentation on the injury site that may become darker than the surrounding skin and leave visible marks.

From environmental factors to underlying health issues – anything can trigger an eczema flare-up. Some common factors include:

• Extreme weather conditions
• Dust mites and mold
• Clothes made of wool, polyester, and nylon
• Pollen
• Household cleaners and laundry detergents
• Tobacco
• Chlorine in swimming pools
• Sun exposure
• Some ingredients or chemicals in skin care products

Proper diagnosis, treatment, and eczema management are the best ways to prevent complications. You can also follow the at-home remedies discussed below to manage eczema flare-ups and prevent scarring.

10 At-Home Remedies To Improve Eczema Scars

While dealing with eczema is a challenge in itself, the pigmented marks they leave behind can be equally troublesome. So if you have often wondered how to prevent scarring during flare-ups, the following list of home remedies can be your solution.

1. Oatmeal Bath

Colloidal oats contain compounds called avenanthramides, which are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Colloidal oats extract stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) to reduce skin dryness, redness, scaling, itching, and erythema caused by eczema (2).

You can boil rolled and powdered oats and massage the affected area with it. Alternatively, you can prepare a warm soak or oatmeal bath.

You Will Need

• 1-2 cups of powdered oatmeal

Method

1. Fill your bathtub with warm water.
2. Pour the powdered oats into the tub and stir well.
3. Soak in the oatmeal bath for 15-20 minutes.
4. Rinse it off with room temperature water.
5. Follow up with a medicated or prescription moisturizer.

Note:

Avoid oatmeal bath if you are allergic to gluten. Start with applying soaked oatmeal to a limited area like the upper arm to test for hypersensitivity.

2. Chamomile

Chamomile extract is used in topical creams to soothe eczema symptoms. It has similar effects as steroidal creams in calming eczema flare-ups (2).

You can prepare chamomile-infused oil to prevent eczema flare-ups and minimize scars.

You Will Need

• A cup of dried chamomile flowers
• 2 cups of sweet almond oil (you may use apricot kernel or cold-pressed sunflower oil)
• A glass jar

Method

1. Pour the dried flowers and oil into the glass jar.
2. Secure the lid, shake it well, and store it in a cool dark place (preferably a cupboard).
3. Leave it for 2-3 weeks. Shake the jar every few days.
4. Strain the oil and store it in a glass jar.
5. Massage the affected areas with the chamomile-infused oil.

Note:

Avoid using chamomile if you are allergic to daisies. Do a patch test before using the oil.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. It is used topically for wound healing, soothing inflamed skin, and psoriasisⁱ  A long-term skin condition that causes itchy skin, rashes, and scaly patches due to systemic inflammation. (2).

Aloe vera has hydrating properties and can minimize dryness and discomfort caused by eczema patches. It can soften the skin, accelerate wound healing, and reduce the chances of scarring while also minimizing old scars.

You Will Need

• 2-3 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel

Method

1. Blend the aloe vera gel.
2. Apply it to the affected area and leave it on overnight.
3. Rinse off the following day.

Use fresh gel scooped from an aloe leaf. If not available, use store-bought pure aloe vera gel. However, do a patch test to avoid allergic reactions.

A blogger shared that her eczema improved considerably and disappeared eventually after using aloe vera for three weeks. In the beginning, she experienced some itching and discomfort when applying the aloe but by the second week, her eczema was almost back to normal and disappeared by the third week. In her blog, she wrote, “The color around the area is almost back to normal and there’s no itchiness nor discomfort (i).”

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is hailed for its medicinal properties and is beneficial in both oral and topical forms. Fresh turmeric juice is used to soothe skin conditions like eczema, scabies, allergic reactions, shinglesⁱ  A viral infection with painful rashes caused when the chicken pox virus is reactivated in the body. , and chickenpox. It contains curcumin, a compound that has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties (2). It can soothe eczema symptoms, minimizing the chances of developing eczema scars, and combats hyperpigmentation.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of honey
• A pinch of turmeric powder or ½ teaspoon of raw turmeric paste

Method

1. Mix the two ingredients and apply to the affected area.
2. Leave it on for about 10-20 minutes.
3. Rinse off with warm water.

5. Manuka Honey

Honey is used in traditional Persian, Ayurvedic, and Quranic medicine for treating wounds, inflammation, eczema, and other skin issues. Medical-grade honey and Manuka honey are commonly used in clinical wound care practices around the globe. It has skin healing ability and has antimicrobial properties.

There is not enough evidence to prove its efficacy in soothing eczema. However, it exerts emollientⁱ  Moisturizing property that helps smoothen the skin by forming a protective film on the skin. , humectant, and skin-soothing effects, which may help minimize the discomfort caused by eczema symptoms and prevent scarring (3).

You Will Need

• 2-3 teaspoons of pure Manuka honey

Method

1. Massage the honey directly onto the affected areas for 2-3 minutes.
2. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
3. Rinse with warm water.

Note:

Avoid using honey if you are allergic to pollen.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

There are no studies to prove the beneficial effects of ACV for eczema management.

It does not have any significant impact on the skin barrier integrity (4). However, diluted ACV is widely used as a DIY remedy to soothe eczema flare-ups. While this is not a recommended method and may even cause minor side effects like itching, follow the recipe if you want to give it a try.

You Will Need

• 2-3 tablespoons of pure ACV (with mother)
• 2-3 tablespoons of water
• Cotton or gauze wraps

Method

1. Dilute the ACV with water.
2. Soak the cotton wrap in the solution.
3. Apply the dressing to the affected area.
4. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wash it off.

7. Cocoa Butter

The FDA recognizes pure cocoa butter to have skin-protecting properties (5). While no scientific proof demonstrates cocoa butter’s efficacy in relieving eczema-related symptoms, it can be used as an emollientⁱ  Moisturizing property that helps smoothen the skin by forming a protective film on the skin. to keep the area moisturized and prevent scarring.

You Will Need

• 1-2 tablespoons of pure cocoa butter

Method

1. Massage the affected area with cocoa butter.
2. Leave it on overnight.
3. Rinse off the next day.
4. Use it every day as a moisturizer.

8. Hempseed Oil

Dietary hempseed oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can improve the clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis. It contains essential fatty acids (EFAs) like linoleic, alpha-linoleic, and gamma-linoleic acids. It can relieve symptoms like dryness and itchiness and improve skin moisture levels. These properties may also help soothe eczema discomfort, relieve itching and prevent scarring (6), (7). You can use hempseed oil topically and orally.

You Will Need

• 1-2 tablespoons of hempseed oil
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (or any other carrier oil)

Method

1. Mix the two oils and massage the affected area with the mixture.
2. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes (or overnight).
3. Wash off afterward.

9. Shea Butter

Shea butter contains vitamins A and E and works well as an emollientⁱ  Moisturizing property that helps smoothen the skin by forming a protective film on the skin. and skin moisturizer (8). It may help keep the affected area moisturized, reduce itching and dryness, and prevent the chances of developing eczema scars. Shea butter is widely used in skin lotions and creams for its hydrating and skin-softening properties.

You Will Need

• ½ cup of shea butter
• ½ cup of vegetable oil (coconut, safflower, almond, or avocado oils)
• A glass jar

Method

1. Melt the shea butter.
2. Mix the oil in it and whip the mixture with a hand blender.
3. Store the whipped cream in the glass jar and refrigerate.
4. Use it as a moisturizer and apply it to the affected area regularly.

10. Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil is highly beneficial in soothing eczematic skin conditions (like atopic dermatitis). It reduces skin dryness by preventing trans-epidermal water lossⁱ  The loss of water from the skin layer of an animal or plant to the external environment, where it evaporates. (TEWL), relieving symptoms like flaking and itchiness (9).

You Will Need

• 1 cup of virgin coconut oil
• 2-3 drops of any essential oil (optional)
• Glass jar

Method

1. Whip the coconut oil with an electric blender until it turns creamy.
2. Mix the essential oil (for fragrance) if using.
3. Store it in the glass jar and use it regularly as a moisturizer.

You can use these remedies to manage eczema symptoms at home. However, do a patch test before using them. If these do not work, you may also opt for other clinical treatment options. We have discussed them in the next section.

Treatment For Eczema Scars

The first line of treatment for eczema scars is preventing them from aggravating. This is where doctors generally prescribe topical corticosteroids (10). Additionally, you should avoid scratching these scars to prevent them from darkening. You should also keep your skin moisturized to strengthen its barrier function and reduce dryness and irritation that may lead to itching (11). Moisturize your skin immediately after a bath when it is still damp to help lock in moisture more effectively. Your doctor may prescribe sedating antihistamines in case you experience severe itching that hinders your sleep (10).

But if you still develop scars despite all these measures, your dermatologist may recommend topical retinoids. These help promote collagen production and skin cell turnover to reduce scarring and pigmentation (12). You may also opt for clinical procedures like laser therapy and chemical peels.

However, remember that not all kinds of scars need clinical treatments. A dermatologist can recommend the most suitable options depending on the severity of your eczema scars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will skin discoloration from eczema go away?

Yes, skin discoloration from eczema can go away. However, it takes approximately 6-8 months for it to fade away completely. For some people, it may even take up to a year.

Why does eczema leave white patches?

Eczema causes white patches as the affected skin is irritated and forms a patch that is lighter in pigment than the surrounding skin.

Is Vaseline good for eczema?

Yes, Vaseline is good for eczema. It has soothing and moisturizing properties that help manage irritation, redness, and discomfort.

Illustration: Eczema Scars: 10 Effective Ways To Improve Their Appearance

Learn how to remove eczema scars in this easy-to-follow process! Watch the video below to get rid of pesky scars and restore your skin’s natural beauty.