12 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Keloids + Causes + Symptoms

Written by Shaheen Naser
12 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Keloids + Causes + Symptoms

Keloids are large thick scars that don’t stop growing and keep getting larger with time. Moreover, they might seem quite unsightly. If you are looking for ways to get rid of keloids, we have got you covered. These benign fibrous tumors of the skin are usually irregularly shaped, pink, have a smooth appearance, and keep increasing in size (1), (2). Hence, you may want to get rid of them naturally.

While the home remedies listed below may not help treat keloids completely, they may help you deal with the symptoms better. Continue reading to know more.

How To Get Rid Of Keloids

  1. Apple Cider Vinegar
  2. Aspirin
  3. Lemon Juice
  4. Baking Soda
  5. Sandalwood And Rose Water
  6. Garlic
  7. Grapefruit Seed Extract
  8. Honey
  9. Aloe Vera Gel
  10. Petroleum Jelly
  11. Onion Juice
  12. Honey

Home Remedies For Keloids Removal

1. Apple Cider Vinegar For Keloids

Apple cider is a chemical exfoliant and astringent. It may help in minimizing the redness and size of the scar (3).

You Will Need
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Water
What You Have To Do
  1. Dilute ACV with an equal amount of water.
  2. Apply the mixture to the keloid and leave it on for 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice daily for 4-5 weeks.

2. Aspirin For Keloids

Topical aspirin is very useful in treating keloids. Its anti-inflammatory and exfoliating properties prove beneficial in this case (4). However, it should be used under a physicians’s guidance.

You Will Need
  • 3-4 aspirin tablets
  • Water
What You Have To Do
  1. Make a smooth, thick paste of crushed aspirin tablets with water.
  2. Clean the scars, apply this paste, and let it dry.
  3. Wash it off and then apply moisturizer.
How Often You Should Do This

Apply this once every day or every alternate day.

3. Lemon Juice For Keloids

Lemon is rich in vitamin C and works as an excellent antioxidant in quick healing of the keloid scar. Within a few weeks of application, you will notice changes in the flexibility, texture, and color of the skin (5).

You Will Need

Lemon juice

What You Have To Do
  1. Apply lemon juice directly on the affected area and leave it on for 30 minutes.
  2. Wash the area with warm water.
How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2 times daily.

4. Baking Soda For Keloids

Baking soda is an abrasive agent that may help in exfoliating and keeping the skin clean. It also soothes the irritated skin and reduces any swelling (6), (7). However, there is no scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness in treating keloids.

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 teaspoons 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a smooth paste.
  2. Apply this paste to the affected area using a cotton ball and leave it on for 20 minutes.
  3. Rinse it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2 times daily

5. Sandalwood And Rose Water For Keloids

Sandalwood is known for its skin regenerating property, and rose water has anti-inflammatory properties and is a skin toner (8), (9). These properties may help treat keloids.

You Will Need
  • 1-2 teaspoons sandalwood powder
  • Rose water
What You Have To Do
  1. Make a thick paste of sandalwood in rose water and apply it to the affected area before you go to bed.
  2. Leave it on overnight.
  3. Wash it off the next morning with warm water.
How Often You Should Do This

Do this every night.

6. Garlic

Garlic prevents excess fibroblast proliferation that is mainly responsible for the enlargement of keloid scars. It also improves blood circulation to the area, and this helps in fastening the healing process of the keloid (10).

You Will Need

1-2 garlic cloves

What You Have To Do
  1. Apply crushed garlic cloves on the scars and leave it for 15 minutes.
  2. Wash the area later with lukewarm water.

You can also use garlic oil instead of fresh garlic cloves.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every day, preferably 2 times a day.

7. Grapefruit Seed Extract For Keloids

Grapefruit seed extract contains antioxidants, vitamin C, and phytochemical compounds that help reduce scars (11). This may help reduce the size of the keloids.

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 2-3 drops grapefruit seed extract
  • Q-tip
What You Have To Do
  1. Dilute the grapefruit seed extract in water.
  2. Dip the Q-tip in this mixture and apply it to the keloid.
  3. Leave it on for as long as possible.
How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 times a day.

8. Honey For Keloids

Honey prevents dead cells from accumulating in the affected area, enhances blood circulation, and speeds up the healing process (12). Tualang honey, in particular, is very effective in reducing keloids (13).

You Will Need

Honey

What You Have To Do
  1. Apply fresh honey directly to your scars.
  2. Massage gently and leave it on for 30-40 minutes.
  3. Rinse with water.
How Often You Should Do This

You can apply honey 2 times daily.

9. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help in healing keloids (14). It also reduces soreness and inflammation and has wound healing properties (15).

You Will Need

An aloe leaf

What You Have To Do
  1. Cut open the leaf and extract the gel.
  2. Clean the affected area with lukewarm water and apply the aloe vera gel.
  3. Leave it for about 30 minutes before rinsing it off. You can also leave it on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This

Apply aloe vera gel 2 times a day.

10. Petroleum Jelly

A simple way to reduce keloid scars is to keep the area moisturized and hydrated at all times. Petroleum jelly, being an occlusive agent, traps the moisture and helps in reducing the scars (16). However, there is no scientific evidence to prove this effect.

You Will Need

Petroleum jelly

What You Have To Do

Clean the area and massage it with petroleum jelly.

How Often You Should Do This

Reapply the jelly 3-4 times in a day.

11. Onion Juice

The effectiveness of onion in reducing keloid and hypertrophic scars was tested a few years back. It was shown that the appearance of the scars improved to a great deal with this treatment. Onion juice or onion extract used multiple mechanisms to heal scars in a short period (17).

You Will Need
  • 1 white onion
  • A cheesecloth
  • Cotton
What You Have To Do
  1. Chop the onion, place it in a cheesecloth, and squeeze out the onion juice.
  2. Apply this on the keloid scar with the cotton. There is no need to rinse it off.
How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 3-4 times in a day.

12. Oils To Treat Keloids

There are multiple combinations of oils that may work in fading away keloid scars. Fish oil and mineral oil, in particular, help treat keloids (18).Some essential oils possess skin regenerating and healing properties, along with antioxidants, to aid the carrier oil in healing the keloids.

You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
  • A few drops of rosehip seed oil

OR

  • 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
  • Few drops of tea tree essential oil
  • 1-2 drops neem oil (optional)

OR

A few drops of Jamaican black castor oil

OR

A few drops of frankincense essential oil

What You Have To Do

Apply a blend of the oils mentioned to the affected area and massage gently.

How Often You Should Do This

You can repeat this remedy several times every day for better results.

Prevention Tips

  1. Avoid body piercings, tattoos, and other cosmetic skin surgeries as there are more chances of keloids developing after these procedures.
  2. Treat skin scars immediately rather than leaving them to heal on their own.
  3. Cover a new wound with petroleum jelly and a nonstick bandage. Ensure that there is even pressure on the wound.

Keloids are thick, raised scars on the skin that may grow bigger with time. While keloids are benign, you may choose to get rid of them for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons. Effective and simple home remedies to reduce the appearance of keloid scars include using apple cider vinegar, grapefruit seed extract, honey, aloe vera gel, garlic, baking soda, or lemon. To prevent the formation of keloids, tend to a wound as soon as it starts healing by keeping it moisturized and evenly pressed. You need to follow the remedies for keloids diligently and regularly as keloids can be stubborn and take a while to disappear or fade in appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Keloid Scars Contagious?

A keloid scar is not contagious at all. It is the result of skin injury that you have suffered personally and will spread with contact.

Are keloids dangerous?

No, they are not dangerous. They mostly develop at a site of a previous skin injury and can be treated easily.

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.
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