How to Lighten Eczema Scars and Prevent Further Skin Aging? [AskSkinshareSG]

During one of my eczema flareups, I scratch until my skin bleeds, because feeling pain is better than feeling itchy.

But as a result, my skin is torn and damaged, and eczema scars will form the next day from the dried blood.

I know that these scars are not as permanent as a surgery or an actual wound, but they look terrible all the same.

For one, after my skin heals from intense itching and scratching, that area looks darker. This is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and it can look similar to scars.

Or, the opposite happens, and that area of skin loses its pigment, resulting in lighter patches. This is as post-inflammatory hypopigmentation. Like hyperpigmentation, this can also be mistaken for scarring.

Another side effect of the scratching is lichenification. This is where the skin becomes thickened, rough, and leathery.

Now imagine the scratching happening night after night. Every night, I am opening myself up to secondary infections, even more scratch marks, and continuous skin damage that doesn’t get a chance to heal.

After the flareup ends (hopefully!), I am left with scarred skin that looks darker (or lighter) than other areas, with wrinkles and dry skin. It’s frustrating and unpleasant to look at, despite my eczema having calmed down.

After the flareup ends, I am left with scarred skin that looks darker (or lighter) than other areas, with wrinkles and dry skin. It’s frustrating and unpleasant to look at, despite my eczema having calmed down.

How to naturally improve eczema scars?

The first thing that people might think of when removing scars is to go for laser treatment, but those are more for surgical scars. For eczema scars, there are more natural, less invasive ways to help make them less noticeable. One of these treatments is emu oil.

Emu oil is a natural oil derived from the fat of the emu, a flightless bird native to Australia, and has long been used for various skincare and medicinal purposes, including eczema scars.

How does emu oil help reduce the appearance of scars? Some reasons could be:

Moisturisation: Emu oil is highly moisturising and easily absorbed by the skin. Keeping the scar tissue well-hydrated can help soften the scar and make it less noticeable over time. Moisturising also helps reduce itching and discomfort associated with scars.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Emu oil contains compounds with potential anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is a natural part of the wound healing process, but excessive inflammation can lead to more pronounced scarring. By reducing inflammation, emu oil may help minimise scar tissue formation.
Antioxidant Effects: Emu oil contains antioxidants, such as vitamins A and E, which can help minimise scarring and protect the skin from free radical damage. By protecting these structural components, emu oil may aid in scar healing and minimise their appearance.
Omega Fatty Acids: Emu oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are important for skin health. These fatty acids help maintain the skin’s barrier function and may contribute to overall skin repair and regeneration.
Penetration Enhancement: Some studies suggest that emu oil may enhance the penetration of other topical treatments or medications when applied together. This can be beneficial if you are using other scar-reducing products in conjunction with emu oil.

Above: Before after photo of eczema scars

Tips on applying emu oil on scars

Your results may vary when using emu oil for eczema scars. To get the most benefits, take note of the following:

Before starting, test by applying emu oil on a small area of skin first, to ensure you don’t have any allergic reactions or adverse effects
Once you are confident that emu oil won’t give you a bad reaction, you should apply emu oil consistently to the scarred area, even after the wound has fully healed
Be patient, as scar improvement can take several weeks or even months to become noticeable

Above: Scars on back of hand, cleared up after a few weeks with regular emu oil application

Frequently-Asked Questions

These are the most common concerns I get through chatting with my customers. I hope it helps to understand how emu oil can work for your scars.

How often do I apply emu oil on my scars?

You can apply it twice to three times a day for a few weeks to notice any improvement. Apply after cleansing your skin.

How much emu oil do I need to apply? I am worried that it will be too oily

You only need to apply a thin layer of emu oil at any time. Pump a pea size amount on your palm and use your finger tip to lightly massage a bit of oil on the area. Emu oil mimics most closely to the human skin, thus it is highly-penetrating. And because it absorbs better than other oils, it will quickly feel less oily as you massage.

Can the emu oil make my scar completely disappear?

Everybody’s natural skin healing process is different. It depends on age, lifestyle and environment. Emu oil can help to lighten dark scars and nourish it to allow natural healing process for the skin. It may help to lighten skin pigmentation and smoothen wrinkles. Some customers have reported lightening of the scar until it is hardly noticeable. Others have noticed the scars smoothening over time.

Does emu oil help with wrinkles? I have wrinkled, “elephant-skin” like texture on parts where I scratched a lot.

Emu oil can help slow down wrinkle formation and other aspects of the aging process. It contains Vitamin K – which has been known to prevent wrinkles. The emu oil also acted as an emollient to lock in moisture under the skin, thus preventing the skin to dry out further.

What about eye wrinkles due to aging and lack of sleep, can emu oil help?

Emu oil can help with wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes. Apply a pea-size amount on palm and use pinky or ring finger, and pat around the entire eye area, blending inward from the outer corner. Repeat daily at night as an eye serum.

Right thigh during topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) flare-up. After: scars hardly noticeable, and pigmentation evened out

Pure Australian Emu Oil by Y-Not Natural

One of the leading brands of emu oil, Y-Not Natural is processed at a pharmaceutical rendering plant registered with the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) and HACCP Australia Food Safety Accreditation.

It is the only Emu oil company in the world that has direct access to testing Emu oil for biological activity. In this facility, the emu oil is steam infused with 0.02% eucalyptus which is known for its antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic properties.