After the disappearance of acne blemishes, it sometimes happens that they leave behind scars, which can be more or less deep. Often difficult to eliminate, these scars can be discouraging, constantly reminding one of the acne outbreak they thought they had overcome. Besides aesthetic treatments, could castor oil help to fade them? Let's discover this together.
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Castor oil to help reduce acne scars?
Summary
Published August 30, 2024,
updated on October 4, 2024,
by
Pauline, Head of Scientific Communication
—
5 min read
The effects of castor oil on acne scars?
Different from acne marks that gradually fade over a few months, acne scars persist at least a year after the disappearance of pimples and are more difficult to eliminate. If they are not treated, it is not uncommon for acne scars to remain for life. There are two types of acne scars: atrophic scars, which have a hollowed-out appearance in the skin and appear when the connective tissue of healing is synthesized insufficiently, and hypertrophic scars, slightly swollen and resulting from an overproduction of collagen. Regardless of their type, acne scars are characterized by their voluminous appearance.
Currently, there is no scientific evidence that castor oil can help to diminish acne scars.
Furthermore, very few studies have focused on the potential healing properties of castor oil. However, we can mention an experiment recently conducted by MANDA and his team. They studied the healing effects of a formulation based on ascorbic acid (0.5%), gum tragacanth (6%), and castor oil (25%) on murine models. After making three slight cuts (≈ 20 mm2) on each rat, the researchers applied the formulation containing castor oil to the first area twice a day for nine days, a cream based on povidone iodine (positive control), known for its proven healing properties, to the second area, and did not treat the third cut (negative control). The results obtained after nine days are summarized in the table below.
| Treatment | Wound Surface | Percentage of Wound Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Formulation with Castor Oil | ≈ 0.4 mm2 | 98 % |
| Formulation with Povidone-Iodine | ≈ 0.003 square inches | 89 % |
| No treatment | ≈ 4 mm2 | 80 % |
Évaluation de l'effet cicatrisant d'une crème à base d'huile de ricin.
Source : MANDA K. & al. Evaluation of wound healing potential of ascorbic acid, castor oil, and gum tragacanth formulation in murine excisional wound model. Pharmacognosy Magazine (2020).
While the formulation studied appears to have had some healing effect, it is important to note that this experiment was conducted on rats, making it difficult to extrapolate these results to humans. Additionally, the applied cream contained not only castor oil but also ascorbic acid, known for stimulating the activity of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for the production of scar tissue, as well as its effects on angiogenesis. However, it is still possible to suppose that the castor oil present in the formulation helped to keep the wound hydrated, a crucial element for healing. Indeed, studies have shown that epithelial cells need moisture to migrate to the wound surface and close it. The castor oil could thus assist in healing by retaining moisture. On the other hand, there is no evidence to suggest that it could have an effect on already formed scars.
The key takeaway:
While it can be tentatively assumed that castor oil may promote the healing process due to its moisturizing action, there is no evidence of its effect on the scars themselves, whether they are caused by acne or not. In this context, it is impossible to conclude that castor oil can help reduce acne scars.
Sources
FABBROCINI G. & al. Acne Scars: Pathogenesis, Classification and Treatment. Dermatology Research and Practice (2010).
MEDRADO A. R. A. P. & al. Wound healing - A literature review. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia (2016).
MANDA K. & al. Evaluation of wound healing potential of ascorbic acid, castor oil, and gum tragacanth formulation in murine excisional wound model. Pharmacognosy Magazine (2020).
JOGPAL B. & al. Medicinal Properties of Ricinus Communis: A Review. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (2021).
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