Scars are a common skincare concern, whether you’ve recently had a surgery or you’re just dealing with minor scrapes from daily life. Could an essential oil combined with a virgin plant oil help accelerate the healing and vascularization process? This is what two doctors sought to find out in an experimental study done in 2007.
Helichrysum + Rosehip Seed for Scars
Dr Voinchet (Plastic Surgeon) and Dr Giraud-Robert (General Practitioner), authors of the study, state that Helichrysum essential oil (also called Immortelle) combined with Rosehip virgin plant oil, would promote immediate post-operative outcomes by providing rapid and optimal scar development and maturation thanks to their vascular and healing support.
The objective of this study was:
To study the association of Helichrysum essential oil with Rosehip virgin plant oil, in local percutaneous application, during tissue remodeling and scar maturation. To observe the effectiveness on the characteristics of a young scar, on the risks of scar complications (scar hypertrophy and atrophy, keloids, pigmentation disorders) and on the improvement of scar quality at a distance from the intervention.
Experimentation
25 patients undergoing plastic and aesthetic surgery of the thorax benefited from an immediate postoperative protocol using Helichrysum essential oil generally and a delayed protocol (from three weeks to one month) using percutaneous application. The mixture of Helichrysum essential oil diluted to 10% in Rosehip virgin plant oil was applied by massage once a day on the scars, at the end of the first postoperative month and for a period of two to three months.
The study was based on a clinical assessment of the immediate postoperative period (clinical examination: quantification of edema, time to onset of bruise resorption). The Vancouver scale, assessing the degree of inflammation, pigmentation, degree of extensibility and thickness, as well as the vitropressure test, both allowed an accurate assessment of the remodeling and scar maturation phase.
Results
Very good adherence to treatment: 100% of patients scrupulously followed the established protocols.
Treatment efficacy: 95%.
50% reduction (in volume and resorption time) of local inflammation, edema, bruising and postoperative hematomas (usually very marked). The authors explain this by the activity of Helichrysum essential oil on the venous walls, and by the anti-ecchymotic and anti-hematoma properties it contains.
Reduction (in activity, intensity and duration) of complications of the remodeling and scar maturation phase.
Improvement of scar quality and reduction of the inflammatory phase.
No recurrence of pathological scars.
Conclusion
The authors conclude that Helichrysum essential oil and Rosehip virgin plant oil are among their treatments of choice in the immediate postoperative therapeutic arsenal, thanks to their effectiveness and good tolerance by patients.
NOTE: Oral use of Helichrysum essential oil (Immortelle) should only be done under the advice of a doctor or pharmacist, unlike cutaneous use.
References
Voinchet, V., and Giraud-Robert, AM (2007). Use of Italian helichrysum essential oil and rosehip vegetable oil after reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery. Phytotherapy, 5(2), 67-72.
Chavoin, JP (2009). Plastic and aesthetic surgery, Basic technique. Book from the collection: Collection Surgical techniques plastic and aesthetic surgery Publisher: ELSEVIER / MASSON.
Nedelec, B., Shankowsky, HA, and Tredget, EE (2000). Rating the resolving hypertrophic scar: comparison of the Vancouver Scar Scale and scar volume. Journal of Burn Care and Research, 21(3), 205-hyhen.
