How to Use Rosehip Oil for Acne?
Essential oils like rosehip oil come from plants in the family Rosaceae. It has a lot of different names, like rose oil, rosehip seed oil, and rose hip.
Rose oil is made by pressing rose petals, but rosehip oil is made by pressing the rose plant’s fruit and seeds. Even though the oils come from different parts of the plant, they have the same active ingredients and benefits.
Rosehip oil is full of vitamins and essential fatty acids that are good for the skin. Read on to find out how these properties may help treat acne and the scars the natural way.
How does it work?
Rosehips are a natural source of vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that can help with a lot of things, like uneven pigmentation and making collagen.
Vitamin C can help reduce inflammation caused by acne, and it also increases the production of collagen and elastin, which helps skin cells grow back. This could help reduce the look of acne scars and other places where the skin is too dark.
Fresh rose hips (yes, you can eat them) are the best way to get the most vitamin C from rose hips. During processing, a lot of the plant’s vitamin C is lost, so oils and supplements often have lab-made vitamin C added.
Rose hips have a lot of linoleic acid as well. This is a fatty acid with an omega-6 Older research suggests that people who get acne often have lower levels of linoleic acid, which changes the way the skin’s natural oil (sebum) is made.
The result is thick, sticky sebum that can block pores and cause skin to break out. Getting more linoleic acid may help you control how much sebum your skin makes, which could reduce the number of breakouts you get.
Rosehip oil also has a lot of vitamin A, which may make these benefits even stronger. People think that vitamin A cuts down on how much sebum your skin makes.
Which kinds of acne does it help?
Since rosehip oil is anti-inflammatory, it may work best on acne that is red and painful. Among these are:
- Papules
- Pustules
- Nodules
- Cysts
Even if your acne is not inflamed or your pores are clogged, you may still see improvements. Vitamin A and linoleic acid in the oil help control how much sebum is made, which can help stop blackheads and whiteheads from appearing.
Rosehip oil may also help scars look less noticeable. One study showed that linoleic acid can help lighten scars that are too dark. Rosehip could help if you have flat, dark scars from acne that aren’t raised.
Rosehip and other topical treatments for acne scars are not likely to help if the scars are deep. Rosehip oil, on the other hand, has been shown to help fade spots and scars.
More research is needed to fully figure out how rosehip oil affects acne scars, especially in comparison to hydroquinone and other well-known treatments.
How to Use It
Rosehip oil is sold over-the-counter (OTC) both on its own and as a part of other skin care products.
Depending on how bad your acne is, you can try it alone or with other acne-fighting ingredients you can buy over the counter or get from a doctor. Keep in mind that rosehip oil might not work well for acne that is moderate to severe.
Do a patch test first to make sure you aren’t allergic to rosehip oil before you put it on your face. Apply the product to a small, hidden part of your skin and wait 24 hours to see if you have any reaction.
To use pure rosehip oil as part of your daily skin care routine, do the following:
- Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face, then pat it dry.
- Apply rosehip oil all over your face and massage it in small circles until it’s completely absorbed.
- Use your favorite moisturizer.
- Continue your skin care routine.
You can use rosehip oil in the morning and at night. If you buy an over-the-counter acne treatment that has rosehip oil in it, use it only as directed on the label.
If your symptoms don’t get better after 6–8 weeks of using a topical treatment, talk to your dermatologist. They will be able to tell you if rosehip supplements taken by mouth would be better for your condition or if you should try something else.
Side Effects of Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil can have side effects for some people, like making their skin a little bit itchy. Most people, though, think it’s a safe product.
If you already use topical retinoids or products with a lot of vitamin C, you should be careful with rosehip oil because it has a lot of both. If you use too much of either, it can irritate your skin.
If you are allergic to roses or plants in the Rosaceae family, you shouldn’t use them.
People who take rosehip supplements might have more serious side effects, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, insomnia, stomach cramps, changes in vision, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn.
These people should not take rosehip oil supplements:
- Have problems with blood clotting or bleeding
- Are diabetic
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- They have a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
- They tend to form kidney stones.
- Have a blood disorder that is caused by iron, like anemia, hemochromatosis, or thalassemia.
- Have sickle cell anemia
- Are getting ready for surgery
Talk to your doctor if you take blood-thinning drugs (like warfarin, aspirin, etc.), vitamin C, iron (over-the-counter or prescribed), lithium, fluphenazine, or estrogens to treat any of the above conditions. You might not be able to use rosehip oil.
In Conclusion
Rosehip oil can be a good way to treat acne for many people, especially when it is mixed with other helpful ingredients that fight acne. It is a great treatment for mild forms of inflammatory acne and hyperpigmentation because it heals, reduces inflammation, and lightens the skin.
Rosehip oil has a lot of vitamins A and C, linoleic acid, and essential fatty acids, all of which can help nourish, hydrate, calm, and speed up the turnover of skin cells. It’s safe for most skin types, but people with sensitive skin should use it with care.
If your skin doesn’t respond well to topicals, taking a rosehip oil supplement might be a better way to treat your skin. But you should talk to your doctor before taking a supplement because there are health conditions and medications to think about.
HealthNip does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
