Acne is possibly the most common skin condition that exists. More so, it comes with the highest number of products in the skincare market.

Due to this, you are likely asking yourself what is the best acne remedy to use? Well, the truth is, the options are so many and too varied that it can be hard to know which one to choose.

That being said, carrot oil has become one of the most popular choices for acne treatment. So, if you want to know how to incorporate carrot oil into acne skincare routine we are here to help. This article will detail all the many benefits of carrot oil for acne-prone skin.  But first, let’s take a look at what exactly is acne?

10 benefits of carrot oil for acne prone skin

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio

What is Acne? 

Most people are willing to try just about any product that claims to fight acne. But it’s essential first to know what exactly acne is and what causes it. Identifying the causes will help you to know if a particular product or treatment is right for acne or not. It will also help you to minimize acne breakouts in the first place. 

So, what exactly is acne? Well, acne is a skin condition that develops when the hair follicles become repeatedly plugged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. It can affect people of all age groups, but it tends to be most common in teenagers. In fact, for most teenagers, acne is a normal part of the growing up process. 

However, for adult women, hormones are a significant player when it comes to causing acne. That’s why you’ll find that flare-ups are typical in women before and during their monthly menstruation. The same thing happens when they are pregnant. Altogether, the common factor here is that there are many hormonal changes taking place. No doubt, because of the frequent hormonal changes in women, they are known to experience acne more than twice as much as men and extended periods. That’s why adult acne is more prevalent in women than in men. 

So, now that we have ascertained what exactly acne is, let’s jump straight into the different types of acne. This will help us better understand why the properties of carrot oil are so good for acne-prone skin.

Different Types of Acne

Let’s now go into further detail on the different types of acne.

Whiteheads: This type of acne is caused by closed clogged pores.

Blackheads: These are the opposite of whiteheads. The pores are clogged, but they open up unto the skin. The blackish or brownish colour occurs when the oil and dead skin cells in the plugged pores contact air and sunlight.

Papules: These are small and tender red bumps.

Pimples: These are just like papules, only that they have pus at the tips.

Nodules: These are large solid lumps beneath the skin.

Cystic lesions: These are are painful lumps beneath the skin, which also contain pus. 

What is Carrot Oil?

For starters, we need to distinguish carrot oil and carrot seed oil. Let’s start with carrot seed oil. It’s an essential oil that comes from the seed of the Daucus Carota plant. The plant is sometimes called wild carrot, or more popularly, Queen Anne’s lace. The oil from the seeds is derived through a process of steam distillation. Carrot oil, or carrot carrier oil, is obtained by a different process.

Fresh roots of the carrot plant are grated and boiled in olive oil or coconut oil. Both oils have similar benefits, but it’s vital not to muddle them up because they come in handy in different ways. For instance, carrot essential oil is quite concentrated, and as such, you need to mix it with a carrier oil – you should also not apply it directly to skin or hair. Carrot oil, on the other hand, can be used directly on the body. 

Carrot Oil for Acne-Prone Skin: Why it Works

The amazing benefits of carrot oil for the body are quite a recent discovery. Since then, so many companies have begun to incorporate carrot oil into their products. Carrot oil is the ideal skin oil for people who suffer from acne. Considering that there are already so many products and oils which claim to deal with acne, you might be wondering what makes carrot oil unique and why you should start using it for your acne-prone skin.

Before I jump into the benefits of carrot oil for acne-prone skin, here’s a summary about carrot oil and the many other ways that it helps your body. 

Carrot oil is famous for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Because of this, it is a viable treatment option for skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, rashes, and swellings. Apart from this, carrot oil contains antioxidants that are suitable for detoxifying the body.

Carrot oil is also one of the best oils to use for your hair as it contains vitamins A and E. The combination of these oils will help your hair to grow and also prevent hair loss. Additionally, carrot oil does an excellent job of moisturizing and hydrating the scalp and also serves as a protective covering on the hair to seal in moisture. 

More importantly, carrot oil has numerous benefits to the skin in general. It doesn’t just moisturize the surface, but it also heals and rejuvenates the skin. Because of its rich earthy fragrance, carrot oil is used in many aromatherapy products to relieve stress and anxiety. It also features strongly in some perfumes. 

Benefits of Carrot Oil for Acne Prone Skin

carrot oil for acne prone skin

Image credit: Christin Hume

1. Does Carrot Oil Get Rid of Bacteria?

It’s common knowledge that acne often occurs when bacteria find their way into the pores and clog them. If bacteria cause your acne, then the only way to solve it is to eliminate the bacteria. Several facial soaps and cleansers are anti-bacterial, but many are also too harsh on facial skin. This can end up causing more harm than good. Fortunately, using carrot oil is an effective and safe way to get rid of acne-causing bacteria. The oil kills bacteria without being harsh on your skin. 

2. Carrot Oil Contains Antioxidants 

Carrot oil contains several antioxidants. Apart from helping the body internally, these antioxidants are suitable for the skin when applied topically. They protect the skin from the sun and harmful UV rays. You can apply a small amount of carrot oil to your skin before you step outside. 

3. It Moisturizes the Skin

Carrot oil is an excellent source of moisture and hydration for the skin. Of course, it’s not the only oil that you can use on your face. But the problem with most oils is that they can clog the pores. More so, some oils work just fine for other parts of the body but not for the face.

Many people make the terrible mistake of using the wrong products on their face, and end up having to pay for it with an acne breakout. The great thing about carrot oil is that it is lightweight. That means that you can use it to moisturize your face without worrying about clogged pores. 

4. Carrot Oil Rejuvenates the Skin

Over time, our skin begins to lose its plumpness and youthful vibrancy. Sometimes, this is just an age-related issue, and at other times, stress is a significant factor. Whatever the case, carrot oil can rejuvenate your skin and bring it back to life. It contains vitamins A, E, and C, all known to revitalize the skin. Why is this important for acne? Acne can be caused when dead skin cells clog the pores. Carrot oil works to revive tired skin cells and reduces the rate at which skin cells die. As a result, there will be fewer dead cells to clog your pores. 

carrot oil for acne prone skin

Image credit: Linh Ha

5. It Softens Skin Tissue

Having frequent acne breakouts can leave your skin feeling rough and rugged. You can add carrot oil to your skincare regimen to help restore your skin. It contains properties that soften skin tissues from the inside. The result is softer and smoother skin. 

6. Carrot Oil Regularizes Sebum Production

Sebum is the name of the skin’s natural oil.  For people with oily skin, carrot oil works to reduce the amount of sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. When sebum protection is too much, the excess oil can clog the pores and cause acne. On the other hand, people who have dry skin can equally benefit from the wonders of carrot oil.

When the skin is dehydrated, the brain triggers the sebaceous glands to produce a lot more sebum to overcompensate for the dryness. Again, excess oil can clog the pores and cause acne. Whether your skin is dry or oily, carrot oil can help to fight acne by controlling how much sebum your body produces. 

7. It Lightens Acne Scars

One of the nightmares of having acne is the scarring left behind after the acne itself clears. Acne scars can leave you feeling insecure and self-conscious about the way you look. Fortunately, carrot oil can help to solve this problem. Carrot oil is very rich in vitamins C and E. Both of these vitamins feature predominantly in skin lightening products.

Consistently applying carrot oil on your acne scars will help to fade them out over time. The great thing about using carrot oil for acne scars is that it lightens the scars without bleaching your skin. The key is to use it in moderation. Because of its colour, carrot oil can you an orangish hue if you apply too much of it for a prolonged time. 

8. Carrot Oil is Good for Sensitive Skin 

For people with sensitive skin, it can be a real task to find a product that mildly improves acne. Many commercial acne products are too harsh for sensitive skin and can cause unpleasant irritations. Even some organic products and oils are too much for sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, then you might want to give carrot oil a try. You can experience all the benefits mentioned so far, and rest assured that you will not experience any irritation (unless of course, you’re allergic to carrots). Also, if you’re using carrot oil on sensitive skin, you’re better off using it in its raw form. If you intend to mix it with other products, you should check if the other products are safe for sensitive skin. 

9. It Brightens and Tones the Skin 

Carrot oil can brighten up the skin and tone it by tightening the pores. This property makes it the perfect choice for dull and tired skin that has lost its lustre. Once you start using carrot oil, you’ll be surprised by how quickly your skin will begin to radiate and glow again. 

10. Carrot Oil Heals the Skin and Prevents Further Damage

The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of carrot oil can deal with acne from the inside out. Over time, your skin is wholly and completely healed. But that’s not all; carrot oil can also prevent subsequent acne-related damage to your skin. The antibacterial components of carrot oil will destroy any bacteria that can plug your pores. The antioxidants in the oil will also eliminate any harmful toxins in the skin. 

10 benefits of carrot oil for acne-prone skin

Photo Credit: Louis Hansel

How to Use Carrot Oil for Acne-Prone Skin

Now you know all the beautiful benefits of carrot oil for acne-prone skin. You can agree with me that the ten points above make a convincing case for using carrot oil. The next thing you need to know is how to use carrot oil for acne-prone skin. 

1. Use Carrot Oil as a Face Mask

You can apply carrot oil all over your face as a facial mask. Make sure you use the carrier oil, and not the essential oil. Before you start to use carrot oil all over your face, do a patch-test on a small area of skin to see how your skin reacts to it. 

Best DIY Overnight Face Mask for Acne Scars

2. Use Carrot Oil as a Pre-shower Lotion 

You can mix carrot oil with honey and milk to make a viable pre-shower lotion. Slather this all over your body before you take a shower to give you soft glowing skin. 

3. Use Carrot Oil as a Serum 

Carrot oil serums can also be used as a DIY face mask. All you need is some aloe vera, a carrot essential oil and a carrier oil like Rosehip oil. Simply mix them all and voila! Your carrot oil serum is ready for use. You can also use the carrot carrier oil on its own as a facial serum. Whichever method you choose, just remember to apply the serum before any moisturizers. 

The Different Causes of Acne: How Carrot Oil Can Help

Even though you are now aware of how carrot oil can help with acne, it’s still vital to understand the various known causes and triggers for acne. We have summarized the most important ones for you!

Carrot Oil & Hormone fluctuations

In acne, there is always a direct connection between the sebum glands and the male hormone testosterone. The production of this hormone begins in every person during puberty, but the extent of the hormone fluctuations is different for everyone. That being said, in most cases, severe acne is caused by the clogging of the pores triggered by excess production of sebum in the glands.

Our hair roots are in small bags under the skin, the so-called hair follicles. Around it are glands that produce sebum to keep hair and skin supple. In childhood, these glands are still tiny. Later, our hormonal balance changes with puberty: In girls and boys, the production of male sex hormones, the androgens, begins. The bones grow, the muscles get bigger. Androgens, among other things, stimulate sebum production in the skin. The face then often looks slightly shiny and the hair greases faster because the glands overdo it a little.

When the hormonal balance is disturbed, the sebum glands produce more fat. The flakes of skin stick together, and the pores clog the skin. This leads to blackheads and unsightly pimples, lumps and pustules due to inflammation. 

Women often suffer before their period due to natural hormone fluctuations on increasingly blemished skin. In addition, pill breaks and the birth of a child can have a particularly strong effect on the hormonal balance and thus increase the number of pimples.

Acne & Negative environmental influences

The increasing environmental pollution is affecting our body and can, therefore also have a negative impact on the severity of acne.

Is Acne Genetically Predisposed?

Usually, several family members have to do with acne, so you can assume that a predisposition to acne can be inherited.

Skin & Poor Diet

Diet plays an important role in combating blemished skin, blackheads and pimples. Although the connection has not yet been clearly proven scientifically, certain metabolic diseases, such as a greatly increased blood sugar level and malnutrition, can also cause or worsen acne.

Carrot Oil for Acne Prone Skin: To Summarise

If you have acne-prone skin, then we hope this article has convinced you that carrot oil is the right oil to use on your skin. Instead of using several different creams and oils, you can have all of these fantastic benefits in one super oil! 

It’s also important to be aware that taking certain medications can make acne worse. For instance, medicines that contain corticosteroids, lithium, and testosterone, are known to trigger acne. More so, the results of some studies suggest that certain foods can potentially make acne worse. Skimmed milk, chocolate, and foods rich in carbohydrates, all fall in this category.

The evidence is not conclusive, but people who suffer from acne may have improved symptoms following dietary restrictions. Stress is also known to be a factor that triggers acne in both men and women. So, knowing how to manage stressful conditions can go a long way to improve acne. 

With all the above said, we do hope that this article has answered all your questions about using carrot oil for acne-prone skin. The aim is to continually give you the most detailed and insightful information on any subject. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this article with others. 

The articles on this site are not medical or certified advice, all content that has been created is simply our opinions,experiences and independent research. We strongly advise seeking professional,qualified expert advice from either your GP or a certified medical practitioner before making any changes to do with your health,diet, exercise or habits.