Because of its healing properties, vitamin E is a common ingredient in preparations designed to be directly applied to the skin, from scar-reducing products to anti-aging serums. Some enthusiasts who swear by it simply apply pure vitamin E directly to problem areas. Taking vitamin E supplements and even getting more vitamin E from food also benefits certain kinds of skin problems.
Function
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that lessens the damage to cells that results from exposure to the sun, pollution, stress and smoking. Vitamin E also functions as both a humectant and an emollient, helping the skin retain moisture, smoothness and elasticity.
Benefits
Applying vitamin E before sun exposure has been shown to reduce wrinkling, lessen the incidence of skin cancer and possibly even slow the growth of melanoma, according Dr. Jacqueline Junkins-Hopkins in a research paper for the American Academy of Dermatology. Higher levels of dietary vitamin E may also effectively treat skin problems, such as eczema. Masayuki Okuda of Yamaguchi University discovered that children who had even moderately higher levels of vitamin E in their blood systems were 67 percent less likely to suffer from the itchy skin condition. Vitamin E taken orally has been found to be useful in acne treatment. Dr. Z. El-akawi reported in Clinical & Experimental Dermatology that healthy volunteers without acne had significantly higher levels of vitamin E in their circulatory systems than newly diagnosed acne patients who had not yet begun treatment.
Considerations
If you would like to treat your skin by boosting the vitamin E in your system, eat more foods rich in this vitamin, such as high-quality vegetable oils, nuts and whole grains. Spinach, almonds and olive oil are especially potent sources. However, it can be difficult to get the minimum recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin E through food alone. Most multivitamins provide the minimum RDA of vitamin E, or you can take vitamin E as a stand-alone supplement.
Warnings
More studies are necessary to determine the practical effectiveness of vitamin E as a skin treatment, so don't substitute it for traditional sunscreens or take it instead of prescribed medications. Side effects from oral vitamin E are rare if you stay within the recommended dose, which should not exceed 1,000 mg per day. People who are prone to excess bleeding or who are taking anticoagulant medications may experience additional bruising when taking vitamin E orally. If that happens, talk to your doctor. Application directly to the skin is considered safe and has not been shown to have adverse effects.
Types
Vitamin E treatments for direct application to the skin come in a variety of types, from pure vitamin E to concentrated serums, gels and lotions. Different types of vitamin E itself are also available, including tocopheryl acetate and d-alpha tocopheryl. Tocopheryl acetate is better at penetrating the skin surface and reaching the living cells. Skin products with vitamin E contain varying doses. However, according a review by K. Laszlo Keller in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, skin treatments with vitamin E at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1 percent are the most likely to be effective.
References
- "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"; Uses of Vitamins A, C, and E and Related Compounds in Dermatology: A Review; K. Laszlo Keller; October 1998
- "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"; Antioxidants and Their Chemopreventive Properties in Dermatology; J. Junkins-Hopkins; April 2010
- Reuters: Vitamin E Linked to Less of the Skin Disease Eczema
- "Clin Exper Dermatol"; Does the Plasma Level of Vitamins A and E Affect Acne?; Z. El-Akawi; May 2006
- Linus Pauling Institute Research Report: All About E
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