The National Institutes of Health characterizes vitamin E as an antioxidant. Because of this, it's one of the many vitamins and minerals used to fight free radicals. Free radicals are basically unstable particles that can damage and kill healthy cells and tissue, which is thought to lead to aging as well as other medical condition. This is one of the main reasons why vitamin E is believed to help in the treatment of skin disorders, including acne scars.
Features
Proponents for the use of vitamin E in the treatment of scars recommend applying the oil from its capsule directly onto the irregular area of skin. The solution is then massaged into the scar tissue to help the skin absorb the vitamin. With regular topical use, the Acne Resource Center claims that vitamin E may help your skin recover from acne scarring, reducing the scars' overall appearance.
Effects
If this sounds too good to be true, you're right. Most of the evidence available of vitamin E's benefit on scars is anecdotal at best. The accounts are informal and not based on any real scientific evidence. Using vitamin E to rid the skin of acne scars has not been proven to be effective.
Function
Actually, the topical application of vitamin E may make acne scars worse. A study conducted by the University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery demonstrated that vitamin E did nothing to improve the appearance of scars in 90 percent of the participants. Some of these individuals even experienced a worsening in the cosmetic appearance of their scars over the four-week course of the study.
Warnings
To make matters worse, approximately 30 percent of the participants in this same study had an adverse reaction to the topical application of vitamin E. Through regular use of this antioxidant, you may develop contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin as a result of exposure to an irritant or allergen. It often leads to severe itching, redness, rash, dry patches, pain, tenderness and even blistering.
Treatment
To treat acne scars, the Mayo Clinic recommends talking to a doctor or dermatologist. Medical professionals can assess the depth and severity of acne scarring and suggest the appropriate form of treatment. Some of the more common include soft tissue fillers, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, light therapy, laser therapy and punch excision surgery.
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