Vitamin K, or phytonadione, is a nutrient found naturally in the body and in certain foods such as green leafy vegetables, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts that help prevent blood clotting. Vitamin K has been used to treat medication induced bleeding, osteoporosis and to relieve symptoms of liver disease. MedlinePlus also states that vitamin K can be used topically to diminish dark eye circles, heal bruises and burns, and possibly remove varicose and spider veins.
Dark Eye Circles
Dark under eye circles are those dark patches you find under your eyes. These unsightly dark circles are caused by damaged or weakened blood vessels that pool blood under the skin causing the dark discoloration. Vitamin K, with the help of retinol, may be very effective for treating this condition. In a study published in the November 2004 issue of the "Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology," T. Mitsuishi and colleagues found that using a topical gel with 2 percent Vitamin K, combined with smaller amounts of retinol, vitamin C and E, helped diminish dark under eye circles that typically were caused by age. The study showed that participants who applied this gel twice daily for eight weeks experienced fair to moderate improvements to their dark circles. The bleeding from the damaged blood vessels stopped and participants also saw a reduction in wrinkles. The discoloration faded and was not completely removed but aesthetically looked better.
Bruises
Bruises are formed when blood begins to pool under the skin to help heal damaged or injured blood vessels. A topical Vitamin K solution may heal the bruise more quickly by helping the body reabsorb the blood. In a study published in the December 1999 issue of "Dermatologic Surgery," W. Lou and colleagues found that a topical vitamin K solution helped heal bruises caused by laser treatment faster than if the participants used nothing at all. The study did show that the solution must contain at least 1 percent of vitamin K for it to have any significant difference. In another study published in the August 2002 issue of the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology," N. Shah and colleagues agreed with the earlier study. They concluded that vitamin K can help heal bruises more quickly after laser therapy treatment too. The study tested a topical vitamin K solution before and after laser therapy and showed no real difference in those who received the topical solution before the laser therapy but found significant improvement when using the solution after the laser treatment. Participants bruises healed more quickly, seemed less severe and disappeared in fewer days when topical vitamin K was given after treatment.
Varicose and Spider Veins
Vitamin K may also help reduce the appearance of varicose and spider veins. These veins are caused when the blood vessels break down from increased pressure put on the body. This pressure is usually associated with excessive standing and weight gain. According to the website The Cosmetic Cop, using a vitamin K topical cream on broken capillaries, spider veins and varicose veins can reduce their appearance. It appears that vitamin K can help strengthen the blood vessel walls and prevent new injured vessels from forming while reducing redness and visible appearance.
References
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin K
- PubMed.gov: The effects of topical vitamin K on bruising after laser treatment.
- PubMed.gov: Effects of topical vitamin K and retinol on laser-induced purpura on nonlesional skin.
- Love To Know: Vitamin K Cream
- The Cosmetics Cop: Vitamin K
- Wiley Online Library: The effects of topical application of phytonadione, retinol and vitamins C and E on infraorbital dark circles and wrinkles of the lower eyelids
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