Does Vitamin E Get Rid Of Scars?

Scars can be unsightly or make you self-conscious. While having a scar on your body will not harm you, many people opt to get rid of a scar or minimize a scar's appearance. While removing a scar often requires surgery or medical treatment, the use of vitamin E can help drastically reduce the appearance of a scar.

Scars

According to the National Institutes of Health, scars are often permanent. A scar is a patch of skin that grows over a wound. A wound can include an injury -- such as a cut, burn, sore or scrape -- or a surgical incision. Scars may be thick, red, shiny or pink. Scars often stand out from the rest of your skin. Over time, scars normally fad on their own. There is no medical need to remove scars or minimize them except for cosmetic appearance.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can be used to fight free radicals, according to "The Vitamin Book." Free radicals are unstable particles that can damage and even kill healthy skin cells and tissue -- this can make healing scars especially difficult. Vitamin E works hard to protect your cells and body tissues from damage and helps to promote healthy red blood cells. By protecting your skin from damage, your skin is better able to heal from an injury or surgery, making your scar less noticeable.

Dosage

The Recommended Dietary Allowance for men and women over the age of 14 is 15 mg. Pregnant women should consume 15 mg and women who are breastfeeding should consume 19 mg. Children ages nine to 14 should consume 11 mg per day. Children ages four to eight should consume 7 mg. Those ages one to three need 6 mg per day. Infants -- ages 7 to 12 months -- need 5 mg daily. Children under age six months need 4 mg daily. Check with your doctor prior to adding additional vitamin E to your diet for the purpose of scar healing. High doses of vitamin E can be dangerous. Additionally, vitamin E in topical form can cause skin reactions -- including eczema and dermatitis.

Sources of Vitamin E

Vitamin E can be found in many of the foods you consume on a daily basis. KidsHealth.org indicates vitamin E can be found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, egg yolks, vegetable oils, wheat germ and green, leafy vegetables -- such as spinach or kale. MayoClinic.com indicates most individuals receive adequate amounts of vitamin E through foods. Vitamin E can also be purchased in cream -- applied directly to your scar -- or digested in capsule form.