Scars can show up on your body for a variety of reasons. Surgical incisions are a common one, but severe acne and even injuries could be the blame as well. Scars can appear as raised keloid lesions or depressed pits. They may be lighter or darker than your natural skin tone or appear red. Vitamin E is often cited as a means of eliminating scars. However, if you want to reduce the appearance of your scars, your best option is to see a dermatologist.
Definition
Though vitamin E is present in numerous foods naturally, it's often added to topical skin care treatments because it's an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect skin against free radicals. In theory, this would be beneficial for treating scarring because hypertrophic or keloid scars contain a higher amount of free radicals, promoting unwanted and rapid scar tissue development, according to a study published in "Free Radical Biology & Medicine" in 1999.
Topical Vitamin E
Though vitamin E in its natural state in foods like veggies and oils is antioxidant-rich, the form used in most skin-care products is synthetic and lacks these benefits, according to the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology."
How Scars Form
According to the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology," scars form when collagen develops but doesn't produce regular tissue. Instead, the scar tissue is weak and can stretch and expand as it heals, outside the boundaries of the original injury that caused the scar.
Lack of Evidence
Vitamin E is present in many over-the-counter skin care products and moisturizers but there just isn't any evidence to back up the claim that it has any effect on scar reduction. In fact, according to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, testing has revealed that most of these products do nothing for scar reduction at all.
References
- "Free Radical Biology & Medicine"; Free Radical Involvement in Hypertrophic Scar Formation; K. Wan, et. al.; March 1999
- "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"; Over-the-Counter Scar Products for Post-Surgical Patients; P. Morganroth, et. al.; December 2009
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
- MayoClinic.com: Vitamin E
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