What are the most stubborn features of our bodies? Alongside the occasional dimple, blemish, or grey hair, scars deserve an honorable mention for being nearly impossible to banish whether it’s a battle scar or baby. Many search for ways to reduce or lighten these noticeable signs of skin damage.
With no scarcity of scar treatments on the market, it can be challenging to determine which one is worth its weight in gold. We’ll go straight to one of the most dependable remedies: vitamin E. We’ll take a closer look at stretch marks, scars, and the possible benefits of using this high-standard ingredient to lessen their visibility.
What Is Vitamin E?
Tocopherol or Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant available in both capsule and oil form. There are 8 different forms of vitamin E; of those, tocopherols are the most common and abundantly found in skincare products.
Vitamin E is essential for the necessary maintenance of the human body, giving cells their ability to interact with each other to perform vital functions. According to the NIH, the tocopherol variant of the vitamin is recognized to meet human requirements (National Institutes of Health).
A known champion in skincare, vitamin E has excellent antioxidant, hydrating, and protective properties.
Using Vitamin E for Scars
The advantage of using vitamin E for scars comes from two key features: moisturizing and antioxidant benefits. Free radicals – from UltraViolet rays to environmental stressors like pollution and smoke – can accelerate signs of aging and damaged skin cells.
Since vitamin E is fat-soluble, it can guard your skin against harmful effects and penetrate your skin to strengthen the outer protective barrier.
Vitamin E is also praised for its soothing and moisturizing benefits, especially for damaged or delicate skin. With these anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin E can calm irritated skin and deeply nourish dry skin. This antioxidant promotes the production of collagen, a structural protein responsible for the strength and elasticity of the skin [1].
What Kinds of Scars Can Vitamin E Help?
Scars cannot always be avoided, but that doesn’t mean they have to leave a lasting impression. For those experiencing skin damage on their body, vitamin E can lessen the visibility of scars. For those with damage due to skin pigmentation changes or acne scars, scar lightening solution can be seen in vitamin E [2].
If there’s one beauty tip that postpartum mothers or moms-to-be are told, it’s to use some vitamin E lotion or oil to reduce stretch marks – either on stretch-prone areas or a growing tummy. This, too, is beneficial for individuals who have experienced weight gain or weight loss, and have stretch marks.
Because vitamin E works as an antioxidant within skin tissue, it’s often used to help reduce and prevent scars’ appearance, both post, and pre-surgery. Using a topical variant of vitamin E after and before surgery can expedite the way wounds heal.
It’s also crucial for the formation of RBC (red blood cells) to distribute oxygen around the body. Both functions are critical to healing.
[Also Read: Remedies to get rid of Scars on Face]
Including Vitamin E in Your Diet
While abundantly found in topical products, vitamin E can also be present in an array of foods. Vegan sources include vegetable oils like sunflower, wheat germ, and safflower oils. Nuts (such as hazelnuts, peanuts, and, especially, almonds) and seeds (like sunflower seeds) are among the most excellent vegan sources of vitamin E.
Green vegetables like broccoli and spinach also possess high vitamin E levels.
When ingested, this vitamin can even offer anti-inflammatory benefits for the skin; this means that both external and internal supplementation can support dial back the inflammatory responses. Symptoms of inflamed skin include scaling, redness, or irritation [5].
[Also Read: Benefits of Vitamin E for Skin]
The Best Products with Vitamin E to Minimize Scars
There is no scarcity of scar treatments, just as there are endless reports that vitamin E can make scars disappear entirely. We know that using vitamin E for scars can be a useful option for lessening and healing the visibility of skin damage – but it should be noted that it is rare to see scars entirely removed without medical interventions.
Vitamin E oil has a long proven record as a superior healer for common skin problems such as sunburns, stretch marks, dry skin conditions like eczema, and signs of aging. The good thing about all-natural, pure vitamin E oil is that it’s superbly versatile.
You can mix some drops into your favorite cream or body lotion or apply the oil directly to your body.
Look for body lotions with high levels of vitamin E, such as whipped body butter or ultra-nourishing body creams.
Wheat Germ and Vitamin E
Wheat germ oil is an excellent natural vitamin E source. This golden dark, viscous oil is prepared from pressed wheat germ: the most mineral-dense part of the wheat kernel.
Why is wheat germ essential for lessening the appearance of scars? Due to its high nutrients, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, wheat germ oil helps lubricate the skin and regenerate scar tissue [3].
You should apply wheat germ oil to the scar as soon as it has appeared [4]. New scars tend to heal quicker than old scars, so do not wait to start treatment!
Bottom Line
Vitamin “E” is not only useful for lessening the appearance of any pesky scars on your body but is incredibly capable of nourishing any dryness and calming any inflammation. Using vitamin E as your go-to scar remedy and including it in your diet will provide the best healing results and prevent your scar inside and out.
