Just like shadows, scars on our skin tend to be quite difficult to get rid of. They can be particularly annoying when they alter our looks, especially if they appear on the parts of our body that are commonly visible to other people. So, is Vitamin E good for scars?
Unfortunately, there are no oral drugs that can be taken to instantly clear off scars, however, certain skincare products containing Vitamin E have been reported to help heal scars over time when applied topically. Is Vitamin E a good scar treatment for black skin?
Before we dive deep into the topic, we need to understand that scars are a part of how the body heals naturally. They occur as a result of wounds on the skin from accidents, surgeries, illnesses, skin conditions, including acne, etc.
Scars develop when the body produces new collagen fiber as part of its repair process required in healing the wounded or damaged section of the skin. The blemish or scar around the affected surface of the skin is formed when the wound heals completely.
This article will discuss what vitamin E is, its effects when used to treat scars, and skincare products containing Vitamin E that you should consider making use of.
What is Vitamin E?
Arguably one of the most popular essential vitamins needed by the body, Vitamin E refers to a collection of compounds. According to Professor Alexander J. Michels from the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Vitamin E is a group of molecules that have similar structures of which some have specific properties unique to the skin.
He further added that it is distributed to the skin through the sebum while the topical application has also been proven to provide the skin with certain kinds of Vitamin E not found in diets.
The fact that it can absorb energy from ultraviolet rays makes it a crucial element in photoprotection and prevention of UV-induced free radical damage to the skin. Also, Vitamin E helps the body’s immune system and assists as a nutrient in facilitating cell regeneration.
Benefits of Vitamin E for Your Skin
Vitamin E is largely popular for its effect on the skin’s appearance particularly when applied topically. It usually comes as part of the ingredients in certain skincare products.
The use of Vitamin E can benefit you in the following ways:
1. Stalls Aging and Wrinkles
The skin is frequently exposed to elements like air, ultraviolet rays, smoke, etc., and this results in the production of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are volatile molecules capable of destroying the collagen, skin cells, and DNA in the body, all of which causes wrinkles.
Vitamin E is responsible for fighting off these free radicals and keeping your skin looking younger and healthier.
2. Treats Scarring from Acne
One of the things that aid acne scars are free radicals. They make it difficult for these scars to heal permanently. When used constantly, applying Vitamin E on scars directly can help the marks to gradually reduce over time.
3. Moisturizes the Skin
Using skincare products laced with Vitamin E can help soften the skin. When applied, it allows the skin to hold on to water, keeping it fresh and soft.
4. Promotes Smooth, Soft Lips
If you have dry lips, then you should consider applying topical Vitamin E to relieve it of its dryness. This is because Vitamin E supports cell regeneration and according to Healthline, it allows a rapid transfer of new cells to the surface.
In addition, its thick and oily viscosity is a sure-fire way to prevent more irritation.
5. Aids Treatment and Prevention of Hyperpigmentation
Hormones and other factors like exposure to sunlight can cause dark patches to appear on your skin due to the presence of excessive melanin (pigment).
Vitamin E, when applied topically, can be used to treat the condition, often referred to as melasma. The treatment becomes even more effective when Vitamin E is combined with Vitamin C in its topical application.
Furthermore, the mixture of Vitamin C and Vitamin E can slow down the time it takes SPF-free skin to burn while under direct sunlight making it ideal for preventing pigmentation.
Is Vitamin E Good for Scars?
There has been a number of debates on the efficacy of Vitamin E on scars because only quite a few scientific studies have been conducted on the topic.
So, is Vitamin E good for scars? According to a study by Healthline, it was concluded that topically applying Vitamin E on scars could be effective in preventing the appearance of scar tissue before and after surgery. This makes it an ideal scar treatment for black skin.
Likewise, a lot of people have admitted experiencing the positive effects of using Vitamin E creams for scars like acne scars which tend to recover faster.
Technically, the fact that Vitamin E is fat-soluble and absorbs seamlessly into the skin means it gets depleted easily when exposed to ultraviolet rays. With this knowledge, applying Vitamin E topically can boost its replenishment on the skin.
Finally, as an antioxidant, Vitamin E helps protect the skin from free radicals while its anti-inflammatory properties can lower the appearance of redness in the skin. Generally, Vitamin E, when applied on certain scar tissues can be very beneficial.
What is a Good Vitamin E Cream for Scars?
There are quite a number of oils and creams manufactured by various beauty companies with Vitamin E elements out there but only a few of them may actually be good and effective enough for scar healing.
One of the outstanding skincare products laced with Vitamin E for scar healing is:
Clear Essence Sensitive Swiss Complex Collagen with Vitamin E Creme
Dermatologically tested and trusted by quite a large number of users, Clear Essence Sensitive Swiss Complex Collagen with Vitamin E Creme is a light-textured yet highly efficient creme moisturizer that restores the skin’s natural mechanical barrier when used regularly.
Although this product doesn’t contain hydroquinone, it can act as a dark spot corrector while also brightening the complexion.
The Vitamin E-based creme retains moisture and minimizes transepidermal loss of water from the body. It can also help in repairing skin damaged by UV exposure, aging, chemical reaction as well as burns that show up on the skin as sunspots, age spots, and dark marks making it the most complete scar treatment for black skin.
The Swiss Complex Collagen can correct uneven tones and protect the skin from future environmental damage thanks to its Vitamin E components.
In addition, it can endow your skin with a natural supple feel while reinvigorating the top layer of the skin by protecting it from harsh weather conditions, which in turn, lowers the dryness that emanates as a result of ashy skin.
If you’re looking for a top-quality skincare product containing Vitamin E, then we strongly recommend Clear Essence Sensitive Line Swiss Complex Collagen with Vitamin E Creme.
Scar Treatment for Black Skin
The concept of Vitamin E and scar treatment is no longer a myth. It has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that scar healing can be accelerated with the application of Vitamin E on skin surfaces.
However, there are other interesting products that can be substituted for Vitamin E when it comes to scar treatment for black skin.
Below is a collection of some of the ideal skincare products you can use to treat scars on black skin.
Clear Essence Platinum Blemish Control Wash Formula For Acne
Perfect for oily and acne-prone skin, Clear Essence Platinum Blemish Control Wash Formula For Acne effectively rids the skin of blemishes using its powerful salicylic acid formula treatment.
It leaves the skin revitalized, awakened and refreshed. The formula comes with menthol, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil that cleanses dirt and oil away while leaving the skin with a flawless complexion.
Clear Essence Platinum Extra Strength Medicated Cleansing Bar plus Exfoliants
Banish acne and uneven skin texture on your black skin with the Clear Essence Platinum Extra Strength Medicated Cleansing Bar plus Exfoliants.
This medicated bar soap has been smartly formulated to cleanse the skin with its active ingredients that include wheat germ, sulfur, as well as colloidal oatmeal flakes to effectively prevent pimples and lower the chances of breakouts while exfoliating and enhancing skin texture.
Clear Essence Exclusive Glow Tonic
Ideal for use on the neck and the face, Clear Essence Exclusive Glow Tonic is a toner that you can use after your daily cleansing to help clear out all the makeup, oiliness, and bacteria on your skin.
This non-alcoholic formula leaves your skin feeling clear and refreshed with a toned and refined complexion. It is a particularly active product you can use in scar treatment for dark skin because it visibly reduces the emergence of dark spots and hyperpigmentation while delivering a more emphatic glow.
Clear Essence Anti Aging Complexion Soap with Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Replete with alpha hydroxy acid and other active ingredients, the Clear Essence Anti Aging Complexion Soap completely treats pimples and blemishes while improving collagen production in the skin with its milk and fruit extracts.
For best results, use this soap regularly to exfoliate uneven pigmentation through the expungement of dead skin cells and enjoy a clear, even-toned complexion.
Clear Essence Anti Aging Toner Astringent with Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Just like the Glow Tonic, the Clear Essence Anti Aging Toner Astringent with Alpha Hydroxy Acid is ideal for ridding your skin of makeup, greasiness, and bacteria leaving it looking clear and refreshed.
This particular toner has been formulated with hydroxyl acid along with natural exfoliants made from fruit and milk extracts to yank off dead skin cells from the epidermis and reveal a radiant glow on your skin.
Vitamin E and Scar – Prevention and Removal
At the beginning of this article, the formation of scars was explained and it was further noted that Vitamin E-based products can help in removing or preventing scars.
It is important to realize that most scars may not be completely removed via treatment with Vitamin E alone, however, their appearance on the surface of the skin can be reduced to a great extent.
Below are some measures you can take towards the prevention and removal of scars.
1. Avoid Sunlight Exposure During the Healing Process
If you really want to minimize the appearance of scars on your beautiful black skin, you should consider staying away from the sun while undergoing the healing process from a wound or skin damage.
According to Contemporary Clinic, patients are advised to wear sunscreen of SPF-30 or higher and reapply it regularly to prevent the emergence of dark spots.
2. Don’t Tear Out Scabs
During the healing process of a wound, a scab is formed when hardened blood platelets are created by the body to staunch blood from bleeding out and seal up the wound.
These scabs may tend to itch and thus, you might be tempted to scratch or tear it out. This should be discouraged because removing a scab during a wound’s healing process can delay it from healing completely.
It can also cause the appearance of hyperpigmentation or even spread the wound.
3. Keep the Wound Area Constantly Moisturized
The application of antibiotic creams or petroleum jelly before covering the wound area with a non-stick bandage can speed up its healing.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound frequently as it can lead to irritation and a much slower healing process thereby escalating the chances of scarring.
4. Use Topical Treatments
The use of certain skincare products can help reduce the appearance of scars on black skin. The products usually contain Vitamin E and other active ingredients to help minimize scarring. The process may take time before the effects on the scars start showing.
There are several other treatments that can be taken to reduce the appearance of scars. According to the WebMD, they include; surgery, radiotherapy, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, steroid injections, feeler injections, micro-needling, laser resurfacing, cryosurgery, etc.
How Effective is Vitamin E on Scars
Due to the fact that not a lot of research and experiment have been conducted on the potency of Vitamin E on scars, different opinions have resonated on its potency.
Some professionals believe that that the results from the few experiments done so far are inconclusive on how effective Vitamin E really is on scars.
However, in a review on the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, volume 36, issue 8, 2016, it was discovered that in a study, several doctors, nurses, and pharmacists strongly believe in the efficacy of Vitamin E as close to 68% of them opined that it could enhance the cosmetic look of scars. 25% of these groups of people would recommend Vitamin E to patients while 22% of them had, at one time or the other, used Vitamin E on themselves to treat scars.
Based on the report above, it is safe to say that your quest for unblemished skin may come to fruition when you continue using Vitamin E to treat scars. Although it may take a while for the appearance of scars to clear off or be rendered almost invisible, the fact remains that Vitamin E does help in eradicating scars.
How to Use Vitamin E for Scar Healing
Vitamin E is an ideal property for healing scars. Applying it directly on scarred skin surfaces can help reduce the chances of permanent scarring. You can use certain products containing Vitamin E and other ingredients that can aid rapid scar healing or protect skin surfaces from getting darkened.
For instance, the combination of Vitamins C and E, along with sunscreen can provide four times more protection from the sun compared to just using sunscreen alone.
When using the Swiss Complex Collagen with Vitamin E Creme to heal scars make sure you cleanse the scar area carefully while bathing. Apply the cream to your palms and rub it on your body and the scar area especially. For best results, you may need to do this at least twice a day.
When to Use or Avoid Vitamin E on Your Skin
It has been reiterated several times in this article that Vitamin E is good for scars and anyone can use it. Unfortunately, though, some skins may be reactive to the application of Vitamin E on their surfaces. Some side effects have been reported on the use of Vitamin E.
According to the review on the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, volume 36, issue 8, 2016, 33% of the people, in a research conducted on the potency of Vitamin E to heal scars, were reported to have developed dermatitis and an increase in itching and rash.
In a similar research, it was discovered that using Vitamin E on wounded skin surfaces too early to treat scars could result in a slowed healing process and an expansion of the scarred area
That said, it is very important to understand your body. If you frequently experience breakouts or have pores on your skin that are notorious for clogging easily, you might have to reconsider applying Vitamin E on it as it could escalate your symptoms.
If you have begun to make use of topical Vitamin E and you experience itches and rashes after application, then it may be time to stop using that particular product or discontinue the use of any skincare product containing Vitamin E altogether. Be sure to see a dermatologist to get an alternative scar treatment for black skin.
Conclusion
Although scars tend to disfigure our bodies, they still play a big part in the body’s healing process and with the use of certain skincare products containing Vitamin E, we can reduce the appearance of these blemishes.
Vitamin E is a group of compounds boasting certain properties unique to the skin and when it is present in the skin, it can help reduce acne scars as well as stall aging and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. There are several skincare products containing Vitamin E and prominent among them is the Clear Essence Sensitive Swiss Complex Collagen with Vitamin E Creme.
Furthermore, there are precautions you should take that can also help reduce the appearance of scars and you should probably consult a dermatologist if your skin starts reacting against products containing Vitamin E.