Found naturally in some foods, vitamin E is known to play a key role in immune function and in certain metabolic processes. Since vitamin E is an antioxidant, it's also thought to fight oxidative stress due to free radicals (chemical byproducts shown to damage DNA).As an antioxidant, vitamin E supplements are often touted as a natural means of treating or preventing various diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as heart disease, age-related vision loss, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. Vitamin E is also applied topically on the face and body and is an ingredient in skin care products.Although vitamin E is found naturally in a number of foods, some people take the supplement in an effort to boost their levels of this essential nutrient. Individuals with illnesses like liver disease or Crohn's disease may need extra vitamin E, however most people can achieve adequate intake through diet alone.To date, large-scale trials on the health effects of vitamin E supplements have yielded mixed and often disappointing results.
A number of studies suggest that vitamin E doesn't offer a significant health benefit and even has some notable adverse effects. For example, trials suggest that vitamin E may increase prostate cancer and colorectal adenoma and increase overall mortality. A 2005 report published in Annals of Internal Medicine reviewed 19 clinical trials (with 135,968 participants) on vitamin E and found that vitamin E supplements failed to reduce the risk of heart disease or cancer. What's more, the report's authors determined that study members who received a placebo had a slightly longer lifespan compared to those who took high dose vitamin E supplements (400IU or higher). Some later analyses showed no effects of vitamin E supplementation on mortality.Some studies, on the other hand, suggest that vitamin E supplements and a diet high in vitamin-E-rich foods (such as wheat germ oil, almonds, and sunflower seeds) may help reduce your risk of certain diseases. For example, a 2015 report published in Public Health Nutrition examined previously published studies on the relationship between vitamin E and age-related cataracts and found that dietary vitamin E intake and supplementary vitamin E intake may be associated with a reduced risk of age-related cataracts.
Studies also suggest that vitamin E may benefit people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). For instance, a report published in Hepatology in 2015 analyzed previously published trials on the use of vitamin E compared to other treatments or a placebo in people with NASH. Researchers found that vitamin E improved ballooning degeneration and steatosis over a placebo. Vitamin E comes in capsule (often called softgels), tablet, or liquid form. Some oils are intended for topical use only, so it's important to read the labels carefully.Two types of vitamin E supplements are d-alpha-tocopherol (the natural form) and dl-alpha-tocopherol (the synthetic form). People need more IU of synthetic alpha tocopherol from dietary supplements and fortified foods to obtain the same amount of the nutrient as from the natural form. Mixed tocopherols are also available.Related: Food Sources of Vitamin EVitamin E is widely said to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks when the oil (from oil products or from gel capsules) is applied directly on the face and skin.
When applied topically, it is said to help minimize scars by hydrating skin, inhibiting collagen synthesis, and reducing inflammation during the inflammatory phase of wound healing.Further research is needed because some studies suggest that it may not help to speed healing. For example, a study published in Dermatologic Surgery found that vitamin E oil applied directly to skin didn't help to improve the appearance of scars. What's more, 33 percent of people who used it developed a common skin irritation known as contact dermatitis. According to the NIH, high doses of vitamin E in supplement form may increase the risk of serious side effects, such as an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. In some cases, taking vitamin E supplements in high doses may cause adverse effects (including nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea). What's more, some research suggests that vitamin E supplements may lead to increased risk of heart failure and increased mortality.Vitamin E can thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding.
It may interact with blood-thinning medications and supplements, such as warfarin, garlic, and gingko. It shouldn't be used within two weeks of surgery.If you are undergoing cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy, consult your oncologist before taking vitamin E.Research hasn't found any adverse effects of vitamin E from food. If you're considering the use of vitamin E supplements for the prevention or treatment of any type of health condition, make sure to consult your doctor to weigh the potential risks and benefits. You should also talk to your doctor if you experience symptoms of vitamin E deficiency (such as muscle weakness, visual problems, and a poor sense of balance). Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.
(TIP: To return to this shortcut list, click the Back button on your browser.) Skin needling is a method of pricking the skin with tiny needles to : Dermarolling is skin needling done with a dermaroller. A dermaroller is a hand-held roller with a surface of tiny needles. They come in different lengths and sizes. To understand why skin needling or dermarolling can be so effective for all the conditions above, it’s necessary to have a basic understanding of what happens after skin is pricked by a needle deep enough to cause pinprick bleeding. To the human eye, after the skin is pricked by tiny needles, the pinpricks will bleed slightly, scab and then heal. This appears to be the end of the story. Beneath the skin’s surface, much more is going on. In fact, the healing response, which begins immediately upon the injury, kick-starts a healing process that lasts for several months and up to a year. This natural healing process is when the real skin improvements take place.
If you decide to start skin needling and intend to do it yourself, you should be prepared for some amount of pain. The pain can range from mild discomfort and redness (for shallow pricking) to that of getting a tattoo (for needle pricks that penetrate about 1.5 mm into the dermis and cause slight bleeding). In general, deeper needle penetrations into the dermis produces better collagen and elastin production. (However, it is also more risky. ) The breaking of blood vessels appears to be key in kick-starting the 12-month healing and reorganizing phase. Anecdotal evidence supports this as some people have reported that treated areas that bled and scabbed led to better results than ones that didn’t. With very short needle lengths, the needle only reaches the topmost layer—there may be improvements, but no dramatic results. This is also less risky. However, even with very short needle lengths, you may find improvements as any topicals you use after needling will penetrate deeper and become more effective many times over.
The surface skin remains intact. Unlike lasers that burn through the skin’s layers, including the topmost surface layer that is visible to us (the epidermis), needling does not destroy the surface layer. The tiny pinpricks will bleed with the initial injuries, but these heal quickly, leaving the visible skin intact. As the skin is intact, there is no skin peeling involved. And with that, very little downtime (roughly 5 days).The long healing process underneath will happen without any intervention. You may have to needle the site a few times for the best results, but other than that, your own body’s healing mechanism will do all the work. Needling results in thicker and healthier skin. Needling does not permanently damage skin like lasers can. In fact, the skin’s natural healing mechanisms leads to healthier and thicker skin. If you choose to, needling can be done at home very inexpensively. A word of warning — when done incorrectly, needling CAN and HAS led to scarring.
DO READ the comments left by readers at the bottom of this article before making a decision on skin needling. Many have reported damage after — and it doesn’t seem to matter whether they had needling done by a professional or if they had performed it themselves. Both types of users have reported damage such as thicker skin, scarring, pigmentation changes, and skin that looks aged. Thus, I urge you to tread carefully. It may be prudent to test an area on your body before taking the plunge as this will give you an idea of its effects. Results also seem to vary widely across individuals, so take positive testimonials as a guide only. Results may differ widely for several reasons such as: The last point may be the most critical. If you’re in poor health (e.g. drink alcohol, smoke daily, ingest excessive caffeine, have a poor diet with lots of processed food, stressed, constipated, suffer from a chronic lack of sleep, have vitamin/mineral deficiencies), you may not be an ideal candidate for dermarolling as your body’s healing mechanisms will be stymied.
This would increase the risk of scarring (which is “incomplete” healing). The most immediate question is which tool should be used? The two most common options are dermarollers (also called skin rollers or CIT rollers) and individual needles. Some people have also reported good results treating acne scarring with a tattoo gun. Using individual needles allows you to control the depth of penetration and target specific locations (like a particular scar or a wrinkle). Individual needles can also be used for subcision needling. However, if you wish to treat a larger area, using them may prove to be too time-consuming. Dermarollers, on the other hand, make it much more convenient to treat larger areas. Use the right type of needles. These should not be sewing needles or hypodermic needles, as the kind needed for skin needling are extremely thin. You can use acupuncture needles or tattoo needles (if they are thin enough) if you are treating a very small area (e.g. a scar).
Use the right type of rollers. Most sites will market the use of skin rollers, dermarollers or the like. Note that these will have varying needle lengths, thicknesses, and uses. Some of these can be used again and again, while others are meant for single-use only. Whichever tool you choose to use, keep it clean and sterile. You can do this by soaking the tools in a sterile saline solution before and after use. As needling or dermarolling will lead to reddened skin, which can be highly photo-sensitive, keep out of the sun during the first week. This will reduce your chances of developing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Sun exposure is safer only after your skin has lost its redness, which can last for 5 days. However, you can use makeup or coverup safely. Space out your dermarolling sessions to give your skin sufficient time to heal. If you’re using longer needle lengths (to treat scars and wrinkles), taking a one-month break between rolls is recommended. You should continue to see changes during the break.
Skin needling and dermarolling will only work as well as your body can heal. And the key to healing well is eating well. Eat more fruits and vegetables, reduce your alcohol intake, and avoid smoking and drug use. Take part in light exercise and keep your stress levels down. Also take extra Vitamin C daily — it’s been proven to boost the body’s healing response and helps build collagen. Even maintaining a happy and relaxed state of mind can improve your body’s healing ability. Sleep enough hours so that you don’t feel tired when you wake up the next day. Applied topically, Vitamin C will also boost collagen and can make a great difference in your results. The Vitamin C topical will also penetrate deeper following skin needling or dermarolling, enhancing its effectiveness by many times. You can use a store-bought lotion or make your own. Several sites sell Vitamin C in powder form (eg ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate), which you can mix with distilled water to make your own solution.