Vitamin E may help prevent or minimize wrinkles when applied to your skin regularly, although evidence is not conclusive regarding whether topical vitamin E has any noticeable effect on wrinkles or other signs of aging. The moisturizing and antioxidant properties of vitamin E may offer other skin benefits, however, such as decreasing skin roughness and flaking. Consult your doctor before rubbing vitamin E on your skin and discontinue use immediately if you develop a skin rash or other signs of an allergic reaction. Clean the affected area using a mild facial cleanser and lukewarm water. Avoid harsh soaps and hot water when washing your face, as these are irritating and drying and can make wrinkles worse. Gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Puncture a small hole in a capsule of vitamin E with a clean pin or pair of scissors. If you intend to cover a large area with the vitamin E gel, make a larger hole to increase the speed at which the gel is released from the capsule.
Squeeze a small amount of vitamin E gel onto your clean fingertips and dab it onto wrinkled areas. Be careful not to get the vitamin E gel in your eyes or nose. Spread the gel around your face, using gentle pressure and the tips of your fingers. Let the gel dry before going to sleep or using cosmetics or other skincare products. Rubbing vitamin E on your skin within 8 hours of sun exposure may help prevent wrinkles caused by inflammation and sun damage, according to John R. Trevithick, PhD, of the University of Western Ontario. Clean pin or pair of scissors Vitamin E and Skin Reaction Homemade Vitamin E Oil Lotion How to Get Rid of an Allergic Reaction Rash Vitamin E Oil for Burns The Best Vitamins for Skin Elasticity Vitamin A, C & E in Skin Care When Pregnant Fruit of the Earth Vitamin E Skin Care Cream: The Information Severe Stress-Induced Allergic Reactions Can Too Much Vitamin C Cause Hives or a Rash? How to Rub Vitamin E on the Skin
Vitamin E for EczemaVitamin E is often used to promote smooth, hydrated skin, it can help soothe burns, and it even be smoothed onto stretch marks and scars to diminish their appearance. But you don't have to buy vitamin E oil to take advantage of its many uses. Instead, make your own using vitamin E capsules from the health food store, and a little olive oil. Use vitamin E oil daily to smooth your skin and keep it looking healthy and young. It may be a better treatment than pricey department store antiaging creams. Remove three vitamin E capsules from the vitamin bottle, and lay them on a paper towel. Use a needle to poke a small hole in each capsule, and squeeze the oil into a small jar until only the skin of the capsule is left. Stir in 1 tsp. of olive oil to make the the vitamin E more pliable when you apply it to your skin. Dab the vitamin E oil gently around your eyes, forehead and mouth to prevent and improve facial wrinkles. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that pure vitamin E can help decrease facial roughness found in wrinkles and fine lines.
Poke a hole in a few more vitamin E capsules to make enough to apply to large patches of your body, like on stretch marks or large scars. For every three capsules, remember to add 1 tsp. of olive oil, or the vitamin E may become sticky. Rub into scars at least once daily with your fingers. Use your vitamin E oil from the capsules on sunburns or after visiting the beach. It can help replenish the moisture that your skin loses from being out in the hot sun, and can provide soothing relief from painful burns. Try placing your vitamin E capsules in the refrigerator before you puncture them before added cooling relief. Apply vitamin E directly from the punctured capsule onto the skin if you suffer from extremely dry skin, eczema or psoriasis. The pure vitamin E oil can help to hydrate the skin, and you won't need to use expensive or synthetic moisturizing products. Give the vitamin E plenty of time to work. The Deep Fitness website notes that it may take months to achieve results with vitamin E capsules.
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"There are three antioxidants that have been proven to decrease the effect of the sun on the skin and actually prevent further damage: selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C." Antioxidants are known to prevent agents called free radicals from damaging cells in the body and the skin. Free radicals are a result of normal body processes, but they can also be created by exposure to various environmental factors such as smoking or ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and can speed up the aging process. Burke says the problem with applying antioxidants to the skin to fight aging is that they aren't very well absorbed or only have short-term effects. But new research presented at the dermatology conference suggests more effective formulations to deliver two of these antioxidants directly to the skin that needs it may soon be available. The mineral selenium helps protect the body from cancers, including skin cancer caused by sun exposure. It also preserves tissue elasticity and slows down the aging and hardening of tissues associated with oxidation.
Dietary sources of the mineral include whole grain cereals, seafood, garlic, and eggs. Recent animal studies have found that when selenium is taken orally or through the skin in the form of L-selenomethionine, it provided protection against both everyday and excessive UV damage. A study also showed selenium also delayed the development of skin cancer in the animals. Burke says those results are promising, but studies are still needed in humans. Experts consider vitamin E to be the most important antioxidant because it protects cell membranes and prevents damages to enzymes associated with them. Natural sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, grains, oats, nuts, and dairy products. New laboratory studies suggest vitamin E helps inactivate free radicals, making them less likely to cause damage. Several other studies have shown applying vitamin E to the skin can reduce damage caused by sun exposure and limit the production of cancer-causing cells.
"For additional sun protection, individuals may consider taking vitamin E supplements," said Burke, in a release. "Supplementation with vitamin E in 400 milligrams a day has been noted to reduce photodamage, wrinkles and improve skin texture." Vitamin C is the most common antioxidant found in the skin. It's also found in vegetables and citrus fruits. Like vitamin E, vitamin C is considered important in repairing free radicals and preventing them from becoming cancerous or accelerating the aging process. Since vitamin C is most prevalent in the skin, the skin is the organ that suffers most from environmental stressors. Smoking, sun exposure, and pollution rob the nutrient from our bodies, says Burke. "Even minimal UV exposure can decrease the vitamin C levels in the skin by 30 percent, while exposure from the ozone of city pollution can decrease the level by 55 percent," said Burke in a release. Creating a skin cream that carries a useful dose of vitamin C is difficult because it reacts immediately when exposed to oxygen.