Whether it's acne pock marks, stretch marks after pregnancy, or the legacy of a burn, wound or surgery, few of us like scars on our skin.And there is no shortage of remedies that claim to make scars smaller, thinner and less noticeable. One of the most popular is vitamin E, which is found in many skin creams. But will vitamin E really help to improve your scar?According to Sydney dermatologist Dr Phillip Artemi, the answer is no.He says despite the marketing hype, research has clearly shown vitamin E has absolutely no beneficial effect on scars."People put a vitamin E cream on, [and over time] notice the improvement, and quite incorrectly, think, 'Oh it's this stuff I'm putting on' — but it's not," Dr Artemi said.As your body forms a scar there is a natural process of slow and gradual improvement over a period of about 12 months.And this will happen regardless of whether vitamin E cream is applied. It is true that collagen, a fibrous protein in the skin, is involved in scar formation and that vitamin E, when present in the body, influences the formation and arrangement of collagen fibres.
But Dr Artemi says it does not automatically follow that applying vitamin E to skin will improve the way collagen is formed and laid down when wounds heal and scars form.In fact several studies have tested this exact idea and shown it to be false. One study even found that in almost a third of cases, vitamin E caused a common skin irritation — known as contact dermatitis.Dermatologists now consider it "a proven scientific fact" that applying vitamin E is of no value to scars, Dr Artemi says.So if vitamin E will not help scars, is there anything that will?The notion that aloe vera, lemon juice, and other over-the-counter oils and creams will fade or shrink scars is also "nonsense", Dr Artemi says.For example, while initial tests on rabbits and in the laboratory suggested onion extract might be beneficial for scars, further studies in humans showed it did not live up to the promise.However using a dressing to trap moisture over a wound when it's healing can help minimise scarring and provide the best possible cosmetic outcome.
Scar treatments explainedChemical reconstruction of skin scars: A chemical (usually trichloroacetic acid) is used to frost the scar, in order for the body to produce new collagen fibres during the healing process.Dermal fillers: Chemical fillers are injected into the skin to decrease the depth of scars.Fractional laser: A non-wounding laser is used to stimulate collagen growth and tighten skin.Micro-needling: Small needles are delivered into the dermal layers of the skin, to break down scar tissue and stimulate the formation of new collagen. Subcision: The sharp edge of a hypodermic needle is used to break down fibrous connective strands underneath the scar to improve appearance . Dr Artemi says avoiding unnecessary tension and strain on a scar, ensuring that it is not exposed to excessive sunlight and giving it a simple massage for a few minutes twice a day can also help.Special dressings — known as silicon dressings — are good at trapping moisture, as are silicon gel or gel sheets."
They've certainly been proven to work well to trap moisture and help scars heal as well as possible — but their effect has nothing to do with silicon itself," Dr Artemi said."As a result you could probably achieve the same thing by applying a good smear of Vaseline or any dressing that prevents air reaching the wound and drying it out."Such silicone or other occlusive dressings should only be used on clean wounds, where there is low risk of infection."Dr Artemi says they provide most benefit in the first 12 weeks of use, although in some cases their use may be recommended for six to 12 months."It's important to remember that even with an occlusive dressing, a scar will take many months, and sometimes more than a year, to naturally fade to its end point," he said."If you are unhappy about a scars redness, bumpiness or thickness it's time to consult a dermatologist to discuss possible options such as an appropriate laser source, micro-needling or injectable treatment."When it comes to scars caused by acne, treatment options are not always straight forward.
Acne scarring consists of many different types of scarring including ice-pick scars, pock-like scars, deep depression and areas of skin thickening [also known as termed keloid].Each scar responds differently and as a result combination treatments are required, according to each patients needs and the severity of the scarring.These treatments are undertaken by a dermatologist and might include micro-needling, fractional laser treatment, subcision, chemical reconstruction of skin scars or injected dermal fillers.Depending on your skin type and the degree of scarring, combination treatment for acne scarring can result in a 30 to 60 per cent improvement.And yes, picking and squeezing your pimples, or picking at the scab of a healing wound, will only make scars worse.But some people will have worse than usual scars despite doing all the right things.Scars are more of an issue for people:But whether your scar is at the good or bad end of the scale, the evidence suggests spending your hard-earned cash on vitamin E won't make a jot of difference."
You're just wasting your money," Dr Artemi says.Dr Phillip Artemi is a Sydney Dermatologist in private practice. In the past he has served as Honorary Secretary, Director of Training (NSW) and Chairman of the Teaching and Learning Committee of the Australasian College of Dermatologists. ABC Health and Wellbeing Newsletter Teaser Want more ABC Health & Wellbeing?Subscribe for weekly our update of Health and Wellbeing news, features and opinion from around the ABC. Or you can like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Vitamin E for Skin Vitamin E for Healthy and Good SkinVitamin E supplements, also known as tocopherol, are antioxidants that help boost your immune system. This vitamin supports brain function and can also protect your body against certain types of cancer. Vitamin E oil is also commonly used in the manufacture of several skin and beauty products. This is because there are several ways in which this vitamin can benefit your skin. Vitamin E oil can be available in the liquid or capsule form in most drugstores.
Foods like nuts, seeds and vegetable oils are also good sources of Vitamin E. Benefits of Vitamin E Capsules for Skin Adding some Vitamin E oil to your daily skincare routine can improve the texture of your skin in several ways. Most women prefer to by Vitamin E capsules, which need to be punctured before use. Some of the benefits of Vitamin E capsules on the skin include: Preventing Wrinkles: The appearance of wrinkles on the skin is one of the first signs of ageing. However, you can also develop wrinkles because of other factors like improper skincare, free radical damage, drinking an excessive amount of alcohol and smoking. Vitamin E oil blocks the free radical damage to the body, which in turn reduces wrinkle formation. The application of this vitamin also boosts the production of collagen, a connective tissue, which helps keep the skin elastic. Last but not the least, Vitamin E oil is used in the treatment of wrinkles, because it supports new skin cell growth and speeds up the cell regeneration process.
Reducing Scars: Stubborn tissue that comes from old wounds, burns, cuts, scrapes and surgeries can lead to the formation of scars on the skin. The application of pure Vitamin E oil helps to heal your skin faster, which in turn, prevents scar formation. Free radicals are harmful substances in the body that prohibit proper healing. Vitamin E goes under the surface of your skin and blocks free radicals damage to your skin. The antioxidant properties present in Vitamin E oil increase the production of collagen, which gives your skin better elasticity. Apply a small amount of pure Vitamin E oil directly on the scar every day. This exercise will lighten the scars and may also cause them to disappear after a while. Vitamin E oil can also help prevent and reduce stretch marks, which is why pregnant women are advised to apply it on to their skin every day. Lightening Brown Spots: As you age, you may notice a few changes in the color of your skin, which could include the appearance of brownish spots.
Many young men and women also face this problem, because of factors like poor liver function and free radical damage. Vitamin E prevents and repairs the damage caused by free radicals to your skin and body. The topical application of Vitamin E oil on the brown spots lightens them considerably. It also smoothes rough skin, by encouraging the regeneration of cells and lubricating cell membranes. Moisturizing and Healing: Vitamin E oil moisturizes your skin and provides it with the antioxidants required for intense healing. On its own, Vitamin E does not make a good moisturizer, mainly because it is so thick and sticky. However, when combined with olive oil, Vitamin E oil can be applied quite smoothly on the skin. A mixture of these two oils is ideal for skin preservation and healing. For best results, apply Vitamin E oil on your skin, just before you go to bed. Cuticle Care: The use of pure Vitamin E oil is very effective in the treatment of dry and cracked cuticles. Apply a few drops of pure Vitamin E oil directly on to your cuticles and nails.