Like all people on this planet, you went through a period called puberty. Your hormones went crazy, you started growing, became sexually mature. You basically got your one-way ticket to destination adulthood. But, this trip is unpleasant for most, as they get to know and struggle a condition called acne. Acne is mainly caused by the hormonal imbalance in our body during this time, but they can also be caused by many other internal and external factors. As we live in an era where there is a treatment almost for everything, there is a variety of treatments for acne. In this article, we will talk about the use of vitamin E oil to treat and prevent acne.
General Info About Vit. E
There is an ongoing debate about the efficiency of vitamin E, and how it affects us when used topically or when ingested in the form of a food supplement. The research behind it is inconclusive. But, this hasn’t stopped companies from adding it to their products and marketing it as one of their most beneficial ingredients.
Vitamin E is not just one compound, but rather a group of fat-soluble compounds. This means that it stays in your bloodstream for a long period. The average adult needs about 15mg of vitamin E per day and can take up to 1000mg before experiencing any overdose symptoms.
Skin Benefits Of Vitamin E Oil
Despite the inconclusive evidence, beauty bloggers and other people consider vitamin E and vitamin E oil to be very helpful in preventing and curing many diseases and conditions. Here are some of the benefits:
- Wounded skin regeneration – there is some research that claims that vitamin E supplements and oil can help heal wounds, but most of it is inconclusive. As some acne can also cause wounds in the form of acne scabs, it can help with them too.
- Prevent skin cancer – a study on mice has shown that mice dosed with vitamin E had a lower chance of developing cancerous tissue when exposed to UV light. This has led to many people to claim that it can do the same for human skin. However, research on humans has been inconclusive.
- Prevent signs of aging – thanks to the high antioxidant properties of the vitamin, it can help prevent wrinkles and skin damage. Our skin can get damaged if we exposed it to sunlight for a long period, or some other external toxins lime polluted air can also cause the level of free radicals in our skin to spike. These free radicals can damage our skin barrier and collagen production.
- Can provide sun protection – don’t throw away your sunscreen just yet. Yes, vitamin E oil can help absorb the spectrum of sunlight responsible for burning our skin and making it look old. But don’t rely just on the oil, instead, use it more like extra protection besides your sunscreen.
- Can moisturizer the skin – although companies market it as the strongest antioxidant in their skin products, it can also help the skin retain moisture.
- Can reduce skin inflammation – many people with skin conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema, have reported that putting vitamin E oil on their skin has helped reduce inflammation and itching. So it can soothe and calm the skin.
- Can help scars heal – although many people claim to have had success in treating acne and other types of scars, research has shown that in some people it can also make their scars worse and irritate the skin.
Vitamin E Oil As Acne treatment
There are multiple ways to use vitamin E for acne, as a supplement, part of many over-the-counter products that contain it, or vitamin E oil. The good thing about the oil is that you can consume it, or simply apply it on your skin.
If you decide to apply it, these are the steps you need to take:
- Clean your face. Go through your usual routine. Apply cleanser, wash it off and don’t dry out your face from the water. Make sure your face is all clean and ready.
- Add a few drops of the oil on a cotton pad. Rub it on your face, preferably on the affected areas, but you can use it on your whole face too.
- Leave it on for up to 15 minutes and then wash it off.
You can go through with this procedure every morning. You can try it on nights too, but make sure it’s once a day and not more.
Side Effects
Although considered to be generally safe, there is a chance that you might develop some of the side effects that come with using vitamin E oil. For example, many people have claimed the oil has actually made their acne worse rather than better. This is understandable, as it is a very potent oil, that can clog the pores and trap bacteria and dead skin, which can lead to an acne outbreak.
To prevent any overreaction from your skin, try introducing it slowly. Start with smaller doses and gradually increase them, giving your skin the time to adapt to this treatment.
Also, research shows that the main concern with using vitamin E oil comes from the potential to cause allergic reactions. Performing a patch test will let you know if using oil is something you should be going through with. If you encounter any redness or irritation, stop using it and contact a doctor right away.
Other Sources Of Vitamin E
Keep in mind that you can also change your diet to consume more foods that contain vitamin E. As a matter of fact, getting it through the food seems to be the most effective way of getting the required daily dose of vitamin E.
Up the intake of the following foods:
- Nuts and seeds – almonds, sunflower seeds and peanuts(or peanut products) are known to be rich in vitamin E.
- Fruits & green veggies – broccoli, spinach, avocado, are just some of the vegetables which contain a high amount of vitamin E. Adding some veggies to your diet can help make your skin beautiful.
- Foods enhanced with vitamins & minerals – many companies that make foods like cereal and some brands of milk add vitamin E among other compounds to enhance the nutritional value of their products.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that vitamin E is doing a lot of good in our body. But, the way we are getting nutrients that our body needs is something that can make a big difference. Foods are good, but there are many doubts regarding oils and supplements. We should all be careful about what we put on our face, or what we ingest. Acne can be hard to deal with, both physically and mentally, but that doesn’t give us the right to be reckless and lather our faces with whatever product we get our hands on. Talk to a doctor or a dermatologist about the usage of skin oils and food supplements. If your acne is caused by something internal, the oil can do more harm then good. If your face is too sensitive to oils, you can also try and mix it with other, less potent oils. This way you can have more benefits and prevent potential irritation or inflammation. But, if vitamin E oil doesn’t do anything for you, don’t get discouraged. There are many treatment options out there. If you want to give oils a go, have a look at our articles on the use and effects of lavender, castor, and olive oil as acne remedies.
