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Email a friendCan Vitamin E Heal Scars?
Newspaper Columns, Herb & Home Remedy Q&A March 31, 2008
Q. I think you have alarmed people unnecessarily with your thoughtless remarks on vitamin E. You said that applying vitamin E oil to scars did not help them heal faster. You should print a correction because pure vitamin E on incisions promotes healing.
A. When we find research demonstrating that putting vitamin E on wounds helps them heal without scarring, we will be prompt to write about it.
We found a review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Dec. 2006) that stated “vitamin E has complex effects on wound healing,” and concluded, “the evidence that topical vitamin E alone improves the cosmetic appearance of scars is poor. It is also associated with a high incidence of contact dermatitis. The use of vitamin E should, therefore, be discouraged.”
If a person plans to use vitamin E oil on the skin, she should test it first on the inside of the forearm to make sure she will not react badly.
Tags: contact dermatitis, scars, vitamin E, wound healing
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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2008 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
Some years ago I was cooking over a camp fire, when the hot grease spattered the back of my hands, and the right one literally caught on fire! I put ice on it, then began to use Vit E on it. After approx. 2 months,you could not tell it had been burned. The noticeable scarring was gone!
Posted by: c. l. cox | March 31, 2008 11:18 AM
My experience with vitamin E: I put it on my wound from a lumpectomy on my breast. The cut was made horizontally and the weight of the breast and the softening of the skin from the vitamin E capsule caused the wound to widen and now I have a wide and long scar!
Posted by: KR | April 1, 2008 9:00 AM
A surgeon had us rub the contents of a Vitamin E capsule on a scar on my daughter's forehead where she had surgery to remove a bony growth. What he said was to take a pin, stick it in the Vit. E capsule, squeeze the contents out on the scar, and use your index finger to massage the scar.
He said that would help break up any scar tissue, or keep it from forming. The Vit. E he said only is allowing you to massage the area easier. He told me that the Vit. E itself was not doing anything to prevent scarring. He even said to make sure to wash it off well with soap and water or else it could cause acne type break-outs, since it's oily.
Posted by: CP | April 4, 2008 5:09 AM
Is there ANything that helps wounds heal? Fish oil? A and D from capsules? Retinol? What about wrinkle creams? I had cataract surgery and the process somehow created deep furrows on my face that won't come out. It is 2 months later. Is there anything that might help?
Posted by: ehc | April 5, 2008 8:47 PM
Spilled 1 Qt boiling water onto ankle & shoe. Took a while to get shoe off; 2nd & 3rd degree burn the size of my palm on my ankle. Changed dressing soaked in only colloidal silver once daily, no infection. Used Vit E oil once daily with dressing when new skin began to form. Healed without the least scar. "Blush" gone in a year. Vit E oil also kept thin new skin from getting dry and crackly until it thickened.
Posted by: Jim | April 6, 2008 1:00 AM
Many years ago I heard Vitamin E oil was good for dry skin. I lived in a dry climate, and my skin was always dry. I applied Vitamin E oil for several days on legs and arms, and ended up with a severe case of dermatitis. It went away as soon as I discontinued the use of the Vit E oil.
Posted by: Carole | April 12, 2008 1:46 AM
I have successfully used Vitamin E oil on acne. I do not have the break-outs like I use to do. I wash my face 1st and then cover break-out prone areas with vitamin E oil.
Posted by: Sarah | April 25, 2008 10:17 AM