Vitamin E
- Natalia
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read

Vitamin E is an important fat-soluble antioxidant and has been in use for more than 50 years in dermatology. It is an important ingredient in many cosmetic products. It protects the skin from various deleterious effects due to solar radiation by acting as a free-radical scavenger. Experimental studies suggest that vitamin E has antitumorigenic (helps counteract the formation of tumors) and photoprotective properties. There is a paucity of controlled clinical studies providing a rationale for well-defined dosages and clinical indications of vitamin E usage in dermatological practice.
Vitamin E was first described in 1922 by Herbert M Evans and Katherine Bishop. In 1936, it was biochemically characterised and named tocopherol (Greek: “tocos” meaning offspring and “phero” meaning to bring forth). Vitamin E is synthesised by plants and must be obtained through dietary sources. Richest sources are nuts, spinach, whole grains, olive oil, and sunflower oil.
Topical vitamin E has emerged as a popular treatment for a number of skin disorders owing to its antioxidant properties. It has been seen that reactive oxygen species have the ability to alter the biosynthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (basically, types of sugar) in skin. Most of the over-the-counter antiaging creams contain 0.5%–1% of vitamin E.
Tocopheryl Acetate is one of the common forms of vitamin E that have been used in skincare treatments, as results indicate excellence in protecting the stability of the product used in the moisturizing effects on the skin. One of the effective uses of vitamin E has been shown in facial cleansers when combined with aloe vera and glycolic acid in treating acne or in acne management. It has been shown that with its physiological activity of protecting the skin from free radicals, it can protect the skin types of oily and mixed skin from forming acne spots and hyperpigmentation by reducing inflammation in sebaceous glands and follicles by stopping the leakage of serum lipids into those areas. A recent study has shown the use of vitamin E and kenaf seed oil (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) can help in stabilising the product by making the pH value closer to the skin pH, as well as in microbiologic stability. Furthermore, another study shows the brightening effect of vitamin E in use with vitamin C and raspberry leaf cell culture in improving the appearance of hyperpigmentation along with elasticity, radiance, and smoothness of the skin.
One of the most popular applications of vitamin E is the treatment of burns, surgical scars, and wounds. However, studies looking at the efficacy of vitamin E in the treatment of burns and scars have been disappointing.
Topical vitamin E has also been found to be effective in granuloma annulare (a non-contagious, chronic skin condition that appears as a ring or circle of firm, red bumps, often on the hands, feet, or elbows). Vitamin E is one of the ingredients in over-the-counter treatments of skin aging. Topical application of the gel containing 2% phytonadione, 0.1% retinol, 0.1% vitamin C, and 0.1% vitamin E has been seen to be fairly or moderately effective in reducing dark under-eye circles, especially in cases of hemostasis.
Few studies have shown the effect of vitamin E on Striae Distensae (SD) or stretch marks, as many treatments were performed but none were able to eradicate them. In 1996, a study was conducted on a group of pregnant women applying vitamin E ointment and massaging it in the abdomen, thighs, and breast areas resulted in a decrease in stretch mark numbers. However, the study was considered poor in randomising and without blinding the groups for it to be efficient. Another study shows the effect of vitamin E on rehydration, and the results were insignificant compared to the other group of placebos. Furthermore, studies are needed for combining vitamin E and other antioxidants, as it can be the future treatment of stretch marks with the potential of their synergetic nature.
From alopecia to cosmetic needs, the appearance of hair has always been one of the concerns in the dermatology field. When it comes to the role of vitamin E, studies have shown potential for its use in growing hair and appearance. A study showed that the combination of 0.5% alpha-tocopherol and tocopherol acetate had positive results in hair growth from 2 weeks to 4 weeks. Another interesting study based on two groups of chemotherapy induced alopecia found that the group that used vitamin E prior to chemotherapy long-term resulted in 69% of hair loss compared to the other group of 90%. Furthermore, a recent study done on rabbit hair using a mixture of egg yolk, coconut oil, and vitamin E showed a significant increase in hair growth at 2 weeks; however, the author mentions that further studies are needed regarding the action mechanism of the oils used.
Skin pigmentation has been one of the symptoms that has increased within the dermatological cosmetic interests and its underlying systemic causes in treating it. Hyperpigmentation is a universal description for when skin produces melanin excessively, which leads to the formation of dark patches. Melasma is one of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation. They tend to be in dark gray patches, specifically on the face region. It is known as a “black spot” or “chloasma” in pregnant women. UV radiation, genetics, ethnicity, and hormonal changes are some of the common causes of melasma. Melasma treatment comes with a combination of approaches that include avoiding sun exposure and hormonal management. One of the common therapeutics given to melasma patients is oral procyanidin, which is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help reduce the appearance of melasma and its safety in use. Furthermore, antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin C share these common features. Vitamin E can have a positive effect in therapeutics for this skin condition as it can provide protection for the melanocyte membrane from lipid peroxidation.
When combining vitamin E with other antioxidants, results tend to be dramatic and positive compared to when applied alone. One of the synergistic effects of vitamin E use is when combined with the laser treatment, such as Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (QSNY). A study has shown that when combining vitamin E, vitamin C, and ferulic acid, skin pigmentation such as melasma has shown great improvement, although after 5 sessions.
With its antioxidant effect, vitamin E continues its use in protecting the skin from various chronic damages, and one of those is skin wrinkles. Despite it being a natural process of antiaging, wrinkles form when the skin loses its elasticity and collagen production. Causes of wrinkles range from sun exposure, repeated facial expressions, smoking and environmental changes such as pollution. Various studies have shown vitamin E’s potential in minimizing wrinkles appearance. One study has shown noticeable results with the daily use of 5% d-a-tocopherol cream over a course of four months for periorbital wrinkles. Another study has shown that combining vitamin E, vitamin C, phytonadione and retinol has proven to decrease not only wrinkles in the lower orbital area but also the dark pigmentation known as dark circles in the periorbital area over a course of 8 weeks.
After a century of discovery, vitamin E studies and articles are endless, yet we need further information for the effective use of it. As many studies have been conducted, there are even more skin diseases whose vitamin E effectiveness has not been tested yet. With the studies that have been performed, we can elevate the data with technology and the combination of other antioxidants to extract as much benefit as possible. Controlled clinical trials that support precise dosages and clinical indications for oral and topical vitamin E are scarce, despite the development of novel formulations for use in cosmetics and skin care products. From nanotechnology to newly developed gauzes, the future use of vitamin E is promising, further data for other skin diseases and their mechanisms of action is required. With its low cost, future research and studies are warranted to gain knowledge of vitamin E use, whether as a pre-treatment or as a secondary treatment, and to learn more about its dosage formulas. Therefore, this nutrient that has been discovered through food, despite its extrinsic nature, is still a rich experiment area for evolution in all branches of medicine.
Taken from:
Al Abadie, M., (Corresponding Author: Mohammed Al Abadie PhD FRCP, North Cumbria integrated care NHS foundation trust, University of Central Lancashire, UCLAN medical school, United Kingdom.) Mahfoudh, M., Al-Rawi, A. H. (2024). Topical Vitamin E in Modern Skin Therapy: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Clin Expl Dermatol, 9(2), 01-08.
and:
Keen MA, Hassan I. ( Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College and Associated SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India) Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016 Jul-Aug;7(4):311-5. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.185494. PMID: 27559512; PMCID: PMC4976416.
(The above is taken from open-access articles, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Otherwise, copyright is of the respective authors)
Comments