Vitamin E For Your Skin And Body
We know that vitamins are good for your health and skin. The primary source of vitamins comes from foods. It can also be found in supplements and topicals to help with deficiencies and treat certain skin conditions. Different vitamins benefit in different ways. Let's look at topical vitamin E and oral vitamin E supplements and what it does to the body and skin.
What Is Vitamin E Oil?
Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble vitamins with distinctive antioxidant properties. There are different forms of vitamin E. Natural vitamin E and synthetic vitamin E. The synthetic vitamin E consists of eight different forms, only one of which is identical to the natural molecule. As a result, it is found that the natural vitamin E has at least twice the potency of the synthetic vitamin E. Of the eight different types of vitamin E, tocopheryl acetate and tocopherol are most commonly found in skin-care products and considered safe for humans to ingest.
The antioxidant properties in vitamin E combat free radicals and help to slow down the process that damages cells. Free radicals have been connected with certain health conditions such as skin cancer and premature aging. It absorbs the energy from ultraviolet rays and protects your skin cells from sun damage.It also has healing and moisturizing properties that help to boost the barrier function of your skin.
Sources Of Vitamin E
Vitamin E can be found in dietary supplements and for topical use in skin care products. It is typically derived from soybean oil and is naturally in certain foods.
Food Sources of Vitamin E
Food |
Milligrams (mg)
per serving |
Percent DV* |
Wheat germ oil, 1 tablespoon | 20.3 | 135 |
Sunflower seeds, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 7.4 | 49 |
Almonds, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 6.8 | 45 |
Sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon | 5.6 | 37 |
Safflower oil, 1 tablespoon | 4.6 | 31 |
Hazelnuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 4.3 | 29 |
Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons | 2.9 | 19 |
Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 2.2 | 15 |
Corn oil, 1 tablespoon | 1.9 | 13 |
Spinach, boiled, ½ cup | 1.9 | 13 |
Broccoli, chopped, boiled, ½ cup | 1.2 | 8 |
Soybean oil, 1 tablespoon | 1.1 | 7 |
Kiwifruit, 1 medium | 1.1 | 7 |
Mango, sliced, ½ cup | 0.7 | 5 |
Tomato, raw, 1 medium | 0.7 | 5 |
Spinach, raw, 1 cup | 0.6 | 4 |
Benefits Of Vitamin E For Skin
Because of the benefits of vitamin E for skin, many skincare products contain a form of vitamin E to promote healthy skin.
Moisturize skin. - Topical vitamin E oil is great for dry skin because it helps skin to hold on to water to keep skin hydrated. It works as humectant to absorb water into the skin and as an emollient to trap water in the skin.
Anti-inflammatory properties. - Studies have supported the prevention of inflammatory damage after UV exposure. The topical application of vitamin E can reduce UV-induced skin swelling. Vitamin E applied topically may provide relief to skin irritation, eczema symptoms, and other skin disorders.
Reduce skin itching. - Because vitamin E helps to keep skin moisturized, it can reduce itchiness caused by dry, flaky skin associated with eczema, psoriasis, or atopic dermatitis. Wound healing. - Potent antioxidant properties in vitamin E encourage wound healing and diminish scars on the skin.
Anti-aging - Vitamin E can help to slow down the aging process by blocking free radicals. The sun is the primary culprit for wrinkles, and it has been proven that vitamin E decreases the effect of the sun damage on the skin and prevents further damage. When used in conjunction with vitamin C with limited sun exposure, it will improve skin health.
Is Vitamin E Safe To Use?
When taken at appropriate doses, oral use of vitamin E is generally considered safe. As for topical treatment, it is not recommended for oily skin or acne prone skin because it can potentially clog pores. Those with sensitive skin should patch test for allergic reactions and irritation. Pregnant women and those with health conditions should always consult health professionals prior to use.
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