Anti-oxidants play an important role in reducing inflammation and increasing collagen production. Vitamin E is one of the major antioxidants present in skin, and for many years has been used as a topical treatment for wounds and scars.
Unfortunately, in practice vitamin E preparations have not been shown to provide wound healing benefits.
A study followed people after skin cancer surgery. Participants treated one end of their wound with vitamin E plus emollient cream, and the other end with emollient cream alone. Wounds were treated twice daily for four weeks.
Study results:
- 33 per cent of the participants developed contact dermatitis - redness and irritation at the site where vitamin E was used.
- 12 weeks after treatment, the area treated with vitamin E was no better or worse in 90 per cent of cases.
Due to the lack of benefit and high rate of side effects, we don't recommend using vitamin E on healing wounds.
Instead, we recommend the following measures to speed wound healing and reduce the risk of scarring:
- Silicone/hypochlorous acid gel
- Low level light therapy
- A balanced diet containing high levels of vitamin C, fish oil
- No smoking