Conclusions: This study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic appearance of a scar.
Healing scars
However, a different study found that children with surgical scars who used vitamin E three times a day didn't develop keloids, or extra scar tissue over the wound. Researchers concluded that using a topical form of vitamin E before and after surgery improved the way wounds healed.
Vitamin E was discovered in 1922 by researchers at the University of California who suggested it had beneficial properties for skin, especially in support of wound healing and scar repair. It is the main lipid-soluble antioxidant in the skin.
One study even found that in almost a third of cases, vitamin E caused a common skin irritation — known as contact dermatitis. Dermatologists now consider it "a proven scientific fact" that applying vitamin E is of no value to scars, Dr Artemi says.
While existing scars cannot be waved away via magic wand, you can speed up the fading process by regularly applying certain topical creams, lotions, and gels to them. Some common ingredients in these scar treatments include aloe vera, cocoa butter, Vitamin E, honey, and other hydrating materials.
It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.
If you want to try an over-the-counter product, silicone gel or silicone sheets have the best evidence they can help reduce the appearance of scars. For more serious scars like keloids, other treatments like cryotherapy, laser resurfacing, or scar removal surgery may be an option.
In fact, in two randomized comparison trials of Mederma and petroleum jelly, Mederma did not improve the appearance of scars any more than petroleum jelly, and Vitamin E doesn't do any better.
Vitamin E promotes healing. May be used on the skin once the wound has healed and new skin has formed. Higher doses may help heal burns.
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.
Vitamin E is most commonly known for its benefits for skin health and appearance. It can be applied topically to your face to reduce inflammation and make your skin look younger. Many people also swear by the effects of topical vitamin E when it's applied to the face overnight.
Results: Aloe vera modulated the inflammation, increased wound contraction and epithelialization, decreased scar tissue size, and increased alignment and organization of the regenerated scar tissue.
Pure Vitamin E oil can be moisturizing and soothing to the surgical area once the incision has closed. Some research even suggests that it improves the appearance of scars. Simply apply the oil to the scar at least once a day for the first eight weeks.
Vitamin E is widely used to treat scarring, which can help lighten dark spots.
An environmental factor that clearly has an effect on the appearance on skin scarring is sunlight exposure. Scars can be more sensitive to ultraviolet light for more than a year. An inability to respond to 'photodamage' may lead to worsening inflammation and altered pigmentation.
New scars are exceptionally vulnerable to hyperpigmentation from unprotected sun exposure. This has to do with the way the melanin in your skin responds to UV rays, which is usually to darken the natural pigment of the skin.
Most scars fade over time and don't cause long-term health problems. How a scar changes depends on its location, size and type. A scar may fade so much that you can barely see it, but it never completely goes away. Some scars cause problems months or years later.
Might Lighten Dark Spots
Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots.
No dear Vitamin E will not darken your skin , it is infact used to treat uneven skin and discolouration. Vitamin E contains alpha-tocopherol. It is a powerful antioxidant that protects your skin from the harmful free radicals. You can try this skin lightening mask by mixing vitamin e with papaya.