Acne Treatment

Vitamin E for Acne

Vitamin E is one of those vitamins that does not cause any disease by it’s deficiency in the body, but even a small amount of this vitamin is hugely beneficial for the immune system as it’s strong anti-oxidant properties protect any part of the body which might be susceptible to oxidative damage.

Being an antioxidant, vitamin E protects cell membrane from damage. It helps to maintain healthy skin by eliminating harmful free radicals generated during cellular metabolism. Studies have shown that vitamin E may help skin recover from acne scarring and reduce the appearance of scars left by acne.

Vitamin E regulates the retinol level in humans. Retinol, or commonly known as vitamin A, is essential for healthy skin, mucous membranes and proper vision. Decreases in retinol levels cause the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the cell, which causes toxic effects in the cell. Vitamin E curbs this oxidation process and restores normal levels of retinal. The acne in both men and women improve with vitamin E treatment.

Vitamin E particularly protects cell membranes of lungs and red blood cells. It also protects fatty acids from various toxic elements or pollutants, peroxides and free radicals produced during metabolic processes.

Vitamin E provides an essential function in cellular respiration of all muscles and is vital in the production of biological energy. It also strengthens capillary walls, provides nourishment to cells and protects red blood cells from destruction by toxins in the blood.

Vitamin E works along with other antioxidant nutrients. These include selenium, vitamin C, B-carotene and others to prevent free radicals, peroxides and other potential harmful substances. Because of their high oxygen tension, red blood cells are particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. Vitamin E protects these cells from oxidative damage.

This important vitamin for our immune system is fat soluble. It is necessary to have some amount of fat in our diet to help absorb vitamin E. Unfortunately, the fad of losing weight has been making people cut fat from their diet drastically. Such people may get the desired figure, but the effects of loss of vitamin E are obvious from their dry skin and damaged hair. The deficiency of vitamin E results in dry skin, easy bruising, eczema, psoriasis, PMS, poor wound healing and hot flashes.

It also causes serious disorders like nerve damage, muscle weakness and anemia from the breakage of red blood cells.

Vitamin E is essential for all oxygen consuming living organisms. Several different forms of this vitamin exist in nature, which are known as “tocopherols”. This nutrient was discovered in 1922. Researchers believe that this is intimately linked with fertility, thus the name tocopherol, which is derived from Greek and literally means “to bear children.”

Overall, vitamins are compounds which are a must for growth and health. Vitamin E is needed in small amounts and can be found through proper diet. But certain conditions like intestinal disease, liver disease, and pancreas disease may increase the patient’s need for vitamin E.

Vitamin E is available both in natural and synthetic form. There is evidence that while both forms possess antioxidant activity, the natural form is more readily absorbed than the synthetic form. The inorganic iron impairs the absorption of vitamin E. Thus iron and vitamin E should be taken 8 to 12 hour apart for maximum benefit. Vitamin C may enhance the absorption of vitamin E, but high alkaline food items, like baking soda, destroy vitamin E.