Vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant, has long been in use in dermatological practice. Vitamin E is an important component of cosmetic products. Owing to its action as a free-radical scavenger, it protects the skin from damage.1

Vitamin E has potential efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. It has been shown to decrease serum IgE levels in atopic subjects.1

Topical vitamin E is commonly used for several skin disorders on account of its antioxidant properties. It is often used in the treatment of burns, surgical scars, and wounds. It is one of the components of treatments for skin aging.1

Vitamin E deactivates unstable free radicals and protects the skin from deleterious effects of external toxic influences including pollutants, chemicals and sun rays, and prevents the propagation of free-radicals. Vitamin E also regulates the functions of vitamin A in the body which is a key vitamin for skin care.2

Vitamin E has antitumorigenic, photoprotective, and skin barrier stabilizing effects. Topical use of vitamins E and C has been shown to be associated with a significant improvement in chloasma and pigmented contact dermatitis lesions. Vitamin E is a major physiological barrier antioxidant in the skin. The skin barrier and the upper dermis lack antioxidant protection. On solar UV-exposure, these sites show marked oxidative protein damage. Antioxidant supplementation with vitamin E and synergistically active coantioxidants, such as vitamin C, thus seems to enhance the photoprotective strategies of sunscreens.3

Vitamin E oil has been found to have beneficial effects in conditions like xerosis, hyperkeratosis, asteatotic eczema, atopic dermatitis, superficial burns, cutaneous ulcers, and onychoschizia and in skin conditions with an activated inflammatory process.4

Vitamin E has also been shown to enhance the stratum corneum hydration statistically significantly and there is evidence of an enhanced water-binding capacity after treatment with vitamin E.5 Additionally, the skin-hydrating effect of vitamin E has been found to be better than that of calcium ascorbate.6 Of note, α-tocopherol-enriched products can help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier by protecting against photooxidative stress at the level of skin surface lipids.7

Vitamin E containing products can safely be used during pregnancy. There is no published report of adverse fetal effects due to use of topical vitamin products.1

References

1. Keen MA, Hassan I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016 Jul-Aug; 7(4): 311–315.
2. Cassano R. Vitamin E chemistry, biological activity and benefits on the skin. In: Preedy V.R. (eds) Handbook of diet, nutrition and the skin. Human Health Handbooks no. 1, vol 2. Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2012.
3. Thiele JJ, Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S. Vitamin E in human skin: Organ-specific physiology and considerations for its use in dermatology. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 2007;28(5–6):646-67
4. Panin G, Strumia R, Ursini F. Topical -Tocopherol Acetate in the Bulk Phase - Eight Years of Experience in Skin Treatment. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2004;1031:443–7,
5. Gehring W, Fluhr J, Gloor M. Influence of vitamin E acetate on stratum corneum hydration. Arzneimittelforschung. 1998 Jul;48(7):772-5.
6. Gönüllü U, Sensoy D, Uner M, et al. Comparing the moisturizing effects of ascorbic acid and calcium ascorbate against that of tocopherol in emulsions. J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Nov-Dec;57(6):465-73.
7. Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S, Tavakkol A, Polefka TG, et al. Vitamin E Delivery to Human Skin by a Rinse-Off Product: Penetration of α-Tocopherol versus Wash-Out Effects of Skin Surface Lipids. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2005;18:20–26.