|
|
Natural Health And Beauty - The Truth About Vitamin E |
|
|
Whilst skin care products generally won't deliver nutrients deep
into the actual living cells beneath the superficial layers of
the skin, the vitamin E in many products is actually useful.
Scientists have found that by applying antioxidants to the skin,
free radical damage that would normally occur through exposure
to UV light (say, from the sun), can be prevented or at least
minimized. Vitamin E is a popular ingredient in many skin care
creams.
The scientists found that the protective effects of vitamin E
from that period of UV exposure were apparent 2 and 3 days
later. The group of people who had vitamin E cream applied to
their skin had less signs of inflammation than the group who
were given the lotion without vitamin E. Inflammation is a sign
of cell damage, and was measured in this study by the amount of
blood flow to that area as compared to normal. This was a
placebo controlled, double blind study, which means that some
people received the lotion with vitamin E, some didn't and
neither group knew which it was getting. The conclusions these
scientists made were that vitamin E was effective at preventing
the visible signs of aging on skin.
Whilst vitamin E in creams and lotions will benefit the |
|
|
|
skin,
there is strong doubt on whether it can help in some of the
beauty products it is in. For example, when vitamin E is
advertised as being of benefit to strengthen or thicken
eyelashes, this is something of a misnomer, and is not supported
by science. Paula Begoun, the 'cosmetic cop' writes that there
isn't a product out there that will strengthen and thicken
eyelashes. The best you can do in this instance is to apply an
eyelash primer and mascara to make eyelashes appear thicker.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and the research verifies only
benefits that relate to this antioxidant activity.
Another of the promises associated with vitamin E creams is that
it helps to heal scars. This is not something that has been
verified scientifically. Research quoted in Wikipedia found that
when vitamin E was applied to patients who had undergone
surgery, it did not reduce the size, shape, or color of scars.
In fact, up to one third of patients experienced complications
like allergies, dermatitis, and irritation that in fact can make
a forming scar worse. Activated manuka honey is a much better
option in reducing scarring, and healing skin.
Vitamin E remains an excellent antioxidant. It is helpful when
taken as a |
|
|
Untitled Document
| |
