scar treatment

With summer upon us again, it’s a good idea to protect your body with the right vitamins before soaking up some sun. Vitamin E is one of the best supplements when it comes to preventing sun damage, and its benefits don’t stop there. Vitamin E is a versatile nutrient that can protect and heal your skin in many ways, helping the body combat afflictions such as acne scarring.

Because vitamin E is essential to maintaining and protecting the structure of cell membranes, it plays a direct role in keeping your skin cells firm and healthy. Vitamin E also promotes tissue repair and healing. It’s an essential contributor to your immune system as one of the most versatile antioxidants (along with vitamin C) in your body. However, one of the most powerful benefits of vitamin E is the defense it provides against free-radicals caused by sun exposure.

Free radicals are atoms or molecules that become oxidized and develop unpaired electrons, making them highly reactive and capable of setting off chain-reactions within the body which may destroy essential cellular components such as DNA. The UV radiation given off by the sun is a major cause of free radicals. Vitamin E effectively combats free radicals by safely interacting with them and terminating these chain-reactions prior to any damage being caused.

Vitamin E may be taken internally or applied topically for the treatment of skin conditions. Some acne sufferers apply vitamin E to their scars at night to speed healing, and many report a “healthy glow” resulting from topically applied vitamin E. By firming-up your cells, vitamin E may also reduce the appearance of fine lines, which is why it has become a popular ingredient in anti-aging products.

Taken as a supplement, the required daily intake for vitamin E is very small at 22 IU, but for the treatment of any affliction, the recommended dosage is much higher, usually 400-800 IU. While vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, toxicity is very rare and generally only occurs at doses above 1,500 IU per day. Note that doses lower than 400 IU are unlikely to produce a very noticeable improvement. An effective method to promote faster healing is a combination of vitamins E and C, which work especially well together. Vitamin A, another important antioxidant for skin care, also works well in combination with vitamin E, as vitamin E regulates levels of vitamin A in the body.

While vitamin E alone is unlikely to kill underlying acne bacteria, it can protect your skin and help prevent against acne forming. It’s also one of the best vitamins to use for repairing and eliminating the appearance of acne scars. The effects of free radicals can damage your skin cells and make you more susceptible to blemishes as well, so taking vitamin E is especially good advice if you spend a lot of time out in the sun.

source: ezinearticles.com