OT: The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars

[Guest guest]

The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars.

Baumann LS, Spencer J.

Dermatol Surg. 1999 Apr;25(4):311-5

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10417589

University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miami,

Florida, USA.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E is a generic term for a group of tocol and tocotrienol

derivatives. Since the discovery that vitamin E is the major lipid soluble

antioxidant in skin, this substance has been tried for the treatment of

almost every type of skin lesion imaginable. Anecdotal reports claim that

vitamin E speeds wound healing and improves the cosmetic outcome of burns

and other wounds. Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to

improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical

vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.

OBJECTIVE: We attempted to determine whether topically applied vitamin E has

any effect on the cosmetic appearance of scars as suggested by multiple

anectodal reports.

METHODS: Fifteen patients who had undergone skin cancer removal surgery were

enrolled in the study. All wounds were primarily closed in 2 layers. After

the surgery, the patients were given two ointments each labeled A or B. A

was Aquaphor, a regular emollient, and the B was Aquaphor mixed with vitamin

E. The scars were randomly divided into parts A and B. Patients were asked

to put the A ointment on part A and the B ointment on part B twice daily for

4 weeks. The study was double blinded. The physicians and the patients

independently evaluated the scars for cosmetic appearance on Weeks 1, 4, and

12. The criteria was simply to recognize which side of the scar looked

better if there was any difference. The patients' and the physicians'

opinions were recorded. A third blinded investigator was shown photographs

of the outcomes and their opinion was also noted.

RESULTS: The results of this study show that topically applied vitamin E

does not help in improving the cosmetic appearance of scars and leads to a

high incidence of contact dermatitis.

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. In 90% of the cases in this study, topical vitamin E

either had no effect on, or actually worsened, the cosmetic appearance of

scars. Of the patients studied, 33% developed a contact dermatitis to the

vitamin E. Therefore we conclude that use of topical vitamin E on surgical

wounds should be discouraged.

PMID: 10417589 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Guest guest]

WOW Thanks Georgina, that is good information. To think of the times I've had

surgery and the surgeon recommended topical Vitamin E.

I learn something new every day!!

Thanks again.

and Rob 18 JAS

OT: The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance

of scars

*JRA List < >

> The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars.

> Baumann LS, Spencer J.

> Dermatol Surg. 1999 Apr;25(4):311-5

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10417589

>

> University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous

> Surgery, Miami,

> Florida, USA.

>

> BACKGROUND: Vitamin E is a generic term for a group of tocol and

> tocotrienol

> derivatives. Since the discovery that vitamin E is the major

> lipid soluble

> antioxidant in skin, this substance has been tried for the

> treatment of

> almost every type of skin lesion imaginable. Anecdotal reports

> claim that

> vitamin E speeds wound healing and improves the cosmetic outcome

> of burns

> and other wounds. Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular

> basis to

> improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend

> topical

> vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.

>

> OBJECTIVE: We attempted to determine whether topically applied

> vitamin E has

> any effect on the cosmetic appearance of scars as suggested by

> multiple

> anectodal reports.

>

> METHODS: Fifteen patients who had undergone skin cancer removal

> surgery were

> enrolled in the study. All wounds were primarily closed in 2

> layers. After

> the surgery, the patients were given two ointments each labeled

> A or B. A

> was Aquaphor, a regular emollient, and the B was Aquaphor mixed

> with vitamin

> E. The scars were randomly divided into parts A and B. Patients

> were asked

> to put the A ointment on part A and the B ointment on part B

> twice daily for

> 4 weeks. The study was double blinded. The physicians and the

> patients

> independently evaluated the scars for cosmetic appearance on

> Weeks 1, 4, and

> 12. The criteria was simply to recognize which side of the scar

> looked

> better if there was any difference. The patients' and the

> physicians'

> opinions were recorded. A third blinded investigator was shown

> photographs

> of the outcomes and their opinion was also noted.

>

> RESULTS: The results of this study show that topically applied

> vitamin E

> does not help in improving the cosmetic appearance of scars and

> leads to a

> high incidence of contact dermatitis.

>

> 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. In 90% of the cases in this study, topical

> vitamin E

> either had no effect on, or actually worsened, the cosmetic

> appearance of

> scars. Of the patients studied, 33% developed a contact

> dermatitis to the

> vitamin E. Therefore we conclude that use of topical vitamin E

> on surgical

> wounds should be discouraged.

>

> PMID: 10417589 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>

>