Vitamin E seems to have a great deal of potential as an effective remedy in the long and challenging quest to fade hyperpigmentation! We take a closer look at why that might be.
Hyperpigmentation is a very common problem, especially on skin of colour which is already naturally melanated. Although the condition is harmless, it can be hard to live with if the patches of discoloured skin are very visible, so it’s understandable that those suffering from severe hyperpigmentation look for ways to fade it.
For more detailed information on what causes the problem, see our article Does Hyperpigmentation Fade Away Naturally?
The issue with hyperpigmentation is that the pigment is deposited in the very deepest layers of skin - very much like tattoo ink - so it doesn’t get ‘healed’ in the same way that damage to the surface does; the continual renewal and repair of the epidermis doesn’t happen at those depths, so it can take months or years for the pigment to be gradually dispersed.
A three-pronged strategy for fading hyperpigmentation
What can you do to help that process along? Well, there are three main ways to help skin affected by hyperpigmentation, and you can do all three at once if you pick your skincare carefully!
- Protect your skin from further damage, whether from sun or inflammation.
- Keep your skin well-moisturised
- Use skincare products that contain appropriate nutrients
How can vitamin E help with hyperpigmentation?
One of the most useful substances in the battle against skin issues is vitamin E. It’s a powerful little nutrient that can be applied directly onto skin, rather than just obtained through the diet. That means you can use skincare containing vitamin E as a kind of supplement for the skin, applying creams and oils to any problem areas where they can get straight to work on conditioning and nourishing the epidermis.
So what’s so good about vitamin E for skin? There's a whole list of beneficial properties which make it a great weapon in our three-pronged strategy for improving the appearance of hyperpigmentation, protecting from further damage and keeping skin in healthy, resilient condition, but these are the most significant:
- it's antioxidant
- it's anti-inflammatory
- it's protective against UV damage
Evidence suggests that vitamin E by itself isn’t as effective as when it’s combined with vitamin C; you can read about vitamin C’s benefits for skin in our related article Does Vitamin C Help With Hyperpigmentation? But the takeaway from the research about vitamin E is that although it’s a fantastic nutrient for protecting skin from UV damage and inflammation, its use in fading hyperpigmentation is really contingent on it acting in conjunction with its close ally, vitamin A.
The two vitamins together can help regulate the production and dispersal of melanocytes, the pigment particles that are at the root of the problem. They can both protect from and repair UV damage, and help the skin function effectively to renew itself.
The good news for Balmonds customers is that our Rosehip Scar Oil is rich in both of these vitamins, with added natural tocopherol (aka vitamin E) combining effectively with the vitamin C - and indeed, a natural form of vitamin A - in the rosehip and calendula oils in the blend.
Recommended products:
Balmonds Rosehip Scar Oil with rosehip, lavender & chamomile (£18.99 for 50ml)
Balmonds Intensive Hand Cream with sea buckthorn berry & hemp (from £10.99 for 50ml)
