Compiled &medically reviewed by

Dr.Sanjana.V.B  Bhms, Dbrm,Cdn.

Vitamin E for your skin glow & problems of ageing

    Vitamin E is an important fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin, and one of the main ingredient in many cosmetic products. It protects the skin from various harmful effects of UV rays of sun acting as a free-radical scavenger. α-tocopherol (α-Toc) is the most abundant vitamin E derivative in human tissues . Alpha-tocopherol is the only one used by the human body. Vitamin E has a great role in keeping your skin soft, smooth and supple. It is essential for hair growth also.

    Vitamin E is an effective antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that might protect your cells against the injurious or harmful effects of free radicals in your body. Antioxidants protect your skin from premature ageing from various factors such as sun damage from UV rays. 

  Foods rich in vitamin E include canola oil, olive oil, margarine, almonds and peanuts, some vegetables and fruits.

Vitamin E has vital role in maintaining skin health and beauty. The skin is composed of two layers, the epidermal outer layer which provides the barrier function, and the inner dermal layer which provides strength and elasticity and gives nutritional support to the epidermis.

 Epidermis or outer layer of skin lacks blood vessels, that can provide nutrients to cells. Nutrients reach epidermis after diffusion from the blood vessels that supply dermis, the inner layer of skin.

 Nutritional status is vital for maintaining normal functioning of the skin during collagen synthesis and keratinocyte differentiation processes. Vitamins are very important for various functions and structural integrity of skin.

   Skin is protecting your body against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and various other harmful effects of chemical and mechanical stress. Skin also protects from microbial infection. Nutrition is one of the main factors required for the maintenance of overall skin health. Nutritional deficiencies may alter the structural integrity and biological function of skin, resulting in an abnormal skin barrier.

   The  stratum corneum,outermost layer of epidermis functions as an effective aqueous barrier and prevents the passage of many substances. Only a few uncharged and fat-soluble molecules can pass through the surface layer of epidermis. Therefore nutrients delivered via topical application would not easily penetrate into the lower layers of the dermis . The dermis should get nutrients through bloodstream from the food you consume.

Skin ageing and nutrition

   Skin ageing happens from intrinsic or internal factors [such as genes] of your body and extrinsic or environmental factors such as sun induced damage, chemical exposure, stress etc. Nutrients have great role in delaying, preventing and managing skin ageing process.

Intrinsic aging

It is a slow process and, changes do not become evident until advanced age, if no extrinsic causes like UV rays cause damage to skin. It is related to genetic factors. 

·       Skin ageing from intrinsic causes is characterized by reduction in the thickness of the dermal layer of your skin.

·        Collagen production and blood vessel formation for skin oxygenation and nutrition are also reduced. Specifically, during intrinsic aging there is gradual degradation of elastin and collagen.

·       Dryness of skin is very common in ageing people, chiefly due to a loss of glycosaminoglycans and the reduced ability to maintain moisture levels.

The age-related changes are more prominent on dermis than the epidermis. However, the ageing epidermis shows a deteriorating barrier function and also reduced repairing potential, antioxidant potential, immune function. Melanin production may also be impaired in aged skin. 

Intrinsic aging is an unavoidable phenomenon as it is determined by genetic background and other factors. However the added effect of extrinsic factors on intrinsic ageing can be modified by reducing exposure to environmental risk factors such as smoking, chronic exposure to sunlight, which cause premature skin aging. Poor nutrition is yet another intrinsic skin ageing accelerating factor. 

Using treatments to potentially reverse skin damage, including topical or systemic treatments that help regenerate the elastic fiber system and collagen. A high intake of fruit and vegetables is recommended

Dryness of skin in old age due to alterations in the keratinisation process and lipid content of the stratum corneum. Intrinsically aged skin is dry and less elastic than more youthful skin while extrinsically aged skin may appear with deep, coarse wrinkles, mottled hyperpigmentation and a marked loss of elasticity and recoil.

 Extrinsic ageing

It happens from sun damage, smoking and poor nutrition. Chronic exposure to U V rays of sun induced damage is called photo ageing.  Another ageing accelerating cause is smoking.

Acute exposure of skin to UV radiation can cause sunburn, resulting in a large inflammatory response causing redness, swelling and heat.

Chronic long-term exposure to UV radiation causes premature aging of the skin, with marked disruption to skin structure, and may lead to the development of skin cancer or photoaging.

·       The prominent features are wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and significant changes in skin elasticity that cause skin sagging, with the skin also becoming sallow and rougher with age. Both the epidermal and dermal layers of skin are susceptible to chronic UV exposure; however, the most detrimental impact is on dermis.

·       A  significant loss of collagen fibrils within the dermis, but also specific loss of collagen anchoring fibrils at the dermal–epidermal junction. 

Solutions for preventing age related changes

·       Preventing exposure to UV radiation is the best means of protecting the skin from the detrimental effects of photoaging. However, avoidance is not always possible but sun screen lotions above SPF30 may help to protect the skin. However, sunscreens are not free of side effects .It may expose the skin to chemicals that may cause other problems such as disruption of the skin barrier function or induction of inflammation.

·       You may have to protect your skin with antioxidant vitamins from inside out; include vitamin and mineral rich foods in your diet.

 Vitamin C and vitamin E, with the combination being particularly effective. A few study results indicate the need for complete oxidant scavenging by antioxidant helps to remove oxidative damage from acute sun exposure.

Nutrition or intake of nutrients may be more effective than topical application.

Reversal of photoaging of skin due to previous chronic sun damage is difficult. Although there are a number of studies that claim a significant benefit from an antioxidant supplement or topical cream. The  interpretation of these results are confounding as the agents used are mostly cocktail of compounds and moisturizing agents.

Normal skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C. It is transported into cells from the blood vessels present in the dermal layer.

Several studies have shown that vitamin C levels are lower in both epidermis (69% and 61%) and dermis (63% and 70%) of photoaged and naturally aged skin.

The concentration of alpha-tocopherol or vitamin E also are lower in the epidermis of photoaged (56% of young skin level) and aged (61%) skin but not in dermis.

 Role of vitamin E in skin ageing and care

Vitamin E is vital for health and glow of your skin and helps in healthy ageing .

·       Effective antioxidants.

The vitamin can be applied as topical applications also. They are effective antioxidants. The stability of topical vitamin E may be increased by the use of vitamin E conjugates, which are esters of tocopherol. They are resistant to oxidation and can still penetrate skin layers. Improving skin vitamin C and vitamin E levels can improve resistance to UV exposure. Consumption of vitamin E rich foods is equally important. Decreased signs of aging with higher fruit and vegetable intake have been reported.

·       Anti inflammatory properties

Vitamin E plays vital roles in immune function and the regulation of inflammation. Ageing population needs more vitamin E than younger adults to maintain health. 

·       Prevents collagen degradation

     Free radicals, particularly reactive oxygen species have the ability to alter the production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans in skin. Antiaging creams  may help to some extent to prevent this oxidative damage to skin as these creams contain 0.5%–1% of vitamin E which is an effective antioxidant.

·       Reduces allergy

Vitamin E has some role in diminishing skin allergy or atopy. The vitamin consumption decreases serum levels of IgE [immunoglobulin E] in atopic or skin allergy patients.

·       Reduces pigmentation on skin

Vitamin E is used mostly as a topical agent for pigmentation or melasma, particularly in women. But it has shown only minimal effectiveness in the treatment of pigmentation or melasma. It has been shown to cause depigmentation or fading of dark brown melasma discoloration by interference with lipid peroxidation of melanocyte membranes, increasing glutathione content within cells, and inhibiting tyrosinase enzyme.

 Richest sources of vitamin E are nuts, spinach, whole grains, olive oil, and sunflower oil. Vitamin E supplements also are available in capsule form.

Vitamin C, vitamin E and some polyphenols may favorably supplement sunscreen protection enhancing beauty and maintaining health .They may also provide anticancer protection to your skin.

It is abundantly available from natural sources and does well for our body’s health if consumed in moderate amounts. Natural vitamin E sources like organic fruits and vegetables do not cause toxicity even if you take a little more.

Supplement intake of vitamin E needs to be only under the directions of a health care provider. Excessive doses as over the counter medications may do harm. In prescribed doses it helps your skin and cardiovascular system .

References

1.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25995818/  

2.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20572890/  

3.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21146730/  

4.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21146730/  

5.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17200942/  

6.  1. Weller R.H., John A., Savin J., Dahl M. The Function and Structure of Skin. 5th ed. Wiley-Blackwell; Massachusetts, MA, USA: 2008. [Google Scholar]

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8.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12522365/  

9.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20572890/

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 12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17719081/

 13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12010339/