Top 10 Benefits of Vitamin E for Hair and Skin

Vitamin E is a powerful, fat-soluble antioxidant that can rejuvenate your health as well as beauty. It encompasses a group of eight compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols.

It works as an immune booster, promotes good circulation, regulates blood sugar, keeps your heart healthy, prevents stroke-induced brain damage and protects against certain cancers.

Some good dietary sources of vitamin E include olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, spinach, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, nuts and whole grains.

The hair and skin benefits of this vitamin also are well known. You can find an endless number of beauty products that have vitamin E as a main ingredient.

You can easily buy pure vitamin E oil or vitamin E capsules to use in home beauty treatments. Unless otherwise noted, use these remedies until you get the desired result.

Here are the top 10 benefits of vitamin E for hair and skin.

1. Stimulates Hair Growth

Vitamin E has antioxidant properties that help repair damaged hair follicles and prevent tissue corrosion, which in turn encourages healthy hair growth.

It also deeply conditions the hair from root to shaft to make it healthier and shinier, and even prevents premature graying.

• Mix the contents of 2 vitamin E capsules in 2 tablespoons of warm olive or coconut oil. Massage the mixture onto your scalp using your fingertips in circular motions. Wait 30 minutes, then wash your hair as usual. Repeat this hair growth treatment 2 or 3 times a week.
• You can also massage your scalp with coconut milk (rich in vitamin E), leave it on for 30 minutes and then rinse it out with lukewarm water. Do this a few times a week.
• Also, include vitamin E-rich foods in your diet to nourish your hair from within.

2. Fades Scars

Another beauty benefit of vitamin E is that it can help fade scars. Being an antioxidant, it accelerates the healing of damaged skin and prevents scars from becoming permanent.

In addition, its moisturizing property keeps the skin hydrated and helps repair damaged tissue.

1. Apply the oil extracted from a vitamin E capsule on the affected skin.
2. Massage it gently for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
4. Do this twice daily until you are satisfied with the result.

3. Fights Wrinkles

You can use vitamin E to fight wrinkles, age spots and other signs of aging. Vitamin E has the power to reverse the damage done by harmful solar radiation and the free radicals in our environment.

It even boosts the production of collagen that adds elasticity to your skin, which prevents aging signs like wrinkles.

• Apply the oil from a vitamin E capsule directly on the affected skin daily before going to bed. Leave it on overnight. The next morning, rinse it off with warm water.
• You can even massage the affected areas with warm olive oil, a rich source of vitamin E, 2 or 3 times daily.
• Eating vitamin E-rich foods regularly is another simple and effective way to fight signs of aging.

4. Treats Skin Hyperpigmentation

You can also use vitamin E to treat hyperpigmentation of the skin that causes uneven color and dark patches on almost any part of the body.

Being an antioxidant, vitamin E can reverse the damage done by the harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.

• Mix the contents of 1 or 2 vitamin E capsules with 1 teaspoon of castor oil. Apply the mixture on the affected skin before going to bed, leave it on overnight and rinse it off the next morning. Use this remedy daily for a month.
• Or, simply use vitamin E oil to massage the affected skin for 10 to 15 minutes twice daily for a few weeks to reduce hyperpigmentation.

5. Softens Rough and Dry Hands

Vitamin E is a great moisturizer for dry and rough hands. It helps keep your skin soft, supple and moisturized.

In addition, it prevents the skin on your hands from sagging, which makes your hands look old.

• Mix a little vitamin E oil with your body lotion and apply it on your hands to keep them moisturized for a longer period.
• You can also add the contents of 2 vitamin E capsules, the juice of 1 lemon and some honey to a small tub or bowl filled with lukewarm water. Soak your hands in it for 10 to 15 minutes. Pat dry, then apply some moisturizer. Follow this remedy a few times a week.
• You can even massage your rough hands with some warm olive oil for 5 to 10 minutes daily before going to bed to enjoy soft and smooth hands.

6. Erases Stubborn Stretch Marks

Whether you have stretch marks on your body due to pregnancy or sudden weight loss or gain, you can try vitamin E to erase the unsightly marks.

It has powerful antioxidant properties that protect the collagen fibers in your skin from free-radical damage. This promotes skin elasticity and treats stretch marks.

• Mix the liquid from 4 or 5 vitamin E capsules with an equal amount of lemon juice. Massage this solution gently on the stretch marks for 5 to 10 minutes. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, then rinse it off with water. Do this daily for a few months for the marks to fade.
• You can even massage the affected skin with warm coconut or olive oil 2 or 3 times a day.

7. Treats Chapped Lips

To treat chapped and dry lips, vitamin E is very effective. Vitamin E oil works as lip moisturizer and makes them smooth, soft and supple. It even helps treat dark lips and adds a natural glow to them.

• Pierce a vitamin E capsule and extract the liquid. Apply it regularly on your chapped lips to keep them moisturized and prevent dryness.
• Also, add a few drops of vitamin E oil to 1 tablespoon of honey and apply it on your lips 2 or 3 times a day to fight dryness.

8. Strengthens Nails

To have strong and long nails, try vitamin E. Its moisturizing property helps keep your nails hydrated and healthy. In addition, it is an effective solution for cracking and splitting nails as well as dry cuticles.

• Add the contents of 1 or 2 vitamin E capsules to a small bowl filled with warm water. Soak your fingers in it for 10 minutes. Use this remedy 3 or 4 times a week.
• You can even apply vitamin E oil directly on the nails and massage gently for 5 minutes daily before going to bed.

9. Treats Dermatitis

You can use vitamin E to treat dermatitis, which is an inflammation of the skin. Vitamin E can provide relief from dermatitis symptoms, such as inflammation, swelling, itching, burning sensations and redness. Its antioxidant property promotes quick healing of damaged skin.

• Apply some vitamin E oil on the affected skin before going to bed. Leave it on overnight and rinse it off the next morning with warm water. Use this remedy daily for a couple of weeks.
• Also, eat more foods rich in vitamin E, such as olives, coconut milk, sunflower seeds, wheat germ oil, and peanut butter, to help your body heal naturally.

10. Smooths Split Ends

If your hair has split ends due to excessive use of hair colors, blow drying, curling and straightening, then try vitamin E.

It can reverse the damage to your hair. It works as an excellent deep conditioner to give you lustrous locks, nourish your hair and treat split ends.

• Mix equal amounts of vitamin E, olive and coconut oils. Apply it on the split ends. Allow it to sit for a couple of hours before washing your hair with a mild shampoo. Use this remedy 3 times a week to notice a difference in your hair texture.
• You can also make a hair mask with an avocado, a rich source of vitamin E. Mash 1 avocado, add 2 tablespoons each of olive and coconut oils, and mix it well. Apply this hair mask thoroughly on your hair (to avoid excess greasiness, avoid the roots). Allow it to sit for 30 minutes, then wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use this hair mask once a week.

Warnings

• As vitamin E is fat-soluble, take the supplement with a meal containing some fat to aid its absorption.
• This vitamin loses its potency when exposed to air, heat and light, so store the supplements in a dark, cool place.
• Those who take anticoagulants must not take vitamin E supplements without consulting a doctor.
• Before applying vitamin E oil on your skin, do a patch test to see if you have an allergic reaction to it.
• Those who are prone to break-outs or have sensitive skin must use vitamin E oil with caution.