Vitamin E for Breakouts: How Effective Is It?
When it comes to skincare, everyone is looking for that one miracle product that will make their skin look and feel amazing. For those with breakouts, the search can be even more stressful since blemishes can be difficult to treat. One of the more popular natural treatments for breakouts is vitamin E — but does it really work?
We dive into the wonderful world of skincare to uncover all there is to know about vitamin E. So if you're wondering if this essential vitamin can help reduce your breakouts — keep reading.
What Is Vitamin E?
Simply put, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin E is naturally found in many foods, including:
- Almonds
- Spinach
- Avocados
- Wheat germ oil
- Red bell pepper
- Pumpkin
When it comes to skincare, however, vitamin E is most often used in its synthetic form — alpha-tocopherol — which is the most potent form of vitamin E available.
Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties can help protect the skin from UV damage and other environmental factors. It's also thought to help reduce irritation and support natural wound healing.
How Can Vitamin E Help With Breakouts?
Vitamin E is believed to improve the appearance of scars caused by blemishes. It can do this by soothing irritation caused by bacteria that are trapped in pores, which can ultimately lead to fewer breakouts.
Lastly, because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin E may help protect your skin from further damage caused by environmental factors such as sun exposure or pollution, which can also affect your complexion.
How Can Vitamin E Help With Breakouts?
Topically applying too much vitamin E oil can actually cause more harm than good since it can clog up your pores and lead to breakouts. To avoid this, start off using just a small amount of oil on your face once daily, then slowly increase the amount depending on how your skin reacts.
Additionally, make sure you use a gentle cleanser after applying the oil so you don't leave any residue behind on your skin, which could lead to pimples.
Finally, remember that while vitamin E might help reduce irritation and redness associated with breakouts, it likely won’t do anything for other causes, such as hormonal imbalances or stress-related issues. These should be addressed separately through lifestyle changes or medical intervention if necessary.
If you’re not sure about using vitamin E on your skin, we recommend talking to your dermatologist. They can give you specialized skincare advice based on your unique skin.
Pro Tip: Give your skin a healthy dose of vitamin E with Good to Glow™ — a vitamin C and vitamin E pairing that provides anti-aging benefits, brightens skin, and helps protect against free radicals.*
Any Other Tips To Combat Breakouts?
In addition to vitamin E, consider these tips to help keep breakouts at bay:
Keep Your Hands Off Your Face
Touching your face can spread bacteria and add oil to your skin, so it's best to avoid it as much as possible. If you must touch it, make sure your hands are clean first!
Wash Up
As a general rule, wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser that won't strip the natural oils from your skin or irritate any existing breakouts.
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliating can help remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, which can help prevent breakouts before they start.
Just make sure not to overdo it — exfoliating too often can actually make things worse by irritating existing pimples or creating microscopic tears in the skin that allow bacteria to penetrate, which can cause even more breakouts.
Wear Sunscreen
Sunscreen is an important part of any skincare routine, especially if you're prone to breakouts. UV radiation can dry out your skin and make existing breakouts worse, so make sure you wear some SPF every day (yes, even when it's cloudy) for optimal protection.
Eat Well
Eating a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats can help keep your skin looking its best. This is because these foods provide essential nutrients that can help keep skin looking healthy from the inside out!
It’s generally best to avoid processed or sugary foods as much as possible since they can cause irritation. This can lead to further breakouts or aggravate existing ones.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is key for keeping your body (and skin) functioning optimally. It’s generally best to aim for at least eight glasses per day for hydrated, happy skin all around.
Stress Less
Stress has been linked to higher levels of cortisol, which can increase sebum production (that's the oil that clogs pores), leading to more breakouts. Because of this, your skincare routine should start with taking some time each day just for yourself.
Meditate, read a book, or go on a walk — anything that helps minimize stress levels can be beneficial for fighting off those pesky pimples!
Use Spot Treatments
Spot treatments are great for targeting individual pimples without drying out your full face like traditional breakout medications might do. Look for non-irritating ingredients like witch hazel or tea tree oil that may help fight bacteria while also soothing any redness associated with blemishes.
Take Probiotics
Believe it or not, probiotics can help balance the bacteria in your gut, which is important for skin health. Incorporate probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut into your diet, or consider taking a probiotic supplement.
At Love Wellness, we only use the best ingredients to create clean supplements that work. So if you're on the hunt for a high-quality probiotic supplement to support a glowing complexion, we recommend taking Clear Skin Probiotics®. It’s clinically tested to help ease breakouts and can support your gut-skin connection.* All it takes is one capsule per day.
The Bottom Line
Vitamin E can be an effective tool for helping manage mild to moderate breakouts when used correctly and in conjunction with other actions, like making lifestyle changes or taking medication prescribed by your doctor, if necessary.
That said, it's important to remember that everyone's skin is different, and what works for one person might not necessarily work for another. With this in mind, it's always best to proceed with caution when trying out new products.
Sources:
Vitamin E | The Nutrition Source