Vitamin E in dermatology

Nutrition is essential for skin care, whether for rejuvenation, recovery, or regeneration after trauma or surgery; yet it is often overlooked. Although many nutrients have well-demonstrated benefits, others, such as vitamin E, a liposoluble antioxidant used for more than 50 years in dermatology, lack research and proof of their photoprotective and anti-tumorigenic properties. "Vitamin E" is the collective term for tocopherols and tocotrienols, with the main differences being their aliphatic tails and tocotrienols' higher antioxidant effect compared with tocopherols due to their unsaturated, isoprenoid side chains. Given the ongoing exposure of individuals to physical, biological, chemical, and psychological stressors throughout their lives, recent studies have shown that vitamin E provides stress protection or resistance, normalizes cellular homeostasis, and increases resistance to toxic stimuli that cause cellular damage. We discuss the relationship between oral and topical vitamin E and its improvement in many dermatologic and systemic conditions.