Vitamin E for Skin Hydration

Typical dose

Recommended dose

Topical use preferred over oral supplementation

Expected timeframe

8-12 weeks

Protocol

form

Topical tocopherol within an emollient base; oral alpha-tocopherol has no hydration evidence

duration

Topical moisturiser effects on hydration are apparent within days to weeks

co factor

Evidence is insufficient. Vitamin E is naturally present in sebum and the stratum corneum and contributes to the skin barrier lipid environment, and as a lipophilic ingredient in a moisturiser it contributes to occlusion and emolliency - which is a formulation effect shared with many oils and lipids rather than a specific vitamin E action. No randomised trial has shown that oral vitamin E supplementation increases skin hydration measured by corneometry or reduces transepidermal water loss, and the topical hydration effect is attributable to the moisturiser base as much as the tocopherol.

titration

Not applicable for oral use; the tolerable upper intake level is 1,000 mg/day

starting dose

Not established for oral use. Topical moisturisers contain 0.1-1% tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate

What the studies say

Less likely to help if