Would Vitamin E Be Beneficial for Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a condition that affects the joints and skin and is not contagious. One of the main symptoms of psoriasis is the red and scaly patches that appear all over the skin. Many people think that vitamin E, which is often an ingredient in skin creams and lotions, can help. It is thought that vitamin E helps skin heal and reduces scarring after injuries.
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Benefits
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Vitamin E is a common ingredient in skincare products. That is because of the many benefits the vitamin is believed to have. Some of these benefits include slower aging, antioxidant properties, sun protection, scar treatment and protection from skin cancer. Many people also believe that vitamin E can prevent and reduce the appearance of stretchmarks on the skin, as well as reduce age spots.
Misconceptions
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Most experts believe that the notion that vitamin E can benefit psoriasis is false, however. Even though vitamin E is good for many other skin conditions, it doesn't necessarily do anything for psoriasis. This is because most of vitamin E's beneficial qualities have not been scientifically proven. It is thought that vitamin E does not penetrate the outer layers of the skin, and not only can it not do that, it can cause severe allergic reactions when sprayed onto the skin.
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Effects
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There are also some negative effects to taking vitamin E supplements to treat your psoriasis. Some of the side effects of taking too many vitamin E supplements include headache, nausea, raised blood pressure, longer blood clotting time, muscle weakness and fatigue. This is usually caused by daily supplements of 600 mg or more.
Potential
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However, even though vitamin E hasn't been scientifically proved to help psoriasis, many believers swear by it. If you take a lesser amount of vitamin E (such as 400 mg in a supplement), you might see positive progress, such as less itching and less scab formation.
Prevention/Solution
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Other treatments to help psoriasis that are scientifically proven should be considered by sufferers of the disorder. Some excellent topical treatments that can help deal with psoriasis include salicylic acid (often an ingredient in skin-clearing washes), tar and several prescribed topicals like Dovonex and Tazorac.
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