Page 270 - Cosmetology

vitamin B12. May be effective in the treatment of psoriasis. Overall there is limited research showing
vitamin B12 to have any benefit when applied topically on skin.

vitamin B2. There is no research showing this to have any benefit when applied topically to skin. However,
there is a small amount of research showing that riboflavin may be photosensitizing and thus cause the
breakdown of skin.

vitamin B3. See niacinamide.

vitamin B5. Also known as pantothenic acid. See pantothenic acid.

vitamin B6. There is no research showing it to have benefit for skin.

vitamin C. Considered a potent antioxidant for skin. Claims that vitamin C can prevent or eliminate wrinkling
are not proven. An article in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery discussed the issue of vitamin C and
concluded that “Vitamin C is a valuable antioxidant and protectant against photodamage that is created by
sunlight in both the UVB and UVA bands…. Although oral supplementation may also be useful, topical
preparations are able to deliver a higher dosage to the needed area. Topical vitamin C does not absorb or
block harmful ultraviolet radiation like a sunscreen. Instead, it augments the skin’s ability to neutralize
reactive oxygen singlets [free-radical damage] that are created by the ultraviolet radiation, thereby
preventing photodamage to the skin. It becomes an integral part of the skin and remains unaffected by
bathing, exercise, clothing, or makeup. Used appropriately, topical vitamin C is an important adjunct to the
use of sunscreens, an adjunctive treatment to lessen erythema [redness] in skin resurfacing, a helpful
adjunct or an alternative to Retin-A in the treatment of fine wrinkles, and a stimulant to wound healing." See
Paula's article, Vitamin C.

vitamin D. Provides no known benefit for skin when applied topically, though it may have antioxidant
benefits. Vitamin D formed in the skin by sunlight, or in an oral supplement form, is essential for health. See
Paula's article, Vitamin D.

vitamin E. Considered an antioxidant superstar. Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble vitamin (meaning it likes fat
better than water) that has eight different forms, of which some are known for being excellent antioxidants
when applied topically to skin, particularly alpha tocopherol and the tocotrienols. However, other studies
have indicated the acetate form (tocopherol acetate) is also bioavailable and protective for skin. And still
other research points to tocopherol sorbate as providing significant antioxidant protection against ultraviolet
radiation–induced oxidative damage, which states: “More than other tissues, the skin is exposed to
numerous environmental chemical and physical agents such as ultraviolet light causing oxidative stress
[free-radical damage]. In the skin this results in several short- and long-term adverse effects such as
erythema [redness], edema [swelling], skin thickening, wrinkling, and an increased incidence of skin
cancer…. Vitamin E is the major naturally occurring lipid-soluble … antioxidant protecting skin from the
adverse effects of oxidative stress including photoaging [sun damage]. Many studies document that vitamin
E occupies a central position as a highly efficient antioxidant, thereby providing possibilities to decrease the
frequency and severity of pathological events in the skin.”.

vitamin E for scars. There is no evidence that vitamin E can help heal scars, and, because of skin
sensitivity, it can actually impede the healing process for some. A report of research published in
Dermatologic Surgery “The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars,” concluded that
the “… study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin
surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic appearance
of a scar. In 90% of the cases in this study, topical vitamin E either had no effect on, or actually worsened,
the cosmetic appearance of scars. Of the patients studied, 33% developed a contact dermatitis to the
vitamin E. Therefore we conclude that use of topical vitamin E on surgical wounds should be discouraged.”
The study was done double-blind “with patients given two ointments each labeled A or B. A was Aquaphor, a
regular emollient, and the B was Aquaphor mixed with vitamin E. The scars were randomly divided into parts
A and B. Patients were asked to put the A ointment on part A and the B ointment on part B twice daily for 4
weeks.” Antioxidants are definitely an option for skin, but, for preventing scars, vitamin E directly applied on
skin does not appear to be one of them.

vitamin F. Name sometimes used to represent essential fatty acids of linoleic acid and linolenic acid. These
are considered essential fatty acids (EFA) because they cannot be produced by the body. There are many
fatty acids that have benefit for skin, including arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and oleic