Many natural supplements and vitamins have been getting a lot of attention in beauty circles. However, vitamin E stands out as one of the best nutrients that offer multiple benefits for those who want to maintain their healthy skin and hair. It’s also said to be a safe natural treatment so many people have been including them in their beauty routines.
So what are the effects of vitamin E on the hair? Vitamin E contains powerful antioxidant properties which makes it an essential nutrient for keeping the hair healthy and protected from breakage and cell damage. It’s also said to slow down the effects of hair aging and premature graying since it boosts your hair’s natural shine and elasticity. Likewise, it stimulates the creation of new hair follicles to encourage the active growth of stronger and thicker hair strands.
Everything To Know About Vitamin E’s Role In Hair Growth
Vitamin E is one of the fat soluble vitamins that is needed to regulate normal cell development and activity to ensure the healthy function of all organs in the body. But the main reason why individuals need vitamin E is because of its antioxidant and strong immune building properties.
The effects of not having enough amounts of vitamin E can sometimes cause the skin to be more vulnerable to UV damage, resulting in early aging and the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. At the same time, lack of vitamin E may also have an effect on the hair follicle cells and scalp tissues which can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle.
Several studies have investigated the role of minerals and nutrients on hair loss, and based on their findings, daily intake of vitamin E can be beneficial for improving overall hair health and quality. Here are some of the benefits of vitamin E for hair growth:
1. Increases capillary growth and blood circulation
To promote active hair growth, the follicles need to be sustained with oxygen and nutrients. Ensuring good blood circulation to the scalp is the only way to deliver the nourishment that the follicles need to grow strong and thick hair. Vitamin E is essential for healthy scalp circulation since it widens the blood vessels and stimulates the capillaries to increase blood flow.
2. Reduces cell damage from free radicals and oxidative stress
The potent antioxidant properties of vitamin E help protect your scalp and preserve hair health. Hair breakage, frizziness, and dry hair can occur when the hair follicles and strands weaken due to exposure to free radicals, pollution, and other harmful compounds. Using vitamin E oil products can reduce the buildup of oxidative stress on the scalp, which can sustain hair follicle activity to prevent excess hair fall and hair loss.
3. Stimulates collagen and protein synthesis for stronger hair follicles
In many shampoos and conditioning hair products today, you’ve probably encountered the term keratin. It’s an important hair protein that helps maintain hair thickness and makes it look shinier and lustrous in appearance. Keratin is basically made up of multiple amino acids and one of its essential components is collagen.
Vitamin E is believed to help the body stimulate healthy collagen production, which in turn aids in the active protein synthesis to create keratin for the hair. Collagen also has several protective benefits and can lessen the damage to the scalp and hair follicles to ensure the growth of stronger hair.
4. Balances sebum production in the scalp
It’s normal to feel a little oil on the scalp. Thanks to the active sebaceous glands attached to the follicles, you have natural oils that strengthen the hair roots and help keep the strands moisturized to prevent frizzy, dry, and brittle hair. However, if you have an excessively oily scalp, this can lead to symptoms of itchy scalp disorders and hair loss.
One of the primary causes of increased oil production is having overactive glands. But if you use vitamin E oil capsules and hair care supplements, it can help treat the imbalance in your oil production and regulate the pH levels in your scalp. It soothes the glands to stop releasing excess oil and rejuvenates overall scalp condition to prevent further hair damage.
5. Strengthens immune system to fight scalp infections
Vitamin E also provides a great boost not only to your overall immune system but also to your hair immunity. This nutrient supports the follicles by preserving its lipid layer to reduce the impact of external damage to your tissues and keeps your strands intact on your roots to avoid unwanted hair fall.
It also protects from any bacteria or fungi that can cause infection to your scalp skin and hair follicles. In addition, having a strong immunity can prevent some types of hair loss that can be caused by an autoimmune condition like alopecia areata.
Ways That Vitamin E Supports Hair Health
Although there’s conclusive evidence yet that shows how lack of vitamin E intake can cause hair loss, vitamin E supplementation has been shown to help address several common hair problems. Many people have been taking advantage of vitamin E oil products and hair growth vitamins as a natural remedy for their weak and aging hair and unhealthy scalp.
Here are some of the common hair-related issues that vitamin E can help treat:
Problem | Overview of the Condition and Its Symptoms | How You Can Benefit From Vitamin E |
Hair loss or androgenetic alopecia | Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss that happens in men and women. It’s also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss. It’s usually caused by a hormone imbalance that attacks the healthy follicles and stops new hair growth. Individuals with this condition can experience a receding hairline, thinning hair, and patchy bald spots over the scalp. | There is one study that supports vitamin E as a potential hair growth treatment for patients with androgenetic alopecia. The supplement is said to work by reducing the negative effects of oxidative damage on the scalp and the healthy cells and tissues to maintain hair regrowth. |
Premature hair aging and graying | Excess exposure to the sun and other toxicants can speed up the breakdown of follicles and tissues in the scalp, causing hair to show signs of premature aging. It’s also possible for the free radicals to inflict damage to your pigment cells, which can cause your hair to lose its natural color and turn gray. | The antioxidants present in the vitamin E can stall the effects of hair aging and keep it looking luscious and shiny with its natural color. Vitamin E oils also help deliver nutrients to the scalp tissues to encourage follicles to actively grow healthy hair. It can also hydrate the hair to retain its soft texture. |
Split ends and hair fall | Another sign of poor hair quality is having visible tangles or split ends at the tips of your hair strands. This condition happens when hair becomes damaged from too much use of chemicals and hair styling products. When unmanaged, split ends can cause some hair strands to fall. | The application of vitamin E oils and hair care products can help repair the follicles to relieve hair breakage. In addition, vitamin E oils can be used as a conditioning treatment or moisturizer to detangle split ends. |
Dry and itchy scalp | While vitamin E deficiency is rare, one theory stands that having inadequate levels of this nutrient can cause dry and irritated scalp. Having a dry scalp can cause skin flaking and dandruff. It can also sometimes progress to scalp psoriasis, a disorder that can result in the appearance of red patches over the scalp. | Vitamin E can help lock in moisture to the cells and the surface of the scalp. Topical application of vitamin E products can also alleviate dryness and can reduce the symptoms of scalp psoriasis. |
How To Use Vitamin E For Hair Loss
Vitamin E can come in many different forms in hair growth vitamins and dietary supplements. But the best form of vitamin E is alpha-tocopherol and it is common in most food sources and over-the-counter capsules and oral medications. Here are some of the best ways to use and consume vitamin E for promoting hair growth:
1. An addition to your hair care routine
One of the easiest ways to supplement vitamin E for hair is using commercial shampoos and conditioning products that have this nutrient as their active ingredient. Another method is by using vitamin E oil capsules to create your own hair masks which is a great complement to your hair care regimen.
Hair masking involves covering your hair with a rejuvenating mixture that can restore good scalp health and reverse damage and breakage. For DIY hair masking, you would simply need to mix pure vitamin E oil with another ingredient like blended avocado, aloe vera gel, egg yolk, raw honey, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil.
You can also opt to do a scalp massage with vitamin E oils as your main ingredient. Massaging can be done as part of your hair care routine since it boosts blood circulation to support healthier scalp and follicles. When doing scalp massage, it’s best to mix and dilute vitamin E with carrier oils to avoid the risk of skin irritation and rashes.
2. Part of daily supplement intake
Vitamin E oral supplements and capsules are also available for over-the-counter purchase. Taking supplements can help ensure that you are meeting recommended daily vitamin E intake. Normally, healthy adults would require 15 mg or 22 IU doses of vitamin E per day.
If you want to take vitamin E supplements for hair care, make sure to consult with your healthcare provider first. Unlike multivitamins that contain small amounts of vitamin E (around 13.5 mg), pure vitamin E medications may have larger doses (67 mg) that may lead to vitamin toxicity.
3. Topical treatment for scalp disorders and hair
Topical vitamin E solutions are said to work better for managing scalp disorders and hair loss symptoms. With supplements, they may take several weeks or months before producing obvious results but topical treatments can provide immediate soothing effects for scalp inflammation and improve hair appearance within a few hours after applying them. It can ensure direct delivery of nutrients to the scalp compared to supplements that can take time to get absorbed.
4. Incorporating vitamin E-rich food for a well-balanced diet
Vitamin E is also abundant in many food sources and changing your diet is one of the best ways to maintain hair health. The best sources of vitamin E that you can easily consume are vegetable oils like sunflower oil and wheat germ oil, nuts, almond, seeds, and peanuts. Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale, as well as fruits like mango and cranberries, also have a decent vitamin E content.
Vitamin E Supplements For Healthier Hair: Are There Any Side Effects?
There are very few side effects of using vitamin E oils and taking supplements for hair growth. The most common reaction is skin irritation from using undiluted vitamin E oils for scalp treatment and massage so it’s always best to mix them with a carrier oil before usage.
But to be on the safe side, hair care supplements should only be taken under the supervision of your dermatologist or doctor. You can also explore other hair loss treatments like PEP Factor which is packed with essential growth factors and nutrients that can stimulate healthy hair growth. Taking supplements along with the right hair loss solution like PEP Factor might produce better results for your hair.
Get Quality Hair Rejuvenation Solutions at FACE Med Store
Although vitamin E hair oils and supplements have proven benefits, it’s still better to address hair loss with the right treatments and solutions. At FACE Med Store, we provide high-quality cosmetic supplies and products like PEP Factor serums that can help rejuvenate scalp and hair health.
We are a proud supplier of affordable medical equipment and beauty tools for many clinics and wellness practices. We are also committed to helping individual clients meet their aesthetic needs by making effective treatments and solutions more accessible to them. Get in touch with us today to know more about our packages and services, as well as great deals and discounts you wouldn’t want to miss.