The role of Vitamin E wound care ointment

The core function of vitamin E emulsion wound care ointment is to moisturize and repair, reduce pigmentation, relieve dry itching and discomfort, and reduce the risk of superficial scar hyperplasia in the middle and late stages of healing (new epithelial wounds that have fallen off with scabs and no exudation), but it has no therapeutic effect on fresh open wounds, nor can it remove old scars that have formed.

I have been working as a nurse in the dermatology department of a community hospital for almost 4 years. I have seen too many people confuse it with ordinary daily vitamin E milk, and even put it on their hands right after cutting. I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Let me draw the most basic line for you first: what we are talking about is a mechanical brand wound care ointment, not a large bottle of daily cosmetic vitamin E lotion in the supermarket that costs tens of dollars. The latter contains fragrance and preservatives. Applying it to a fresh wound is asking for trouble. Don’t get confused.

During an outdoor team building, a colleague fell and bruised his palm, causing blood to pour out. The first thing I thought was to take out the Vitamin E lotion in my bag to apply it. I quickly held it down, debrided her with iodophor, and applied a hydrocolloid dressing. After 5 days, the scab fell off, and the new growth was painful when touched, so I gave her this ointment. She applied it twice a day for less than two weeks. She was originally worried that there would be marks in the summer and she could not wear short sleeves, but in the end there were almost no traces.

Speaking of it, the industry actually has different views on its role. Our dermatology clinic usually prescribes this product to patients with superficial wounds after moles and photon treatment. It is cost-effective, and one tube only costs more than 20. Most people who use it report that the dryness and itching during the healing period are relieved. There are many solutions and the probability of discoloration is low; however, many colleagues in the burn department do not recommend its use. They believe that for late-stage wounds such as burns and deep abrasions, the moisture-locking ability and anti-proliferation effect of silicone dressings are much clearer, and vitamin E cream ointment is more suitable for daily care of small superficial wounds. In fact, both statements are correct, but the applicable scenarios are different. There is no one who is right or wrong.

The new epithelial tissue is extremely thin and has poor water-locking ability. If left unchecked, it will dry out and tighten when the wind blows, and may even crack and cause secondary injuries. The medical vitamin E and mild occlusive ingredients in this ointment can form a breathable protective film on the surface, which can lock in moisture without suffocating the wound. It can also isolate external stimuli such as dust and ultraviolet rays, reduce inflammatory reactions, and naturally heal more smoothly.

There is also the issue of scars that everyone is most concerned about. Vitamin E itself is a fat-soluble antioxidant, which can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and reduce the production of melanin. Last summer, I was riding an electric bike and was scraped on my calf by a shared bicycle. After the scab fell off, The spot was very red and shiny, so I would apply it once a day after taking a shower, and put a small sunscreen patch on it when I went out. In less than a month, the marks were almost completely gone. If I left it alone, based on my previous experience, it would take at least half a year to fade away.

Don’t listen to the claims on the Internet that it can remove old scars. I have met many people who asked me if they can remove burn scars from ten years ago. It really doesn’t work. The old scars and fibrous tissue that have been formed have been stabilized. It is difficult for any external medicine to penetrate into it, let alone disappear with vitamin E. If you really care, you still have to rely on medical beauty or surgery. You must not apply it on fresh wounds. There was a parent who brought a child here before. The child fell on his knee. The parent was afraid of leaving scars, so he applied this immediately after debridement. As a result, the exuded tissue fluid was trapped in it, and it suppurated the next day. It took almost ten days to heal. This is really important to remember: as long as the wound is still oozing blood and fluid, debridement and absorbent dressing should be done first, and then use it after it is completely healed and no leakage has occurred.

In general, this thing is a cheap and easy-to-use post-wound care player. Don’t deify it, and don’t use it at the wrong time. If you use it correctly, you can save a lot of trouble, but if you use it wrongly, you will suffer. That’s it.