It can happen despite your best intentions: You forgot to apply sunscreen during an impromptu outdoor adventure only to find yourself with a sunburn the following day. What now?
Many skin care products claim to help treat sunburned skin, so it can be hard to cut through the noise and choose a product that actually works. For example, antioxidants like Vitamin E are touted as miracle treatments—but is Vitamin E good for sunburned skin? And how does it stack up against other vitamins for skin repair?
Here's everything you need to know about soothing and protecting your sunburned skin so you can get to healing fast.
What Is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is the most abundant antioxidant in your skin's outer layer, or epidermis. It's also one of the most popular vitamins for skin health—and for good reason. A fat-soluble antioxidant, Vitamin E (also called Tocopherol) is a crucial part of your skin's natural defense against free radicals and oxidative stress, protecting your skin from damage like premature aging and skin cancer over time.
And Vitamin E's effects are more than skin-deep. This powerhouse antioxidant also helps keep your brain, immune system, and eyes healthy.
Sources of Vitamin E
Most people get the majority of their Vitamin E from food, like spinach, olive oil, nuts, and whole grains. But you can also boost your Vitamin E reserves by applying it directly to your skin. Because it's lipophilic (meaning it mixes well with oil), it absorbs well into the skin. This is why Vitamin E has been used in Dermatology for over 50 years to support healthy, vibrant complexions.
Is Vitamin E Good for Sunburned Skin?
Vitamin E doesn't just protect your skin from damage—it can also help repair damage after the fact. And one of the most common forms of skin damage is one you're likely already familiar with: sunburn. Sunburn occurs when you expose unprotected skin to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, leaving the skin's top layers damaged, inflamed, and dehydrated.
Using moisturizers or serums rich in Vitamin E after a sunburn can support the healing process, calm inflammation, and restore your skin's natural protective barrier. This has short- and long-term benefits, from minimizing flaking and peeling to reducing long-term risks of oxidative damage, like skin cancer and photoaging.
If your skin's had a sunshine overdose, try a nourishing moisturizer like EltaMD Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer to boost recovery from UV damage. In addition to Vitamin E, this formula includes amino acids and Squalane to visibly reduce redness, restore hydration to rough skin, improve skin barrier function, and protect against future moisture loss.
How Can You Incorporate Vitamin E into Your Routine?
Each day, your skin is bombarded with stressors that can cause oxidative damage, from chronic sun exposure to environmental pollutants. Leveraging Vitamin E's antioxidant properties in your skin care routine can help protect your skin from these aggressors, stopping damage in its tracks.
One of the best ways to boost your skin's defenses is to use an antioxidant-rich sunscreen like EltaMD UV Restore Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40. This 100 percent mineral sunscreen boasts Vitamins E and C to combat free radicals and Iron Oxides to protect against damaging blue light. Meanwhile, Ginger Root and Squalane help restore skin's natural moisture and minimize redness and dark spots. Just remember: use sunscreen every day to maximize its benefits.
Healthy Habits for Healthy Skin
Healthy skin is a marathon, not a sprint. If you develop and maintain healthy skin habits, you'll be rewarded with your most vibrant, beautiful complexion. The good news is that it doesn't have to be complicated. Start with regular cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen, and choose products with antioxidants like Vitamin E to boost your skin's natural defenses. When you nurture your skin, it will continue to protect you day in and day out.
Author
