The function of Vitamin E wound care ointment

The core function of vitamin E emulsion wound care ointment is to target mid-/late-stage healing wounds without bleeding or suppuration. It has the effects of antioxidants, reducing pigmentation, sealing water and repairing the skin barrier, relieving dryness and itchiness of new wounds, and reducing the probability of superficial scar formation. However, it is definitely not suitable for fresh wounds that are newly damaged, have active bleeding or infection and pus, and cannot replace specialized scar removal products to treat already formed hypertrophic scars.

To be honest, many people around me confuse it with the ordinary Vitamin E lotion used on the face. The last time I saw my cousin, he just applied a 10-yuan bottle of ordinary skin-care Vitamin E lotion on his face after his moles were tattooed. Within two days, the wound became red and inflamed, so he went to the hospital and was prescribed anti-inflammatory ointment. Let’s make it clear first: this product that can be used to care for wounds is not the ordinary one that we usually apply on our hands and face. It is either sterilized or contains mild antibacterial ingredients and repair components such as ceramide/allantoin in the formula. Ordinary skin care products contain fragrance and preservatives. Applying it to incompletely healed wounds is purely for irritation.

In fact, there is no unified opinion in the industry about the timing of its application. I asked the dressing nurse at a community hospital before, and she said that if it is a superficial wound such as abrasion, as long as there is no more exudation and a thin scab has formed, it is perfectly fine to apply a thin layer of vitamin E emulsion wound ointment with antibacterial ingredients. Its sealing performance can reduce external dust irritation, and it can also soften the scab to avoid pulling and bleeding.； But the deputy chief physician of the dermatology department I know is more conservative. He recommends waiting for the scab to fall off completely naturally and revealing the new pink skin before using it, so as to avoid suffocating the wound that has not yet healed in a closed environment to induce infection. In fact, both statements are correct. It depends on the formula of the product in your hand and the specific condition of the wound. As long as there is no exudation, pus, active bleeding, and no stinging or redness after use, there is no problem if you use it two days in advance.

Last summer, I rode a shared bicycle with my best friend. She accidentally stepped on the air and fell, causing a big bruise on her knee. I used iodophor to disinfect it every day for the past week. After the scab fell off, the skin was so thin that red blood streaks could be seen. It hurt when the wind blew, and it stung when I applied any skin care product. I gave it to her I took the vitamin E wound ointment compounded with ceramides that I stocked, and she applied a thin layer of it after bathing every day. She didn't have any special dietary restrictions. The red marks disappeared in about three weeks, and there was no brown mark left behind like she had when she fell on her arm in high school. Don’t underestimate this. The antioxidant properties of vitamin E can just suppress the pigmentation after inflammation, which is what we often call the black and red marks left after a wound heals. The ointment’s sealing properties can lock in water for new skin as thin as a layer of paper. It does not need to withstand the stimulation of external temperature and dust, and it will naturally recover faster.

Of course, don’t deify it. There are two extreme claims on the Internet that are quite outrageous. One is that it is a universal wound medicine. It can be applied to freshly cut wounds and purulent athlete’s foot. It is just nonsense. Applying it to wounds that are exuding pus is equal to suffocating bacteria and multiplying inside, which will only aggravate the infection.； Another person said that it is an IQ tax and is not as effective as a scar removal cream worth hundreds of dollars. This is too extreme. I asked a friend who works as a medical assistant in a tertiary tertiary hospital, and she said that if it is just a new superficial red mark and there is no tendency to bulge or proliferate, this is completely enough. It costs 20 to 30 yuan a tube and can last for a long time. Sensitive skin is not prone to allergies. It is very cost-effective. ； But if a raised hypertrophic scar has developed, or a deep wound caused by stitches, then it really cannot be controlled. You still need to use silicone scar removal cream, and there is no need to step on it.

By the way, my mother had a big crack on her hand last winter. When it started to bleed, she applied erythromycin ointment to stop the bleeding and reduce inflammation. After the scab fell off without bleeding, she applied this vitamin E lotion wound ointment. It healed completely in three or four days without leaving any hard callus. It worked better than the various anti-crack ointments she had used before. The only thing you need to pay attention to is not to apply it too thickly, just apply a thin layer, 2-3 times a day is enough, especially for wounds on the face. Applying it too thickly can easily cause the wound to suffocate. It is best to use it within three months after opening, as the oxidation effect will be compromised. If you experience redness, itchiness or a rash after applying it, stop immediately. It means you are allergic to some of the ingredients in it, so don’t insist on using it.