Vitamin E has a reputation for improving skin quality, and many people regularly apply topical vitamin E oil for this effect. Because of this, a recent study looked at vitamin E's effectiveness for improving the appearance of surgical scars. Vitamin E oil was found ineffective on surgical scars, and, in fact, use of vitamin E oil may lead to contact dermatitis in some people. Also, the incidence of allergic reactions to topical vitamin E is high.

So, if you'd like to minimize a scar, vitamin E does not seem to be the answer. However, there are several techniques that can help (none will completely erase a scar):

• Dermabrasion: this involves using specialized medical equipment to remove the top layers of the skin. It has had good success for scars caused by acne, chickenpox, tattoos, and surgery.
• Laser resurfacing: this technique involves using high energy light to burn away unwanted, damaged skin.
• Collagen injections: this involves a process through which scar tissue is replaced by small pieces of normal skin.
• Chemical peels: these involve smoothing a scar by removing the top layer of skin with a chemical solution.

Talk with your dermatologist to determine which method might work best for you.

Contact dermatitis: Skin inflammation caused by contact with substances found in the environment. The skin becomes red, swollen, itchy, and blisters may even develop.

American Academy of Dermatology. "What's In a Scar" pamphlet. Available at: http//www.aad.org.

Baumann LS, Spencer J. The effects of topical E on the cosmetic appearance of scars. Dermatol Surg. 1999;25(4):311-315.

Jenkins M, Alexander JW, MacMillan BG, Waymack JP, Kopcha R. Failure of topical steroids and vitamin E to reduce postoperative scar formation following reconstructive surgery. J Burn Care Rehabil. 1986;7(4)309-312.