Vitamin E Oil or Cream for Scars vs Silicone Gel: What Works After 45?
Quick summary
Vitamin E oil and vitamin E cream are the classic home remedy for scars, but the research does not support them on their own. In the best-known trial, vitamin E made most scars no better or worse, and one in three people got a skin rash from it.
Silicone gel has much stronger evidence and a low risk of irritation, which matters more after 45 when skin is thinner and more reactive. Vitamin E can still be a pleasant moisturiser; it just is not a scar treatment.
At Genova Skincare we make a silicone scar gel, so our own product is mentioned in this guide. Results vary from person to person.
Perhaps you have been piercing a vitamin E capsule every night and rubbing it into your scar, because that is what your mum did. Six weeks on, the scar is still pink and raised, and the skin around it has started to itch.
At Genova Skincare, we hear this story often from women over 45. You are not doing anything wrong: vitamin E was the best advice of its time. But the evidence has moved on, and this guide explains what it now shows and what to use instead.
Does vitamin E oil or cream help scars after 45?
At Genova Skincare, we give the honest answer: probably not, when used on its own. Vitamin E is an antioxidant the body needs, and it is a useful ingredient in many moisturisers. But the leap from "vitamin E is good for skin" to "vitamin E oil fixes scars" was made before anyone had tested it properly.
The best-known trial, published in Dermatologic Surgery by Baumann and Spencer, had people apply vitamin E to half of a surgical scar and a plain moisturiser to the other half. In most cases vitamin E made no difference or made the scar look worse. One in three people developed contact dermatitis, an itchy allergic rash, where the vitamin E was applied.
A later review in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal by Tanaydin and colleagues looked at all the studies it could find. Results were mixed, and the authors concluded there was not enough evidence to recommend topical vitamin E for scars.
Why vitamin E can irritate scars more after 45
Skin changes through perimenopause and menopause. Falling oestrogen is linked with thinner, drier skin and a weaker barrier, so products you used for years can suddenly sting or itch. A healing scar is already sensitive, and an oil that causes a rash in some people is a poor fit on top.
If your scar or the skin around it has become red, itchy or bumpy while using vitamin E, stop and let it settle. That reaction is common, and it is not a sign the oil is "working".
Vitamin E vs silicone gel for scars compared
| Vitamin E oil or cream | Silicone scar gel | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Moisturises the surface | Forms a thin film that keeps the scar hydrated |
| Evidence for scars | Weak and mixed | First-line option in international scar guidelines |
| Irritation risk | Rash in about 1 in 3 people in one trial | Low |
| Feel | Oily, can mark clothes | Dries clear, no residue |
| Under sunscreen or make-up | Can be greasy | Yes |
| Typical Australian cost | Low: a few dollars for capsules or cream | Higher: about $20–$60 a tube |
How silicone gel works on scars
Newly healed skin loses water too easily, which seems to signal the scar to keep making collagen. A review in Advances in Wound Care by Bleasdale and colleagues explains that silicone covers the scar and restores hydration, which appears to calm this process. It contains no hormones and no active drug.
International scar guidelines published in Dermatologic Surgery by Gold and colleagues list silicone gel or sheeting as first-line care for raised scars. A Cochrane review by O'Brien and Jones found silicone improved scar thickness and colour, though it rated the studies as low quality. So silicone is the better-supported choice, not a sure fix. Our guide to whether silicone scar gels work covers the evidence in more depth.
Genova Silicone Scar Gel: one option after 45
Genova Silicone Scar Gel is a silicone gel with added peptides, squalane and vitamin D3, made in Australia. It dries clear in about a minute and sits under clothing and sunscreen. A 30ml tube is $52.95, and a 12-week two pack is $94.95 for longer scars.
Pros and cons of switching to silicone gel
Pros:
- Much stronger evidence than vitamin E for scars
- Low irritation risk on thinner, reactive skin
- No oily residue, works under SPF and make-up
Cons:
- Costs more upfront than vitamin E capsules
- Needs twice-daily use for at least 12 weeks
- Will not remove a scar or change a flat, mature one much
Who it is for, and who it is not for
It may suit you if your scar is fully closed, under 18 months old or still raised and pink, and vitamin E has not helped or has irritated your skin.
It is not for you if the wound is still open, weeping or infected, you have an active rash on the area (let it settle first), or your surgeon has advised against topical products. A growing keloid needs a doctor.
Realistic expectations
Many women notice less itch within 4–6 weeks of twice-daily silicone. Flattening and fading take 8–12 weeks or more, and scars keep maturing for 12–18 months.
Neither vitamin E nor silicone will remove a scar. Results vary from person to person.
How to switch from vitamin E to silicone gel: step by step
- Stop the vitamin E. Give irritated skin 7–10 days to settle.
- Wash off any oil. Use a mild, fragrance-free wash and pat dry. Silicone will not stick to oily skin.
- Apply a thin layer of silicone gel. Cover the scar and a little of the skin around it.
- Let it dry. About a minute before clothing.
- Repeat twice a day. Morning and night, for at least 12 weeks.
- Add SPF 50+ in the morning. On any scar that sees the sun, for at least 12 months.
Vitamin E and scar questions women over 45 ask most
Is vitamin E cream good for scars?
The evidence says not on its own. Trials show little or no benefit, and some people get a rash. It is fine as a general moisturiser, but silicone gel is the better-supported scar option.
Can vitamin E oil make a scar worse?
It can. In the best-known trial, some scars looked worse and one in three people developed an allergic rash where it was applied.
Can I use vitamin E and silicone gel together?
It is not recommended on the same scar. Oil stops silicone forming its film and adds irritation risk on thinner skin. Use silicone on its own.
What is the best vitamin E cream for scars?
There is no vitamin E cream with good evidence for scars. If you want a scar product, choose a silicone gel or sheet instead.
Will silicone gel help a scar that is years old?
It may soften texture and ease itch, but older, flat scars change less. The biggest gains are on scars under 12–18 months old.
Your mum gave you the best scar advice she had. The evidence has filled in since, and silicone is where it points. For other home remedies compared with silicone, see rosehip oil vs silicone gel and Mederma vs silicone gel, or choose a format in silicone gel vs sheets. Our full guide to fading scars with silicone gel brings it all together.
Silicone scar gel for healed scars
Dries clear, sits under clothing and sunscreen, and ships from Australia.
12-Week Course, 2 pack
2 x 30ml. Enough for a full course on a longer scar.
Made in Australia. For fully healed skin only. Results vary from person to person.
Individual results vary. Genova Silicone Scar Gel is a cosmetic product designed to support the appearance of healed scars. It is not a substitute for advice from your surgeon, GP or dermatologist. Check with your surgical team before applying any product to a recent incision.
Sources:
- Baumann LS, Spencer J. The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars. Dermatologic Surgery. 1999;25(4):311-315.
- Tanaydin V, et al. The role of topical vitamin E in scar management: a systematic review. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2016;36(8):959-965.
- Bleasdale B, Finnegan S, Murray K, Kelly S, Percival SL. The use of silicone adhesives for scar reduction. Advances in Wound Care. 2015;4(7):422-430.
- Gold MH, Berman B, Clementoni MT, et al. Updated international clinical recommendations on scar management: part 2, algorithms for scar prevention and treatment. Dermatologic Surgery. 2014;40(8):825-831.
- O'Brien L, Jones DJ. Silicone gel sheeting for preventing and treating hypertrophic and keloid scars. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013;(9):CD003826.
