Most topical vitamin K products are designed to treat minor sunburns.
Vitamin K is most commonly known for its use in day care. It is capable of aiding in blood clotting and has been shown to be effective in reducing the potential for infant bleeding. However, in the cosmetic industry, vitamin K oxide is used for its many benefits to the skin, including the ability to reduce recovery time from using a pulsed laser tint.
Vitamin K oxide is sometimes used to reduce spider veins.
When vitamin KH2 is oxidized, it provides enough energy to drive the carboxylation reaction. This results in the formation of vitamin K oxide, which is the desirable form of this nutrient for use in cosmetic products. Although babies are given vitamin K injections due to its effectiveness as a coagulant, vitamin K, when used in topical applications, is unstable in nature.
Vitamin K oxide can be used to treat swelling and bruising under the eyes.
Alternatively, vitamin K oxide has shown stability in topical formulations, as well as efficacy in reducing the appearance of a wide range of cosmetic concerns. Vitamin K oxide is believed to help increase skin elasticity, allowing for a more supple and youthful appearance. The increased stability of vitamin K oxide when used in topical formulations helps extend the shelf life of the products in which it is used.
Vitamin K gel can be applied to the skin after a cosmetic laser procedure.
This vitamin provides external improvements by stimulating the vitamin K healing cycle. When the body is in distress, vitamin K is converted to vitamin K oxide, which increases coagulation. Vitamin K oxide then converts back to vitamin K, thereby blocking the production of haemosiderin, the coloring agent responsible for bruising. For this reason, this vitamin has been shown to reduce the time needed for recovery from post-surgical laser-induced purpura.
Additionally, this nutrient is used in many cosmetic applications to treat bruising and swelling. Studies have also shown that this vitamin is capable of reducing fine wrinkles. It is believed that it can increase the vasculature and eliminate or reduce areas of discoloration. It accomplishes much of this by strengthening the capillary walls.
Most topical vitamin K products are designed to treat minor burns and sunburn and to reduce redness associated with blood vessels that are broken or damaged. These creams usually need to be applied daily to the affected areas for several weeks. The products produce a wide range of results that are generally determined by the quality of the active ingredients and the actual content of the vitamins.
Many of the cosmetic applications available that contain this nutrient are offered in gel form. The typical dose of the vitamin when applied this way is 5 milligrams, but some products contain up to 10 grams. The use of a gel as a base for the dosage of the vitamin guarantees a better distribution of the vitamin. It also helps ensure that vitamin K oxide remains active and effective.
When used as part of a postoperative treatment, the gel should be applied to the affected area immediately after the procedure. It is then recommended that these products be reapplied to the area regularly until the discoloration from the laser surgery begins to subside. These products are not normally recommended for use on areas of broken skin or on or over open wounds.