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What Are the Different Types of Vitamin K Products?

Rebecca Harkin
Rebecca Harkin

Vitamin K products come in three basic forms. Creams, gels, and concentrated solutions are available as a topical application to infuse vitamin K into the skin. Vitamin K products for the hair include shampoos and conditioners. Supplemental vitamin K products are also available as pills or powdered vitamin drinks to significantly increase the amount of this vitamin in the diet. There are also many foods that are rich in vitamin K that help to increase the amount of this essential nutrient in the diet.

Products rich in this valuable vitamin that are used topically can be manufactured as creams, gels, and lotions. Concentrated oil-based solutions are also available. The primary uses of these types of vitamin K products are to decrease the life of a bruise, to enhance the healing process of a scar, and to soften a discoloration of the skin, such as dark circles under the eyes or rosacea. Uses of vitamin K topical products are also sometimes recommended prior to and after laser or cosmetic surgery.

Vitamin K can be found in many topical products.
Vitamin K can be found in many topical products.

Shampoos and conditioner vitamin K products tout their ability to protect the hair shaft from oxidation damage. This benefit is conferred by a vitamin’s ability to destroy free radicals, which damage the cells in the body, including hair cells. The principle is that, if the hair cells are kept as healthy as possible, then strong hair will grow from the hair follicle. Some beauticians also believe that vitamin-enriched shampoos and conditioners can bolster the body’s ability to maintain hair color and prevent graying of the hair.

Vitamin K promotes strong hair growth.
Vitamin K promotes strong hair growth.

Enhancing blood clotting, strengthening bones, and preventing blood vessel calcification are just a few of the benefits of maintaining a healthy level of vitamin K in the body. When a diet is found to be deficient in vitamin K, there are several ways to augment this essential nutrient. Supplements are available in pill form and as a powered vitamin drink. Most of these types of supplements are meant to be taken every day.

Kale is high in vitamin K.
Kale is high in vitamin K.

Most adults who eat a well-balanced diet will naturally meet their daily vitamin K requirement. Foods rich in vitamin K include collard green, spinach, and kale. There are some medical conditions that can cause a decrease in vitamin K. Some liver disease will reduce the body’s ability to manufacture vitamin K and use of antibiotics may destroy the natural flora found in the intestine that are responsible for vitamin K release in the gut.

Collard greens are a good source of vitamin K.
Collard greens are a good source of vitamin K.

Vitamin K is listed as an ingredient and is not considered a regulated drug. This status eliminates the requirement that a manufacturer scientifically back up its claims of efficacy. As a result, a buyer should be aware that the vitamin K product that she purchases may not live up the claims stated on the bottle. It is advisable to read consumer reviews of a product before purchasing it.

Discussion Comments

ysmina

Vitamin K is also available as an injection. Sometimes, newborns are given a vitamin K injection due to low levels of the vitamin in their system.

donasmrs

@literally45-- I've used a vitamin K cream in the past, for dark under eye circles and I remember that it was fairly effective. How long have you been using the cream? You might need to give it more time to see results. As for supplements, I don't think that they are helpful for skin issues. Using a topical vitamin K product is best for spider veins, bruises and rosacea.

Another option for you might be a vitamin K serum. Serums have a different consistency than cream and tend to be absorbed a little more easily. I think that most vitamin K serums are intended to use on the face, but I'm sure that they could be used on other areas like the legs as well.

literally45

I'm using a vitamin K cream topically to get rid of spider veins on my legs. This is reported to be one of several benefits of vitamin K. I decided to try it based on good reviews, however, it has not been working for me so far.

Has anyone here used vitamin K cream for various skin conditions before? Do you think that this type of vitamin K product is effective? Should I try vitamin K supplements instead?

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    • Vitamin K can be found in many topical products.
      By: picsfive
      Vitamin K can be found in many topical products.
    • Vitamin K promotes strong hair growth.
      By: Anastasia Tsarskaya
      Vitamin K promotes strong hair growth.
    • Kale is high in vitamin K.
      By: forevergreen
      Kale is high in vitamin K.
    • Collard greens are a good source of vitamin K.
      By: Onionhead
      Collard greens are a good source of vitamin K.
    • Powdered drink mixes may contain vitamin K.
      By: Orlando Bellini
      Powdered drink mixes may contain vitamin K.
    • Some vitamin K products can be used to treat rosacea.
      By: robert mobley
      Some vitamin K products can be used to treat rosacea.
    • Vitamin K products are often used to decrease dark circles under the eyes.
      By: WONG SZE FEI
      Vitamin K products are often used to decrease dark circles under the eyes.