03/20/2019 / By Michelle Simmons
Everyone wants youthful, healthy-looking skin. It’s too bad that the skin naturally ages: For some, the signs come as soon as they hit their 30s, when fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots start to appear. While people spend thousands of dollars on conventional skin treatments that can do more harm than good, there are safer and more effective natural treatments available. These often include natural compounds that have powerful antioxidant effects, such as astaxanthin.
In a study published in the journal Nutrition Research, researchers from the U.K. found that supplementing with astaxanthin can help in keeping skin aging at bay. Earlier studies have shown that taking antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress which accelerates skin aging; it just so happens that astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the world: It’s up to 6,000 times more powerful than vitamin C, 3,000 times more potent than resveratrol and quercetin, and 500 times stronger than vitamin E.
For the current study, the researchers investigated the effects of regular astaxanthin intake on oxidative stress in middle-aged men and women. They hypothesized that taking astaxanthin regularly could positively affect residual skin surface component (RSSC) morphology, which allows detecting age-related changes in corneocyte desquamation, microbial presence, and lipid droplet size.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers recruited 31 participants over the age of 40 and gave them four milligrams (mg) per day of astaxanthin for four weeks. They also took RSSC samples from the surface of the facial skin of participants at the start and end of the study. In addition, they took blood samples at the start, the 15th day, and at the end of the study to measure levels of malondialdehyde — a marker for oxidative stress.
The results of the study showed that malondialdehyde levels consistently decreased during astaxanthin consumption. Based on the analysis of RSSC samples, intake of astaxanthin also significantly reduced levels of corneocyte desquamation and microbial presence. All changes in RSSC are associated with the characteristics of younger skin. These changes were more strongly pronounced in obese participants. (Related: Astaxanthin is Age and Disease Defying Miracle Nutrient from Microalgae.)
From these findings, the researchers concluded that taking astaxanthin greatly reduces oxidative stress, which leads to facial skin rejuvenation. This is especially seen in obese individuals.
Astaxanthin is the natural strain of algae that gives wild salmon’s flesh and shrimp their bright red-orange color. Many studies have proven that astaxanthin provides many skin benefits, such as:
Read more news stories and studies on natural ways to keep your skin young and healthy by going to AntiAgingScience.news.
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anti-aging, antioxidant, astaxanthin, Cosmetics, longevity, microalgae, obese, oxidative stress, Skin, skin aging, skin health, skin rejuvenation, supplements
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