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Astaxanthin is increasingly being touted for its benefits for skin health and anti-aging effects. Research shows that astaxanthin is the most powerful known antioxidant in nature.
When applied topically to the skin, astaxanthin creams can help to alleviate the negative effects of sunburns and fight oxidative damage that can cause skin discoloration, wrinkling and other dermatological problems.
It also absorbs ultraviolet light and may improve the efficacy of sunscreens. Taking an oral astaxanthin supplement may also have benefits for skin, by protecting and supporting the nerves that carry blood and nutrients to skin cells.
In research studies, astaxanthin shows skin benefits including improve skin moisture content and elasticity, reduction of wrinkles and visibility of age spots. In addition to its abilities to rejuvenate skin health, it is also being investigated for its effects on skin cancer.
Anti- Oxidant
Heart Health
Anti- Aging- Antioxidant and immune booster
- Supports cardiovascular health
- Shown to improve cholesterol levels
Top Astaxanthin Products* ❯Astaxanthin for Skin Overview
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Natural astaxanthin is a pigmented carotenoid that is red in color. It is created by a green microalgae called Haematococcus pluvialis.
This microorganism produces astaxanthin, and subsequently turns brilliantly red when it is exposed to too much sunlight – or if other environmental conditions threaten its health.
Astaxanthin accumulates in certain marine creatures that consume H. pluvialis; causing them display pink/orange/red hues. Some examples include shrimp, lobster, salmon, krill, crabs, crawfish and rainbow trout.
Flamingos, which are born white/grey, develop their pink colors from eating marine creatures that contain astaxanthin. Flamingos and certain other red-colored birds are unable to digest astaxanthin, and so it accumulates and begins showing in the feathers and feet.
In clinical tests, natural astaxanthin has demonstrated very potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Considering free radical scavenging, astaxanthin is 65 times as strong as vitamin C and 54 times as strong as beta-carotene. Considering singlet oxygen quenching, natural astaxanthin is roughly 550 times as strong as vitamin E.
Health Benefits of Astaxanthin Supplements
It also demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory effects – as well as anticancer, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and prosexual mechanisms.
People use astaxanthin for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), cancer, stroke, AMD (age-related macular degeneration), Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. It is also used topically for sunburn and enhancing dermatologic health.
Astaxanthin is able to make its way across the brain blood barrier and provide direct benefits to brain cells. It also is reported to provide various other benefits as it makes it way through the circulatory system; including:
- Improving work performance and facilitating recovery from strenuous work;
- Improving fertility by enhancing sperm quality, strength and motility;
- Protecting against macular degeneration, cataracts and blindness;
- Decreasing triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and C-reactive proteins;
- Alleviating heartburn (dyspepsia) and acid reflux symptoms;
- Reducing bodywide low-grade systemic inflammation;
- Protecting neurons (brain nerves) from degeneration;
- Reducing the risks of certain types of cancer;
- Protecting against exposure to UV radiation;
- Helping to modulate blood glucose levels;
- Helping spinal cord injuries to heal;
- Boosting immune system strength;
Natural astaxanthin also helps to reduce symptoms associated with multiple conditions; including RA (rheumatoid arthritis), MS (multiple sclerosis), Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, carpal tunnel syndrome and pancreatitis.
Astaxanthin for Skin Health
People who spend a lot of time in the sun can benefit from astaxanthin. Some athletes have reported that astaxanthin enables them to remain in the sun for long training sessions without feeling ill effects from overexposure.
They claim to feel better while practicing, and suffer from sunburn less. It may reduce damage from ultraviolet rays that can cause skin to look aged and lose its elastic texture.
When the skin get sunburned, inflammation results. Astaxanthin appears to inhibit sunburn significantly, although it is not yet understood exactly how.
Some independent research suggests that 4 mg daily astaxanthin doses increase the time it takes for UVA and UVB light rays to redden human skin.
The benefits are not limited to topical applications of this compound. Oral astaxanthin supplements also get taken up in the body within skin cells, helping to protect inner layers of the skin.
When hairless mice were given astaxanthin, retinol and beta-carotene for 4 months, they experienced less skin photoaging after irradiation. Photoaging is also called dermatoheliosis and refers to damage to skin from UVA and UVB light.
In rats, astaxanthin demonstrated more than 1000 times the strength of lutein at preventing oxidative stress induced by UVA light. 2002 research showed that natural astaxanthin also stops UVA light from causing DNA alterations.
Astaxanthin for Skin Tone
Using astaxanthin for improving skin tone may prevent wrinkles, age spots, freckles and/or damage to collagen. Collagen is the primary protein found in the connective tissues of animals.
In one 18-week study involving hairless mice, astaxanthin was applied to the skin topically. In addition to demonstrating reduced skin wrinkling compared to controls, treated mice demonstrated much younger-appearing collagen.
This study concluded that natural astaxanthin cream can significantly prevents collagen degradation due to UV light exposure, cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, sunburn, wrinkles and photoallergy.
Astaxanthin helps the body to maintain consistent collagen synthesis, thereby maintaining skin firmness, elasticity and tone.
Astaxanthin For Skin Whitening
In Asia, some people use natural astaxanthin to lighten their skin. It has been shown to decrease melanogenesis (melanin synthesis) by as much as 40%. This can helpful for reducing age spots, dark circles under the eyes and freckles.
Preliminary research suggests that administration of 2 mg AstaREAL astaxanthin twice daily over 6 weeks can reduce fine lines, increase skin moisture, decrease wrinkles and improve skin elasticity in middle-aged women.
Conclusions
Astaxanthin has been used in doses between 4 and 40 grams daily for as long as 12 weeks without causing adverse effects. It has also been used safely in conjunction with other carotenoids, minerals and vitamins for as long as 12 months.
Not enough is known about astaxanthin to deem it safe for use in pregnant or nursing women.
More evidence is needed to understand the specific effects of using astaxanthin for skin health. Many users of natural astaxanthin supplements report not only improvements to dermatologic health, but also to muscle pains, joint pains, inflammation, sex drive and energy.
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Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment
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