Some preliminary research suggests that pycnogenol, taken orally, might beneficially impact several aspects of skin health; however, most of these trials have been uncontrolled, which reduces our confidence in these findings.
When used alone or in addition to standard treatment, pycnogenol may reduce the appearance of facial melasma — a type of hyperpigmentation that can appear as brown spots on sun-exposed areas of skin. [1][2][3] This is further supported by in vitro research showing that pycnogenol may inhibit the synthesis of melanin, the major pigment in skin.[4] A single uncontrolled trial using flavangenol (a different standardized extract of French maritime pine bark) also reported beneficial effects on skin pigmentation.[5]
Further, there is some limited research to suggest that pycnogenol may reduce skin redness following ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure in fair-skinned individuals[6] and increase skin hydration and elasticity, which might correspond with increases in the synthesis of collagen and hyaluronic acid.[7][8]
References
- ^Ni Z, Mu Y, Gulati OTreatment of melasma with Pycnogenol.Phytother Res.(2002-Sep)
- ^Lima PB, Dias JAF, Esposito ACC, Miot LDB, Miot HAFrench maritime pine bark extract (pycnogenol) in association with triple combination cream for the treatment of facial melasma in women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.(2021-Feb)
- ^Pinto C, Delfes M, Montanheiro dos Reis L, Garbers L, Passos P, Skusa de Torre DThe use of pycnogenol in the treatment of melasmaSurg Cosmet Dermatol.(2015 Sep)
- ^Kim YJ, Kang KS, Yokozawa TThe anti-melanogenic effect of pycnogenol by its anti-oxidative actions.Food Chem Toxicol.(2008-Jul)
- ^Furumura M, Sato N, Kusaba N, Takagaki K, Nakayama JOral administration of French maritime pine bark extract (Flavangenol(®)) improves clinical symptoms in photoaged facial skin.Clin Interv Aging.(2012)
- ^Saliou C, Rimbach G, Moini H, McLaughlin L, Hosseini S, Lee J, Watson RR, Packer LSolar ultraviolet-induced erythema in human skin and nuclear factor-kappa-B-dependent gene expression in keratinocytes are modulated by a French maritime pine bark extract.Free Radic Biol Med.(2001-Jan-15)
- ^Marini A, Grether-Beck S, Jaenicke T, Weber M, Burki C, Formann P, Brenden H, Schönlau F, Krutmann JPycnogenol® effects on skin elasticity and hydration coincide with increased gene expressions of collagen type I and hyaluronic acid synthase in womenSkin Pharmacol Physiol.(2012)
- ^Hua Zhao, Jinhao Wu, Nan Wang, Susanne Grether-Beck, Jean Krutmann, Liu WeiOral Pycnogenol® Intake Benefits the Skin in Urban Chinese Outdoor Workers: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, and Crossover Intervention StudySkin Pharmacol Physiol.(2021)