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]