Astaxanthin in Skincare

The antioxidant effect of astaxanthin is as much as 1000 times higher than coenzyme Q10. It is thought to help as a supplement for improving HDL, and cognitive function. For the skin, oral supplementation along with topical treatment has been shown to improve skin elasticity, discoloration, and wrinkles. Read more...

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Topics

• What is Astaxanthin?

• Which health benefits have been studied with astaxanthin?

• Can astaxanthin help protect the skin from UV?

• Can topical astaxanthin be used as an anti-aging product?

• How much astaxanthin is found in supplements?

• Are there any foods with astaxanthin?

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What is Astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that is red in color. Carotenoids are pigments found in fruits and vegetables as well as marine organisms. Astaxanthin in particular is in shrimp, crab, and salmon. They serve as antioxidants.

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Which health benefits have been studied with astaxanthin?

The antioxidant effect of astaxanthin is as much as 1000 times higher than coenzyme Q10. It is thought to help as a supplement for improving HDL, and cognitive function. For the skin, oral supplementation and topical treatment have been shown to improve skin elasticity, discoloration, and wrinkles.

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Can astaxanthin help protect the skin from UV?

A study evaluating the photoprotection offered by astaxanthin evaluated the benefits of oral supplementation. Astaxanthin 4mg daily as a dietary supplement for 9 weeks demonstrated that there was a delay in the time of erythema onset after exposure to UV light. This is referred to as the MED or minimal erythema dose. The lower the MED the faster the effects of UV impact the skin. A study evaluating 6mg and 12mg also demonstrated a UV protective effect.

Another study demonstrated that daily supplementation with astaxanthin for 12 weeks has the potential to protect against UVA irradiation.

It is essential to note that there is not a measurable SPF for astaxanthin because it does not block UVB from impacting the skin. As an antioxidant, its effects are seen in terms of reducing the impact of UVB on the skin once the exposure occurs.

Can topical astaxanthin be used as an anti-aging product?

In reviewing the medical literature available there are not many studies on the benefits of astaxanthin. In terms of topical use, the only study I came across evaluating its anti-aging benefits in terms of wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity of the skin did not evaluate topical astaxanthin in isolation but combined it with oral supplementation as well. The other key benefit noted by these studies is added hydration to the skin from use.

How much astaxanthin is found in supplements?

Most supplements I have come across contain 4mg of astaxanthin. I have seen supplements containing more however most studies I have come across found benefits with 4 mg dosing.

Are there any foods with astaxanthin?

There are several foods with astaxanthin to consider supplementing your diet with. My favorite food to recommend is salmon. A 6-ounce salmon filet contains about 4 mg of astaxanthin. Other sources of astaxanthin include shrimp, crab, and other fish varieties.