Dermatologists

Astaxanthin clinical studies examined both ingestible and topical applications, showing improvement in skin smoothness, elasticity, and hydration.

Why Healthy Skin Needs Antioxidants

Skin contains endogenous antioxidants that fight free radicals. Excess free radicals produced within the body and those arising from external environmental exposures can deplete the skin’s antioxidant capacity. Oxidative stress can compromise skin barrier function, elasticity, and collagen integrity. This is why dietary antioxidants are a good complement to endogenous antioxidants, working to maintain redox homeostasis and support skin health.

Astaxanthin is a Scarce Dietary Antioxidant

Astaxanthin is a dietary antioxidant and a member of the carotenoid family of natural pigments. Fruits and vegetables provide most of the carotenoids in our diet, but astaxanthin is not found in any edible plants in our diet. Natural astaxanthin in the human diet is found in red colored seafoods, especially in wild salmon. The average American diet does not provide enough to result in substantial benefits for skin health, which is why supplementation with natural astaxanthin from algae is recommended.

Natural Astaxanthin is Found in Ingestible and Cosmetic Forms

Natural Astaxanthin can be ingested or used topically to address antioxidant gaps in the diet or facilitate the skin’s resilience to physiological and environmental stressors. The recommended dose for ingestible beauty applications is 3 – 12 mg/day. In topical formulations, at least 0.0035% active natural astaxanthin is recommended based on clinical studies.

Astaxanthin’s Beauty from Within Claims and Dosages

AstaReal® Astaxanthin is distributed to all skin layers and areas of the body. In pre-clinical studies, oral supplementation of astaxanthin resulted in deposition in both the dermis and the epidermis. Taken orally, AstaReal® can provide additional whole-body benefits for eye, muscle, brain, immune and cardiovascular health.

Supplementation of AstaReal® Astaxanthin for skin health was tested at 3, 6, and 12 mg/day in both women and men, showing objective measures of improved skin hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, improved viscoelasticity, improved skin smoothness, and reduced depth of wrinkles. A clinical study using 4 mg/day natural astaxanthin also showed increased minimal erythema dose in response to UV irradiation and improved hydration status of the irradiated skin 2 days after exposure to UV. ^{1, 2, 3, 4}

Astaxanthin Topical Claims and Dosage

A topical application of astaxanthin allows focus on skin areas needing more attention, such as the delicate skin around the eyes. Astaxanthin applied to the stratum corneum, or topmost layer of skin, can help maintain the skin’s barrier function and reduce water loss through evaporation.

In a one study, 11 Female subjects aged 20-50 applied a 0.2g amount of 0.035 mg/g AstaReal® Astaxanthin cream to the face twice per day for 3 weeks, for a daily total of 0.014 mg astaxanthin. This treatment resulted in a 3.32% improvement in skin hydration after 3 weeks compared to baseline (p<0.05). Nine of the subjects reported a subjective improvement in skin smoothness, and 7 reported subjective improvements in softness and elasticity.⁵

Combining Ingested and Topical Astaxanthin Forms

AstaReal® group compared to placebo after 8 weeks (n=28; p<0.01), 3.3% improvement in elasticity after 8 weeks (n=30; p<0.01), a 2.5 – 3.0 mm² reduction in age spot size after 8 weeks (n=29; p<0.01), and improved corneocyte structure. ^{6, 7}

Combining ingested and topical deliveries allows a general whole-body delivery of benefits together with extra support by topical application to specific sites, giving patients options to tailor their astaxanthin regimen.

Recommending Natural Astaxanthin to Your Patients

When recommending astaxanthin to your patients, look for astaxanthin derived from Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae. This source of astaxanthin is natural, plant based, and has proven safety and efficacy for human applications. Certifications, such as NSF and USP, denote independent quality testing and approval. Inclusion of branded ingredients, like AstaReal® Astaxanthin, on the product label offers transparency regarding ingredient sourcing, allowing you and your patient to crosscheck ingredient quality, science, and manufacturing practices. For example, AstaReal was the first to bring natural astaxanthin to the supplement market and is the leader in scientific research for natural astaxanthin. AstaReal uses a unique indoor cultivation method for consistent and quality algal production made in the USA and Sweden. You can find ingredient brands listed either on the front of the label, or on the back in or near the supplement facts panel.