I cannot say enough good things about Antioxidants and how if we are truly health conscious that we should be taking them internally and of course applying them topically. Pycnogenol is one of my favorite antioxidants and the following article written by Sondra Miles elucidates further the benefits of this exceptional ingredient that Nature has provided.
Pycnogenol for Skin Health
One of the most exciting ingredients in natural skin care today, Pycnogenol® delivers powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial benefits directly to the skin. Harvested from the bark of the French Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.), Pycnogenol, a patented ingredient, is a well-researched complex of procyanidins and polyphenols. Substantial studies using both dietary supplements and topical formulations containing Pycnogenol clearly demonstrate that Pycnogenol offers tremendous benefits for the health of the entire body. Topical application of Pycnogenol, which is readily absorbed by the skin, protects skin from the constant bombardment of free radicals, diminishes and prevents inflammation, and promotes overall skin health.
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory
The initial excitement surrounding Pycnogenol came from the discovery that Pycnogenol is one of the most powerful antioxidants known and a potent anti-inflammatory. Antioxidants function to protect the body from free radicals, unstable molecules that harm tissues and DNA, contributing to both aging and the development of a variety of diseases. UV radiation, from sunlight, generates a large amount of free radicals that damage skin cells and the structural components of skin causing photoaging of the skin (wrinkles, lines, loss of elasticity, and pigmentation changes) as well as some types of skin cancer. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, Pycnogenol, and many others are the body’s natural defense against free radicals; they inactivate free radicals thereby preventing them from causing harm.
As an antioxidant, Pycnognenol provides two levels of antioxidant protection for skin. First, Pycnogenol scavenges free radicals, even outperforming a variety of antioxidants including vitamins E and C, Co Q10, and Lipoic Acid. Secondly, Pycnogenol works synergistically with other antioxidants by improving the functioning of vitamin C, protecting vitamin E from degradation, and increasing the amount of some natural antioxidants produced by the body. By both outperforming other antioxidants and enhancing the function of other essential antioxidants, Pycnogenol provides superior antioxidant protection for the skin.
Pycnogenol also promotes skin health by fighting inflammation. Studies show that Pycnogenol can both prevent skin inflammation and soothe already inflamed skin. In early studies, Pycnogenol significantly reduced swelling and redness caused by chemical irritants, demonstrating Pycnogenol’s anti-inflammatory properties. In a more recent study, Pycnogenol was shown to prevent inflammation. UV radiation causes inflammation, edema, and sunburn. However, scientists found that applying Pycnogenol after exposure to UV radiation decreases the edema and inflammatory response.[i] (Sime and Reeve, 2004). The researching supporting Pycnogenol’s potent anti-inflammatory activity suggests that Pycnogenol may be an ideal ingredient to treat inflammatory skin conditions, such as Rosacea. However, the research has yet to be done. Nevertheless, the current research shows that nourishing your skin with Pycnogenol can both calm already inflamed skin and prevent inflammation, leaving your skin healthier and happier.
Skin Tone & Circulation
In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities, Pycnogenol also functions in other ways to protect important structural components of skin. Studies show that Pycnogenol preferentially binds to important skin components such as collagen and elastin, protecting them from damage and degradation.[ii] Collagen and elastin are the structural framework of skin, giving skin its elasticity and tone. Damaged, aged collagen causes skin to sag and wrinkle. By protecting collagen and elastin, Pycnogenol helps protect and improve skin elasticity and tone.
Collagen is also an important component of capillary walls. Because Pycnogenol binds to the collagen lining the capillary walls and protecting the integrity of the walls, Pycnogenol also helps maintain the health of the capillaries and prevent the capillaries from leaking fluid (leaky capillaries can cause spider veins and undereye puffiness). In addition to strengthening the capillary walls, Pycnogenol also helps improve circulation by dilating blood vessels. Stress hormones can cause constriction of capillaries, decreasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Pycnogenol can help to relax those blood vessels, improving blood flow and nourishing cells. Healthy, relaxed capillaries means healthy cells and healthy skin.
Wounds and Scars
Recent research also showed that Pycnogenol possesses antimicrobial activity. In the study, Pycnogenol inhbited the growth of a wide-variety of different bacteria as well as yeast and fungi.[iii]Additionally, studies show that topically applied Pycnogenol accelerates wound healing. Topical application of Pycnogenol not only sped up wound healing, but when Pycnogenol was applied to the wound, the scar size was decreased (Blazso et al., 2003).[iv] These results suggest that Pycnogenol may also benefit those with acne. A current study is investigating this, but the results are not yet available.
Pycnogenol clearly delivers a plethora of health-promoting benefits to skin: it can help restore health to previously damaged skin, soothe inflamed skin, and protect skin from future damage. In addition to its many benefits for the skin, oral Pycnogenol has been shown to be beneficial in patients with chronic venous insufficiency, asthma, cardiovascular disease, as well as many other conditions. To optimize skin health and protect skin from daily insults, nourish your skin with Pycnogenol!
[i] Sime, S. and Reeve, V.E. “Protection From Inflammation, Immunosupression, and Carcinogenesis Induced by UV Radiation in Mice by Topical Pycnogenol.” Photochemistry and Photobiology 79 (2004): 193-198.
[ii] Grimm, T., Schäfer, A., and Högger, P. “Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases By Metabolites of Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol).” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 36 (2004): 811-822.
[iii] Torras, M.C., Faura, C. A., Schönlau, F., and Rohdewald, P. “Antimicrobial Activity of Pycnogenol®.” Phytotherapy Research 19 (2005): 647-648.
[iv] Blazsó, G. Gábor, M., Schönlau, F. and Rohdewald, P. “Pycnogenol® Accelerates Wound Healing and Reduces Scar Formation.” Phytotherapy Research 18 (2004): 579-581.
About the Author
Sondra Miles has a BS in Brain and Cognitive Sciences with a minor in Chemistry from MIT. She writes extensively on natural skin care, topical antioxidants and skin botanicals and is a member of the Research and Development team at derma e® Natural Bodycare.
For a free sampler pack and catalog of derma e products visit http://www.dermae.com/samples.