Pycnogenol is a powerful antioxidant that comes from an extract of the French Maritime pine tree bark. Medicinal use of pine bark extract dates back to the 16th century as a remedy for scurvy. However, this antioxidant was not researched until the 1960s. In 1987, professor Jacques Masquelier patented pycnogenol for its ability to fight the undesirable effects of free radicals, such as collagen degradation, DNA reprogramming, inflammation and aging. Pycnogenol cream may offer a number of skin health benefits, although as of 2010 there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.
Healthy Skin
A study published in 1998 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology found that pycnogenol may help stabilize collagen. Pycnogenol has a specific affinity for collagen and elastin, which are two proteins that make up your skin's dermis layer--the layer of connective tissue responsible for almost 90 percent of your skin's thickness. Pycnogenol may help protect collagen and elastin from degradation and help improve blood vessel integrity.
Natural Sunscreen
Dr. Artii Arstila conducted pycnogenol research in 1993 in Finland and found that pycnogenol is an effective UVB protectant. UVB is the primary portion of the UV spectrum that can cause skin damage. The research showed that pycnogenol helped reduce UVB radiation to skin cells and effectively scavenged superoxide free radicals. Apply pycnogenol skin cream prior to sun exposure to help prevent UV damage, then reapply afterward to reduce your skin's inflammatory response, reduce skin degradation and improve microcirculation.
Wound Healing
According to a study published in 2003 in Phytotherapy Research, topical pycnogenol gel helped improve wound healing time. The study compared wound healing time in subjects who used 1 percent pycnogenol skin gel to subjects who used a non-pycnogenol skin gel. The pycnogenol-treated subjects experienced wound healing 1.6 days faster and had smaller scar formation.
Acne
Pycnogenol is shown to improve adult acne. According to a 2006 study conducted, but not yet published, by M. Seki, a 0.5 percent pycnogenol lotion improved adult acne in 75 percent of women. Five percent of women in this study experienced dramatic improvement. Pycnogenol may help improve acne due to its anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
References
- "Biomedical Reviews: The Nutraceutical Pycnogenol: Its Role in Cardiovascular Health and Blood Glucose Control;" Om P. Gulati; 2005
- "Alive: Canadian Journal of Health & Nutrition: Age-Defying Antioxidants;" Sondra Miles; 2009
- Skin Biology: The Skin
- Horphag: Pycnogenol in Topical Skin Care
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