Study: Astaxanthin plays a protective role in reducing skin damage caused by UV rays

If you’re worried about UV radiation damage but you’re not willing to accept the dangers that come with sunscreen use, you might want to turn to astaxanthin supplements. A new study has confirmed that the supplement offers innate sun protection while reducing UV damage and skin aging.

The researchers in this study followed 23 healthy adults from Japan between the ages of 30 and 56 for a total of ten weeks in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The participants were given either 4 mg of astaxanthin per day or a placebo pill for nine weeks; an additional week of base measurements preceded the study.

The researchers analyzed UV-induced changes in the skin at the baseline and after nine weeks of treatment or a placebo, and they used a subjective visual analog scale to measure the skin’s texture and any improvement of rough skin.

They found that astaxanthin was protective against UV-induced skin deterioration and that it helped people maintain healthy skin. It’s interesting to note that astaxanthin actually enters the layers of the skin from the inside, boosting your cells’ natural power to fight UV radiation damage by dealing with reactive free radicals. They cautioned that daily intake is necessary in order to keep a sufficient level of astaxanthin in the body.

While the researchers were quick to emphasize that dietary supplements should not be seen as replacements for sunscreen blockers and avoiding sun exposure at high-risk times, astaxanthin can be used as yet another tool in a multipronged approach to protect skin.

Past studies have shown that 4 mg of astaxanthin daily can rejuvenate facial skin by reducing oxidative stress. It was also found to boost skin’s elasticity and smoothness, smooth out fine wrinkles, and increase moisture.

Astaxanthin’s benefits extend beyond skin

Although its skin protection benefits are reason enough to