Pycnogenol ® and Beauty from within

Moreover, Pycnogenol®supplementation contributes to skin health and beauty by helping to reduce melasma development and minimize the effects of photo-ageing (1, 5, 14-18).

Pycnogenol® improves skin hydration and elasticity
Skin firmness and hydration depend largely on the body’s ability to produce and preserve collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Supporting these processes helps maintain skin elasticity, moisture and resistance to daily environmental stress.

For instance, collagens make up over 30% of the extracellular matrix, acting as supportive tissue material and bringing stability and elasticity (19). Elastin, which together with fibrillin microfibrils make up elastic fibers, is crucial for elasticity and extensibility of various tissues, including the skin (19). Another important component of the extracellular matrix is hyaluronic acid, which contributes to water retention in tissues and to their structural integrity (19).

Clinical investigations of Pycnogenol® supplementation for 3 months with healthy female volunteers, aged 55 to 68 years revealed significantly increased expression of hyaluronic acid synthase within the skin by 44%, leading to youthful, hydrated, and resilient skin(2). Hyaluronic acid synthase is the natural source of water-binding hyaluronic acid in the dermis, which moisturizes the skin and keeps it taut and smooth, and it supports the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix by interacting with collagen and elastin fibers. Additionally, Pycnogenol® was shown to stimulate the synthesis of new collagen - skin´s connective tissue – by increasing its expression in average by 40% (2).

In addition, Pycnogenol® was shown to reduce the release and activity of destructive enzymes (metalloproteinases 1,2 and 9), which break down dermal tissue proteins, like collagen or elastin (3, 4). The reduced activity of these lytic enzymes saves the connective tissues from degradation, representing the basis for maintaining an elastic and youthful-looking skin.

By increasing hyaluronic acid and collagen production within the body and protecting elastin and collagen from being degraded, Pycnogenol® was shown to increase skin elasticity and skin hydration (1-5).

In the 3-month study with 20 women, mentioned earlier, a significant skin-hydration increase by 21% in the Pycnogenol®group was found, particularly in women presenting with dry skin prior to Pycnogenol®intake (2). Pycnogenol® was also shown to improve skin elasticity by 25% and decrease skin fatigue by 30%. In addition, it was observed that Pycnogenol® supplementation reduced skin wrinkles by 3% and increased skin smoothness by 6%.

In another study with 78 subjects, who work outdoors in an urban area, skin elasticity was shown to be improved with Pycnogenol® by 13% after 3 months, compared to an increase of 1% in the placebo group (1).In this placebo-controlled double-blind study, Pycnogenol® reduced water loss of the skin (trans-epithelial water loss) during the hot summer season by 14%, whereas it only reduced by 5% with placebo. This prevented skin moisture decrease during the hot summer season. Skin moisture was reduced by only 3.3% with Pycnogenol®, while with placebo it was reduced by 14% after 3 months. This shows that the intake of Pycnogenol® reinforced skin barrier function.

Another finding that supports Pycnogenol®’s positive effects on skin barrier function, was an increased expression of genes involved in keratinocyte differentiation and barrier formation including loricrin, indicating that Pycnogenol® supplementation was associated with an improved formation of cornified envelopes and thus preserve skin hydration by reducing trans-epithelial water loss (5).

In addition, healthy blood flow is essential to sufficiently nurture the skin from within. Blood vessels bring oxygen and nutrients through arteries and small microvessels all over the body, providing beneficial effects from head to toe. Pycnogenol® helps to optimize blood flow by regulating microcirculation (6-8) and blood flow (9-11), which is crucial for skin and overall health.

Pycnogenol® reduces melasma development and limits photo-ageing
In addition to its effects on skin hydration and elasticity, Pycnogenol® was shown to provide potent photo-protective and melasma-reducing effects from the inside out, contributing to an even skin tone (1, 5, 14-18). Melasma is a common form of hyperpigmentation and may be caused by UV exposure, female hormones or by predisposed genetic background (20). In clinical studies, Pycnogenol® reduced the area and intensity of melasma and led to a more regular and even skin complexion (1, 16, 17).

A study with 30 women with melasma reported a more regular and even skin complexion with 22% lower pigment intensity following four weeks intake of Pycnogenol®(17). Additionally, Pycnogenol® was shown to effectively decrease the area of over-pigmented skin spots by 38%, leading to smaller spots.

It was shown that Pycnogenol® suppresses tyrosinase activity, an enzyme that activates the production of melanin - the pigments, responsible for melasma (14, 15). These findings of Pycnogenol®’s ability to counteract skin hyperpigmentation were clinically validated in a study, in which Pycnogenol® was shown to significantly lower UV-induced expression of enzymes that are linked to long-lasting pigmentation (5). Pycnogenol® was further shown to increase the resistance of participant’s skin to solar UV exposure, needed to trigger skin redness (18). The results from these studies suggest that Pycnogenol® has photo-protective and melasma-alleviating efficacies.

Beautiful legs with Pycnogenol®
Beautiful legs have been celebrated throughout history, admired in art, fashion, and culture as symbols of grace and strength. More than just an aesthetic ideal, healthy legs are often a testament to physical well-being and an active lifestyle.

Conditions that alter the ideal silhouette of a “perfect” leg, like lipedema or cellulite are affecting mostly women. Pycnogenol® French maritime pine bark extract as part of a healthy lifestyle has shown to contribute to more beautiful and healthy legs.

Newly published study shows Pycnogenol®’s effects on lipedema
A recently published clinical study investigated the effects of Pycnogenol® supplementation on key symptoms of lipedema, a chronic condition that significantly affects quality of life in women (13). Lipedema causes an abnormal build-up of subcutaneous fat in the legs and sometimes arms that is not caused by obesity and is resistant to traditional diet and exercise (21). The condition can be painful and depending on the severity, can greatly affect mental wellbeing and daily life. Often misdiagnosed, the cause of lipedema is still unknown and unfortunately, there is no consensus treatment described, apart from lymph drainage, compression and physiotherapy to manage the condition.

In the study, one hundred women in their thirties with diagnosed lipedema took Pycnogenol® or placebo for 2 months (13). The lipedema-related symptom score was reduced by a surprising 29% compared to baseline and was significantly reduced by 32% compared to placebo at the end of the study. In the lipedema-specific questionnaire on quality of life that was used, several parameters were significantly reduced, such as swelling of the legs, heavy legs, tenderness and bruising. In addition, an 8% reduction in body fat and a significant improvement in satisfaction with leg appearance and quality of life compared to placebo was reported at the end of the study.

Pycnogenol®’s benefits on Lipedema stem from its antioxidant (9, 22-27)and anti-inflammatory properties (4, 28, 29), which help strengthen blood vessel walls (9-11) and improve microcirculation (6-8). These effects are particularly relevant for lipedema, where impaired circulation contributes to chronic swelling and tissue discomfort.

Pycnogenol®’s efficacy on cellulite
Cellulite is a very common cosmetic skin condition of the legs, affecting 80-90% of women (30). It is linked to dermal structure and vascular changes, causing subcutaneous fat within connective tissue to push up the skin leading to dimpled and bumpy skin on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen (30).

A recent study revealed that Pycnogenol® significantly decreases cellulite severity (12). The double-blind placebo-controlled study included 60 women who either took Pycnogenol® or placebo for 3 months. Cellulite severity was significantly reduced by 13.6% in the Pycnogenol® group, according to the Hexsel cellulite severity score, a clinically valuated assessment tool, evaluating five key morphological features of cellulite, such as skin surface alterations and sagging skin. In addition, upper thigh circumference was significantly reduced by 2.07 cm after the 3 months of Pycnogenol® intake compared to a reduction of 0.9 cm in the placebo group. Skin roughness was decreased by 32% and skin smoothness was increased by 11.2% after Pycnogenol® supplementation.

Pycnogenol®French maritime pine bark extract is a safe, natural and evidence-based solution to support smooth and healthy skin. Pycnogenol® improves skin hydration and skin elasticity and reduces skin fatigue. Additionally, Pycnogenol®provides photo-protection and reduces melasma, contributing to an even and healthy skin tone. New research shows that Pycnogenol® not only helps to increase leg beauty but also reduces the symptoms of lipedema and cellulite. For more information on how Pycnogenol® helps support smooth and healthy skin, please visit www.pycnogenol.com .