
Is Astaxanthin Good For Your Skin?
Skincare is about much more than just looking youthful and staying wrinkle-free. Your skin is the largest protective organ on your body that helps keep germs out so that you can feel as good as you look. You’ll find many different lotions and potions on the market that all claim to help preserve your appearance, but nourishing from within is where true skin health begins. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant with multiple benefits for your skin, making it worth including alongside your other anti-aging products.
Where Does Astaxanthin Come From?
If you’ve ever admired a flamingo’s beautiful pink hue or marveled at a crab’s deep red shell, then you’ve seen this antioxidant in its most visible form. Although it is a strong natural antioxidant, it usually occurs in only minute amounts in nature, making it virtually impossible to get enough of in your regular diet to make much of a difference in your health.
Microalgae is the best source of this antioxidant for supplements. While most people would never want to eat microalgae on their own, Haematococcus pluvialis is the richest source of astaxanthin in nature. Once the antioxidant is sourced, it is then specially processed to include in supplements so that you can access the powerful effects by simply swallowing a tiny capsule.
What Are the Benefits for Skin Health?
Many factors go into maintaining healthy skin. Some people lack moisture in their skin, and dryness causes flaking and uncomfortable tightness. Others might have health conditions that impact their skin health, such as psoriasis or eczema. Aging is another known factor that can impact how your skin appears over the years.
Although you can’t prevent the effects of time or your general health on your skin, you do have the ability to minimize them. Those factors that increase your risk of developing wrinkles and blemishes also come down to your skin cell’s ability to handle oxidative stress. This potent antioxidant helps your skin cells manage oxidative stress with greater efficiency, and it provides these additional benefits that make it worth adding to your beauty routine.
- combat exposure to UV rays
- nourish the skin from within
- even out hyper-pigmentation
- maintain smoother, wrinkle-free skin
Reduce the Effects of Oxidation on Skin Cells
The majority of skin problems that you can experience come down to the effects of oxidative stress. When your skin cells are exposed to the sun’s UVA rays or pollutants in the air, they begin to experience stress related to an increase in free radicals in the body. Potent antioxidants help to combat free radicals before they can cause cellular damage that impacts how your skin looks and feels on the surface.
Help the Body Produce Normal Collagen Levels
Collagen is a substance your body produces that helps cushion your joints and beneath your skin. As you age, collagen naturally begins to break down, which can lead to that hollowed-out look you sometimes see on older people’s cheeks. The breakdown of collagen also contributes to wrinkles since there will no longer be the extra layer of fat that helps to create the plump appearance of skin that people associate with youth. Including natural health supplements in your diet can help your body produce more collagen, which can help you to maintain the plumpness of your skin, which helps to keep you looking younger as you age.
Promote Better Wound Healing
Proper skin care is also essential for making sure that your body’s surface layer of protection can keep out pathogens that can make you ill. Dry skin is more likely to develop scratches and tiny abrasions that allow germs to get inside, which can lead to infections. Nourishing your skin with good nutrition helps to prevent skin wounds in the first place. If you do sustain a scratch, then the strengthening effects of this antioxidant on your immune system can help your skin to heal faster and fight off germs before they take hold.
Help Balance Out Hormonal Changes In the Skin
When you consider all the hormonal changes accompanying aging, it is no wonder that women often tend to find that getting older impacts their skin. Much more has been learned in recent years about the connection between astaxanthin and female hormones. The supplemental nutrient is known to increase how much estrogen and progesterone are secreted in the tiny hair follicles that exist in the skin. While it will not negatively impact your hormone levels, the small amounts it boosts in your skin can further help preserve your youthful appearance.
Retain Moisture and Skin Elasticity
Being out in the sun might make you sweat and cuts the UV rays are actually causing enzymatic changes in your skin that interfere with moisture retention. Taking this supplement helps not only reduce how the UV rays contribute to cancer but it can also counteract the enzymatic process so that your skin can hold in more of that critical moisture. Keeping your skin hydrated further helps preserve its elasticity, another important factor that helps you look more youthful. Skin that stretches and bounces back easily is less likely to wrinkle as you smile and crinkle your eyes.
Aid In the Care of Inflammatory Skin Conditions
Antioxidants are also recognized for having anti-inflammatory effects. Many skin conditions are irritated by exposure to factors that increase inflammation. For instance, some people find their psoriasis symptoms flare up in response to sunlight. Eczema can also worsen if exposed to certain chemicals or pollutants that increase oxidative stress. Adding more antioxidants to your diet can help reduce inflammation, which might help alleviate some of your symptoms when included with the rest of your skincare plan.
Are Natural Herbal Supplements Better for Certain Skin Types?
All skin types can benefit from using natural antioxidant supplements. However, people with dry, wrinkled, or hyper-pigmented skin tend to notice the effects the most. You might also benefit more from using natural supplements if you have sensitivities to ingredients in other products. Many skin care lotions are filled with perfumes and other harsh chemicals that can make them more trouble than their worth. Taking astaxanthin won’t result in redness, itching, and other uncomfortable symptoms if you have an allergy to a topical product.
Are Topical or Oral Anti Aging Supplements Better?
You can find this antioxidant included in products that you apply topically to your skin. If you try a topical product, you’ll want to check the ingredients for any potential irritants carefully. Topical products also only tend to help with the surface issues on your skin. Oral anti-aging supplements promote healthier skin by sending nutrients directly to the cells. While you won’t be able to see the magic happening, you’ll be able to see the effects in the mirror as your body begins to produce healthy skin cells that rise to the surface.
Putting your best face forward starts by living a lifestyle that makes you want to smile. Farlong Nutraceutical’s anti-aging supplements help you maintain healthier skin by giving your body the antioxidants it needs to combat the toxins you encounter as you spend time outside. Give astaxanthin a try, and you’ll be able to step out for your daily stroll with greater confidence that your skin can continue to provide your body with the ultimate protection.