Knowledge Blog > Health
Astaxanthin, Skin & Sun: What do we know about its effects?
Summer, sun, good mood – but your skin often pays the price. A red pigment from the world of algae, astaxanthin, is increasingly being researched in connection with UV radiation and skin appearance: We take a look at what the studies really show.
- Why UV protection is important
- What is astaxanthin
- Skin protection from outside & inside
- Astaxanthin & sunburn
- Skin barrier & moisture retention
- Research on astaxanthin & skin
- Astaxanthin & sun allergy
- Antioxidant properties of astaxanthin
- Molecular structure & cell protection
- Astaxanthin & inflammatory processes
- Cardiovascular system
- Astaxanthin intake & side effects
- Sources & bibliography
Themen dieses Blogartikels:
Why UV protection is so important for your skin
Lying on the beach in the sun, a dream, if it weren't for the UV radiation (especially UV-A and UV-B), which can severely damage your skin. UV-B rays cause acute damage such as sunburn and direct DNA damage in skin cells, which long-term increases the risk of skin cancer. UV-A rays penetrate deeper into the skin and accelerate skin aging. In fact, it is estimated that around 80% of visible facial skin aging is due to chronic UV exposure. The result: wrinkles, pigment spots, and sagging skin appear much earlier than they would with "normal" aging. No wonder then that dermatologists never tire of warning against too much sun.
Free Radicals and Oxidative Damage
Besides visible aging, UV radiation can also damage the invisible structures of the skin. This leads to an increased production of free radicals and oxidative stress, which can promote processes that impair collagen and elastin – the support structure of your skin.³ As a result, the skin can lose firmness and elasticity over time. Additionally, UV stress can trigger inflammatory reactions and impair the skin barrier.³ All of this makes it clear: Good UV protection is essential to protect your skin from the effects of excessive UV radiation.
What exactly is astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin (pronounced: As-tah-zan-thin) is a natural pigment from the carotenoid family – meaning yellow to red pigments, which also include beta-carotene (from carrots). It belongs to the class of carotenoids, known for their strong antioxidant properties. Astaxanthin is bright red and owes its name to the reddish crayfish from which it was first isolated. Astaxanthin is extracted from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis, also known as blood rain alga. Compared to other carotenoids, astaxanthin has a particularly strong antioxidant effect. In nature, astaxanthin is primarily produced by certain microalgae like Haematococcus pluvialis. Why? Because it serves as a form of self-protection for the algae: Under stress – such as intense UV radiation, nutrient deficiency, or drought – these algae produce enormous amounts of astaxanthin and turn red in the process. The astaxanthin accumulates in the cells and protects the alga from oxidative damage from sun and environment².
Natural occurrence in the food chain
This pigment then moves up the food chain. Krill, shrimp, and other small crustaceans eat the microalgae and absorb astaxanthin, turning them pinkish-orange. Fish like salmon or trout, which feed on these crustaceans, accumulate astaxanthin in their muscle tissue—hence the salmon-red color of their flesh. Even flamingos owe their pink plumage to astaxanthin in their diet. Astaxanthin is therefore a natural component of our diet, albeit in rather small amounts, especially if you eat seafood, salmon, or trout.
Skin protection from the outside and inside: What plays a role?
Conscious handling of UV radiation, protective clothing, and sunscreens form the basis for protecting the skin from excessive UV radiation. At the same time, our skin has its own protective and repair mechanisms, in which various antioxidant systems are involved.
Diet also supplies the body with various nutrients and phytochemicals. In this context, carotenoids such as astaxanthin and their possible role in UV-induced skin changes are being investigated.³
Astaxanthin and Sunburn: What Do Studies on UV Exposure Show?
The idea sounds appealing: swallow a capsule and your skin is better protected against the sun from within. It's not quite that simple – however, there are initial human studies that have investigated how astaxanthin is related to the skin's reaction to UV radiation.
A placebo-controlled study investigated this question in more detail: Healthy adults took 4 mg of astaxanthin daily for nine weeks. The result was that their skin could then tolerate a little more UV light before visible redness appeared and lost less moisture than in the placebo group.⁴
Protection of the skin barrier and moisture content
In addition to the UV reaction, the same study also examined the skin's water balance: How moist does the skin remain, and how well does the skin barrier stay intact?
Immediately after UV irradiation, the skin lost moisture. In the participants who had taken astaxanthin, this loss was less pronounced after nine weeks. In non-irradiated skin areas, they also reported a smoother skin texture.⁴
A larger meta-analysis of several studies from 2021 also supports this finding: Oral astaxanthin intake was more frequently associated with better skin moisture and elasticity – however, no clear difference was observed in wrinkle depth.¹⁰
Another study with 65 women over 16 weeks complements this picture: While skin moisture and certain wrinkle parameters slightly worsened over time in the group without astaxanthin, this was not the case in the astaxanthin groups (6 mg or 12 mg daily).⁵
What research says about astaxanthin for your skin
Astaxanthin and Pigment Spots: What Was Investigated?
In addition to skin moisture, elasticity, and reaction to UV radiation, astaxanthin has also been studied in connection with pigmentation or age spots. In a study with 30 healthy women, 6 mg of astaxanthin was taken daily and astaxanthin was also applied topically for eight weeks. The researchers observed, among other things, a reduction in the size of age spots, as well as changes in skin texture and other skin parameters.⁸
Important to note: There was no control group without astaxanthin in this study, and oral and topical application were combined. Therefore, it is not possible to definitively say what exactly was responsible for the changes.
Could astaxanthin be of interest for a sun allergy?
In polymorphous light eruption (PMLE), colloquially known as "sun allergy," complex immunological processes play a role. Oxidative stress is also discussed as a possible factor. Antioxidant approaches have therefore already been investigated in smaller clinical studies in people with PMLE.¹⁸
The oral intake of antioxidant substances has also been investigated in this context: In one study, people with PMLE received a combination of lycopene, beta-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii for twelve weeks. After experimental UV exposure, evidence of a reduced skin reaction was observed. However, astaxanthin itself was not part of this study.¹⁹
This creates an interesting connection to astaxanthin: In studies with human keratinocytes, astaxanthin reduced the increased release of the inflammatory mediators PGE2 and IL-8 after UVB irradiation.²⁰ In addition, the already mentioned human study with astaxanthin in healthy individuals showed changes in the UV reaction and UV-induced moisture loss of the skin.⁴
Whether astaxanthin could therefore also have a supportive effect in polymorphous light eruption has not yet been sufficiently investigated. The existing results make this connection scientifically interesting but are not proof of an effect of astaxanthin in "sun allergy."
Display
- Specially developed for women's health & the hormonal system
- With premium natural ingredients Ashwagandha, Green Tea Extract (EGCG), Astaxanthin & Dong Quai
- Supplemented with Vitamin B6 & Pantothenic Acid for hormone regulation
- No fillers or flavorings
- Developed with doctors & experts
- Delicious taste
- Easy-to-dose liquid product
Antioxidant Properties – What Makes Astaxanthin Special
What do free radicals have to do with astaxanthin?
Free radicals can be formed by UV radiation, air pollution, or even during normal metabolism. If the formation of reactive oxygen compounds exceeds the body's antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress can occur.
Astaxanthin is being intensively researched due to its antioxidant properties. In a comparative cell study, astaxanthin showed stronger antioxidant effects under UVA irradiation than the also investigated carotenoids beta-carotene and lutein.³
There is also data on this in humans: an evaluation of 12 studies found evidence that astaxanthin could influence various markers for oxidative stress and inflammation – the effect was more pronounced in some studies in people with type 2 diabetes.¹⁴
Molecular Structure of Astaxanthin and Cell Protection
Why is that? Astaxanthin has a special molecular structure. Simply put, the molecule consists of two polar end groups and a long non-polar, fat-soluble middle part. This allows astaxanthin to embed itself in and span lipid membranes. The polar end groups are located on the membrane surfaces, while the non-polar middle part lies within the lipid layer.³
This special arrangement is one reason why astaxanthin is intensively investigated in research for its antioxidant properties and its interaction with reactive oxygen species. These mechanisms also play an important role in research in connection with UV-induced processes in the skin.³
Another special feature: Unlike beta-carotene, astaxanthin has no provitamin A activity and is not converted into vitamin A in the body.³
What does astaxanthin have to do with your body's own cell defense?
At the cellular level, there is also evidence that astaxanthin can activate a protective mechanism in the body called Nrf2 – a pathway that boosts the body's own defense against oxidative processes.³ In a larger evaluation with 380 participants, corresponding changes were observed in stress and inflammation markers, although the data for individual values is still sparse.¹⁵
Astaxanthin and Inflammatory Processes: What Is Currently Known?
In addition to oxidative stress, inflammatory processes also play a role in UV-induced skin changes. UV radiation can influence various inflammatory mediators and thereby promote skin reactions.
Astaxanthin is also being scientifically investigated in this context. Experimental studies provide evidence that astaxanthin can influence UV-induced changes in certain inflammatory markers.²⁰ Human studies also provide interesting results: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with healthy adults, a higher minimal erythema dose (MED) was observed after nine weeks of daily intake of 4 mg astaxanthin compared to placebo. In addition, UV-induced skin moisture loss was lower.⁴
However, this study cannot answer whether an general anti-inflammatory effect of astaxanthin in humans can be derived from this.
Astaxanthin and the Cardiovascular System: What Do Studies Show?
Astaxanthin is not only being investigated in the context of skin. Possible connections with various cardiovascular and metabolic parameters are also the subject of scientific studies.
Blood pressure has also been investigated: an evaluation of several studies with almost 500 adults found no clear effect of astaxanthin on blood pressure overall. The results of individual studies varied, which shows that further research is needed here.¹⁶
Blood lipids were also investigated. For blood lipid levels, another evaluation of several studies showed a small increase in "good" HDL cholesterol with astaxanthin. In contrast, no difference was found for LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, blood sugar, and body weight.¹⁷
In addition to skin, astaxanthin is also being investigated in other areas. This includes, for example, eye health, for which both preclinical and clinical studies are available.¹³
How much astaxanthin do you need daily?
Astaxanthin as a dietary supplement
Astaxanthin has received a lot of attention as a dietary supplement in recent years. In clinical skin studies, different amounts have been investigated, often in the range of about 3 to 6 mg astaxanthin per day.⁹ Individual studies investigated, for example, 4 mg daily⁴ or 6 mg daily – sometimes in combination with topical application.⁸
Practical tips for use: How should astaxanthin be taken?
Astaxanthin is a fat-soluble carotenoid. Therefore, it is advisable to take astaxanthin with a meal that contains some fat.³ In studies on the skin, different dosages were investigated, often in the range of about 3 to 6 mg of astaxanthin daily.⁹
Higher dosages have also been scientifically investigated. However, this does not imply that a higher amount automatically leads to a stronger effect. Therefore, the dosages from individual studies should not be understood as a general intake recommendation.
Important Note: This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be understood as such. Please consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements or changing your usual medical treatment.
Possible Side Effects and Information on Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is generally considered to be well-tolerated in the quantities studied so far. A comprehensive safety review, which included clinical studies and toxicological investigations, found no relevant safety signals for natural astaxanthin overall.¹²
Very high intake of carotenoids can generally lead to visible skin discoloration. For astaxanthin, a yellowish to reddish skin discoloration is primarily discussed in connection with very high intake amounts; however, in humans, this is not well-documented as a typical side effect.¹²
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also examined the safety of astaxanthin from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. It concluded that a daily intake of up to 8 mg of astaxanthin from food supplements can be considered safe for adults, taking into account additional intake from food.¹¹
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as in the presence of existing medical conditions or regular medication intake, the use of food supplements should be individually clarified with a doctor if in doubt.
Concluding Summary
Astaxanthin is an exciting natural substance that is being intensively researched, especially due to its antioxidant properties and in connection with skin and UV radiation. Initial human studies provide interesting insights into changes in the skin's UV reaction, as well as skin moisture and elasticity. Experimental studies on oxidative stress and inflammatory processes also help to better understand potential underlying mechanisms.
At the same time, the study situation is still limited: Many studies include only a few participants, differ in terms of dosage and study duration, or combine oral with topical application. Larger and longer-term studies are therefore necessary to better classify the observed effects and their practical significance.
So, astaxanthin is not a substitute for sunscreen – unfortunately, it's not that simple. But it is still exciting: If you are generally interested in the connection between nutrition and skin appearance, it is worth keeping an eye on the research surrounding this carotenoid.
More blog articles on this topic
This article is based on carefully researched sources:
Sources & References
- Flament Fetal. (2013). Effect of the sun on visible clinical signs of aging in Caucasian skin. Clinical, Cosmetic and lnvestigational Dermatology, 6:221-232.
- Focsan AL et al. (2017). Photo Protection of Haematococcus pluvialis Algae by Astaxanthin: Unique Properties of Astaxanthin. Molecules, 22(6):1030.
- Davinelli S et al. (2018). Astaxanthin in Skin Health, Repair, and Disease: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients, 10(4):522.
- lto N et al. (2018). The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-tnduced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People - A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 10(7):817.
- Tominaga K, Hongo N, Fujishita M, Takahashi Y, Adachi Y. (2017). Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 61(1):33–39. DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.17-35.
- Tominaga K et al. (2017). Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects. Acta Biochimica Polonica, 64(3):369-374.
- Chou HY et al. (2020). Protective effects of astaxanthin supplementation against ultraviolet-induced photoaging in hairless mice. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7:31.
- Tominaga K et al. (2012). Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on human subjects. Acta Biochimica Polonica, 59(1):43-47.12
- Ng QX et al. (2021). Effects of Astaxanthin Supplementation on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 18(2):169-182.
- 10. Zhou X et al. (2021). Astaxanthin for Skin Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 13(9):2917.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA). (2020).Safety of astaxanthin for its use as a novel food in food supplements. EFSA Journal, 18(2):5993. DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5993.
- Brendler T et al. (2019). Astaxanthin: How much is too much? A safety review. Phytotherapy Research, 33(12):3090-3111.
- Giannaccare G et al. (2020). Clinical Applications of Astaxanthin in the Treatment of Ocular Diseases: Emerging lnsights. Marine Drugs,
- Ma B, Lu J, Kang T, Zhu M, Xiong K, Wang J. Astaxanthin supplementation mildly reduced oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition Research. 2022;99:40–50. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2021.09.005.
- Ma B, Lu J, Kang T, et al. Astaxanthin supplementation mildly reduced oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition Research. 2022;99:40–50. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2021.09.005.
- Mokhtari E, Rafiei S, Shokri-Mashhadi N, Saneei P. (2021).Impact of astaxanthin supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Functional Foods, 87, 104860.
- Xia W, Tang N, Kord-Varkaneh H, Low TY, Tan SC, Wu X, et al. (2020).The effects of astaxanthin supplementation on obesity, blood pressure, CRP, glycemic biomarkers, and lipid profile: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pharmacological Research, 161, 105113.
- Hadshiew IM, Stäb F, Untiedt S, Bohnsack K, Rippke F, Hölzle E. (1997). Effects of topically applied antioxidants in experimentally provoked polymorphous light eruption. Dermatology, 195(4), 362–368. DOI:10.1159/000245989.
- Marini A, Jaenicke T, Grether-Beck S, et al. (2014). Prevention of polymorphic light eruption by oral administration of a nutritional supplement containing lycopene, β-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii: results from a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 30(4), 189–194. DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12093.
- Terazawa S, Nakajima H, Shingo M, Niwano T, Imokawa G. (2012). Astaxanthin attenuates the UVB-induced secretion of prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-8 in human keratinocytes by interrupting MSK1 phosphorylation in a ROS depletion-independent manner. Experimental Dermatology, 21(Suppl 1), 11–17. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01496.x.
