Jun 10, 2022

Astaxanthin, the natural antioxidant that takes care of your skin and hair

Dra.-Constanza-Riquelme-Mc-Loughlin

Astaxanthin has attracted great scientific interest in recent years due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help eliminate free radicals and strengthen the immune system.

Furthermore, in the last decade, studies on astaxanthin as a therapeutic agent have shown encouraging results for different health problems that are associated, among other factors, with oxidative stress, such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, eye problems and premature aging.

That is why, in this article, I want to show you in depth what astaxanthin is and how it can benefit your entire body and, in particular, your skin and hair .

What is astaxanthin and why is it important?

Astaxanthin is part of the group of carotenoids, natural pigments synthesized by plants, algae and bacteria.

As I mentioned, astaxanthin has high antioxidant properties , making it very effective in protecting our body from the presence of high levels of free radicals, which cause chronic health problems and various hair and skin problems.

What are free radicals and oxidative stress?

Free radicals are unstable molecules naturally present in our body , highly reactive and that attack the protein bonds of tissues, cell membranes and nucleic acids of cells , causing cell death .

The set of free radicals that have this capacity to produce oxidative damage are called reactive oxygen species (ROS, according to the acronym in English for Reactive Oxygen Species).

ROS are products of normal metabolism, that is, they are part of cellular functioning and are present at low and steady levels in normal cells. However, ROS can cause irreversible damage to DNA, as they oxidize and modify some cellular components and prevent them from performing their functions.

The problem would come from the drastic increase in ROS levels , either due to its increased production or a decrease in its elimination. High levels of ROS can result in significant damage to cellular structures , a phenomenon known as oxidative stress. In other words, oxidative stress occurs when the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense mechanisms is broken , leading to a variety of physiological and biochemical changes that cause cell deterioration and death.

Antioxidants would, therefore, be molecules capable of neutralizing ROS , delaying or inhibiting cellular damage.

How does oxidative stress influence hair and skin?

Hair is continually exposed to different aggressors such as sunlight, pollution, heat and cosmetic treatments . All of these factors are harmful to the hair as they can trigger the formation of excessive free radicals. This can lead, in turn, to an alteration of the natural metabolic pathway of the hair growth cycle and a greater possibility of hair loss.

For its part, in the skin, oxidative stress contributes to premature aging , compromising not only its protective function, but also contributing to the appearance of excessive dryness and itching, a greater predisposition to the formation or deepening of wrinkles, and alterations in pigmentation, fragility and difficulty healing , skin irritation and even an increased risk of skin cancer.

How does astaxanthin contribute to the health of our hair and skin?

Being an antioxidant product, the beneficial effects of astaxanthin are related to the unique properties of its molecular structure that allow it to eliminate reactive species and, in this way, cope with oxidative stress that can be harmful to our cells.

It has been reported in some studies that astaxanthin improves skin health by influencing different stages of the oxidative stress cascade, while inhibiting some inflammatory mediators.

On the other hand, the effects of astaxanthin on the prevention of hyperpigmentation and the prevention of premature photoaging have also been reported in clinical studies .

Role of astanxanthin in the care of our hair and skin

Where can we find astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is predominantly found in marine microorganisms and animals . It is responsible for the well-known orange-red color of the skin and meat of shrimp, crayfish and salmon. Crustaceans and fish cannot synthesize astaxanthin, therefore they depend on the supply of astaxanthin precursors through the consumption of algae such as Haematococcus pluvialis and other microorganisms.

Likewise, humans cannot synthesize carotenoids and must obtain them from the diet. The main sources of astaxanthin for humans are salmon (with wild sockeye salmon containing the highest amount of astaxanthin) or rainbow trout . Other natural sources of astaxanthin are green algae, some mushrooms, krill, shrimp, lobsters or crabs.

The Olistic formula also contains astaxanthin , which is extracted from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, which is the microalgae with the greatest potential. The extraction is carried out through the supercritical fluid technique that manages to extract astaxanthin in a greater proportion, in a cleaner and more sustainable way. The result is a product with the highest quality, stability and concentration, being 100% vegan.

The formulation of nutricosmetics such as Olistic for Women and Olistic for Men , which contain astaxanthin along with other antioxidants in a single treatment, offers the possibility of combining and potentiating the beneficial effects of individual natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition to the body's internal antioxidant defense systems, the consumption of antioxidants seems to be an adequate alternative that helps us meet the necessary requirements for areas such as hair to grow healthily, preventing their weakening and loss.

Jun 10, 2022
Dra.-Constanza-Riquelme-Mc-Loughlin