What is Pine bark extract?
The study product was Pycnogenol, a standardized French maritime pine bark extract. No other pine bark product was tested in this trial.
What it does for skin
The abstract says Pycnogenol prevented a fall in skin hydration and prevented skin darkening. The darkening result is tied to the dry autumn season.
The abstract also lists transepidermal water loss (TEWL) among the effects Pycnogenol prevented, without stating the direction.
Gross elasticity and elastic recovery improved, regardless of season. None of these effects appeared on placebo.
What the research shows
The trial was single-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled and crossover, with 76 Han Chinese outdoor workers studied from spring through autumn.
The abstract gives no effect sizes. The page we read reports no p-values or confidence intervals, so statistical significance could not be confirmed from it.
The page we read has no funding or competing-interest statement. The full article should be checked for both.
Forms, amounts and limits
The study gave 2 × 50 mg a day of Pycnogenol for 12 weeks in total. The page does not say how long each crossover period lasted.
Safety
The page we read reports no adverse-event data, so this source cannot be used to list side effects.
Ask a clinician before use if you take prescription medicines.
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medicines.
Questions
Is Pycnogenol the same as grape seed extract?
Pycnogenol is a standardized French maritime pine bark extract. The trial we read tested only Pycnogenol.
Does it protect against sunburn?
The trial measured skin darkening and other skin measures. It did not measure sunburn.
Sources
General information, not medical advice. Vanu Health does not sell this supplement. Read our terms.