Astaxanthin is a natural, red pigmented plant color which is found in algae, yeast, and krill. It is transferred up the food chain to many forms of fish in and plants.It is similar to carotenes which you may recognize as orange or yellow colors in items such as carrots, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes. Carotenoids have powerful antioxidant properties which protect cells and help heal cellular damage. What this means to your skin is that astaxanthin has the ability to protect skin from sun radiation and other forms of injury. 

Consuming astaxanthin may stall the aging process of skin. A 2018 study looked at moisture retention in subjects who were treated with 4 mg of astaxanthin versus those who are given a placebo and the treated patients showed marked moisture retention and less damage to the skin after the equivalent of 1 1/2 hours in the sun. Other studies have shown that oral consumption of astaxanthin as a supplement can improve the appearance of wrinkles and "crow's feet"  in as little as eight weeks' time. It was also found to decrease the appearance of age spots in some patients.

Additionally, Astxanthin has been found to have a positive affect at the cellular level in many other parts of the body including reducing joint inflammation, combating mental fatigue, preventing cognitive deterioration and reducing the risk of heart disease. A good source for obtaining Astaxanthin is www.lef.org.

As always, be sure to maintain a very high intake of brightly colored orange, green, red and yellow fruits and vegetables.  And don’t forget to use your sunblock!