The bark from French pine trees that grow near the ocean could be the latest secret weapon for younger and healthier skin as well as dry skin and eczema.
The pine bark extract, which has been put into a cream, claims to improve skin elasticity by 25% and skin hydration by 8%, making it an ideal everyday natural moisturiser for dry and eczema-prone skin.
The pine bark extract, called Pycnogenol, is a super antioxidant.
In a study published in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 20 women aged 55 to 68 were treated with the pine bark extract. They were monitored for levels of skin hydration, skin elasticity and skin fatigue.
At the end of the study, a biopsy was carried out to see the levels of hyaluronic acid, which is the substance in the skin what gives the skin plumpness and elasticity. Hyaluronic acid decreases with age. The makers of Pycnogenol claim that the natural pine bark extract stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid.
[quote]The most significant changes in levels of hyaluronic acid were in the women who had very dry skin.[/quote]
Pycnogenol taken as an oral supplement has already been found to be effective in the treatment of those suffering from diabetes, impotence, menopausal symptoms, asthma, osteoarthritis and hypertension.
