Tag Archives: pycnogenol

Lighten Up: Solving the Pigmentation Problem by Nicholas Perricone, M.D.

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I often receive insightful questions from my readers and welcome the opportunity to share them with you.

A recent one that piqued my interest is the following:

Dear Dr. Perricone,

Does using the Pigment Corrective make the skin more exposed to the sun and cancer, since it inhibits the production of melanin?

Fortunately, the answer to this is ‘no.’

Pycnogenol® is a key antioxidant in the Pigment Corrective formula. This remarkable antioxidant has the unique ability to lighten the skin, diminish skin discolorations, brown spots, unsightly age spots and much more. Moreover, this is the first highly effective and completely safe product to lighten and brighten skin—and when used topically and taken as a supplement at the same time, studies have found the following benefits:

• A visible improvement in the appearance and size of discoloration and brown spots
• An overall brightening of the skin
• Protection against further photo damage
• Gentle exfoliation of damaged cells
• A smoothing of fine lines
• Improved elasticity

And, while Pycnogenol inhibits melanogenesis, (the production of the pigment melanin, responsible for skin color) and lowers skin pigmentation intensity so that skin is more even toned, studies have found it to both safe and effective.

It has been noted that oxidative stress is involved in the over-production of skin pigments. Exposure to sunlight greatly contributes to further oxidative stress. In attempts to remove these over-pigmented areas, aggressive chemical peeling agents are applied to the skin, even though some are known to cause irreversible skin damage.

The good news is that a study demonstrated that oral supplementation of 30 women with Pycnogenol for one month reduced the size of skin affected by hyper-pigmentation significantly by 37%. And, more importantly, the average pigmentation intensity of women taking part in the trial was lowered by about 22%. In this study Pycnogenol was found to be a safe and effective way to achieve a fair skin free of the dark spots or patches safely and without any side-effects.

Oral supplementation of healthy volunteers with Pycnogenol was shown to help prevent UV damage and the resulting photo-aging. Pycnogenol inhibits the inflammation caused by UV-exposure and consequently protects the skin from sunburn.

In pre-clinical trials it was also demonstrated to be protective against chronic UV-exposure induced skin malignancies. These findings point to a significant photo-protective and anti-photo-aging effect of Pycnogenol.

So the news is good, as Pycnogenol helps lighten and brighten the skin while protecting it from further UV damage.

The Science Behind Pigment Corrective

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Pigment Corrective is a powerful treatment that helps to reverse the signs of hyper-pigmentation or brown spots resulting from sun damage or chronological age. By lightening and brightening the skin’s appearance, it imparts a more youthful, radiant complexion.

Independent clinical studies demonstrated extraordinary results:

• 100% reported a decrease in the appearance of new brown spots
• 96% reported their skin appeared brighter

How is it unique?
Pigment Corrective is safe and effective. Regular use improves the appearance of brown spots and hyper-pigmentation, while brightening the skin’s appearance with Pycnogenol® and Vitamin C Ester. It also helps tone skin, improves elasticity and smoothes the appearance of lines and wrinkles with DMAE.

The science
Pycnogenol® is sourced from maritime pine trees in the South of France, known for their centuries-old healing properties. It improves skin health and collagen renewal, while providing potent antioxidants to brighten skin.

Pigment Corrective complements any skincare regimen and can be used in combination with your favorite Perricone Products to help reduce the appearance of age spots. The topical cream is most effective when used with Pigment Corrective dietary supplements. Both of these will be made cheaper with Perricone coupons.

Pycnogenol – Jet Lag Cure?

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A new study published in Minerva Cardioangiologica shows Pycnogenol® lowered symptoms of jetlag such as fatigue, headaches, insomnia and brain edema (swelling) in both healthy individuals and hypertensive patients. Patients also experienced minimal lower leg edema, a common condition associated with long flights.

Click here for a summary of the study.

If you are now wondering if you can get products with Pycnogenol, you can. Here is our collection of Pigment Corrective products with pycnogenol as a core ingredient. So they won’t just help with jet lag, but with skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation as well.

Dr. Perricone Q&A – Hyperpigmentation Treatment

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Q: Last year I changed my skin care regimen to include a retinol product. This
caused some damage to my skin, leaving spots of pigmentation on my checks, as well as a brownish scar. What can I do?

A: It sounds as if this product may have caused a condition known as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Try a skin care regimen that includes products containing natural anti-inflammatories, such as alpha lipoic acid or pycnogenol. Further, toner pads containing the powerful anti-inflammatory DMAE should help relieve this condition. Alpha hydroxy acid creams can also help to even out skin tone.

Dynamic Duo – Pycnogenol Supplements and Skin Care

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As is often the case, the most effective skin care products and regimes involve both an oral and topical component, each working to enhance the effects of the other. Pycnogenol has proven to be no exception. When both tiers are used synergistically, studies have found the following benefits:

  • A visible improvement in the appearance and size of discoloration and brown spots
  • An overall brightening of the skin
  • Protection against further photo damage
  • Gentle exfoliation of damaged cells
  • A smoothing of fine lines
  • Improved elasticity

Safety and Efficacy

Thanks to extensive studies conducted by its parent company Horphag Research, Pycnogenol has been found to be a safe and effective way to achieve a fair skin free of the dark spots or patches safely and without any side-effects. More than 190 scientific articles and clinical trials have confirmed Pycnogenol’s safety, absence of toxicity and clinical efficacy over the past 35 years. In fact Pycnogenol ® is one of the most researched ingredients in the natural product marketplace. Published findings have demonstrated Pycnogenol’s beneficial effects in cardiovascular health, skincare, cognitive function, diabetes health, inflammation, sports nutrition, asthma and allergy relief and menstrual disorders, among others.

The Power of Pycnogenol®

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Lightening the hyperpigmentation and skin discolorations has always been a challenge to many dermatologists, including myself. Many of the most popular substances used for this purpose are either ineffectual or potentially dangerous. I was immensely pleased to learn that there was another option, a superior antioxidant known as Pycnogenol, a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime pine tree, which grows exclusively along the unspoiled coast of southwestern France. Perricone readers know that anti-oxidant act as a natural anti-inflammatory and inflammation is a key factor in the vast majority of skin problems.

How does Pycnogenol work?

Pycnogenol works by inhibiting melanogenesis, the production of the pigment melanin, responsible for skin color) and lowers skin pigmentation intensity so that skin is a more even toned. A clinical study has demonstrated that Pycnogenol is effective in lightening areas of the skin that are over-pigmented, diminish skin discolorations, brown spots, unsightly age spots and much more.

What has Pycnogenol shown in tests?
Oral supplementation of healthy volunteers with Pycnogenol® was shown to help prevent UV damage and the resulting photo-aging. Pycnogenol® also inhibits the inflammation caused by UV-exposure, consequently protecting the skin from sunburn. Tomorrow we will learn how the synergistic combination of oral and topical Pycnogenol can transform the skin—safely and effectively.

Barking Up The Right Tree — Introducing Pycnogenol

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As we approach winter and the days are shorter, we can’t forget the toll that excess sun exposure may have taken on the face and body.

Hyperpigmentation is one of the negative effects of chronic overexposure to sunlight, which also plays a role in skin aging and the development of skin cancer. In fact, it is UV radiation that is the main environmental factor that causes human skin aging. Fortunately, a new generation of anti-inflammatory, antioxidants can help counteract these problems.

The Sun + Hormonal Imbalances

Human skin, like other organs, undergoes chronological aging; however, unlike other organs, our skin is in direct contact with the environment. Even worse, our face and hands are the two areas that do not have protection from clothing, exacerbating the problem.However, it is not just the sun exposure at fault. Hormonal imbalances and other factors also contribute to the loss of radiance, uneven skin tone and skin discolorations; ongoing problems that worsen with each passing year.

Lightening the hyperpigmentation and skin discolorations has always been a challenge to many dermatologists, including myself. Many of the most popular substances used for this purpose are either ineffectual or potentially dangerous.

Introducing Pycnogenol®

I was immensely pleased to learn that there was another option, a superior antioxidant known as Pycnogenol, a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime pine tree, which grows exclusively along the unspoiled coast of southwestern France. Perricone readers know that antioxidant act as natural anti-inflammatories, and inflammation is a key factor in the vast majority of skin problems.

Perricone MD Pigment Corrective System™

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As a follow on to our posts from the last few days regarding Pycnogenol here’s a quick view of a recent product from Dr. Perricone the Perricone MD Pigment Corrective System.

Perricone MD Pigment Corrective System combines the power of the Pigment Corrective Dietary Supplements along with the Pigment Corrective Skin Care Cream to help diminish the appearance of hyper-pigmentation and brown spots, while lightening and brightening skin’s appearance from the inside out and the outside in and becoming a wrinkle cure.