Impact of Oral Herbal Supplementation on Human Skin Aging

BACKGROUNDSkin aging, characterized by wrinkles, decreased elasticity, and dryness, is both a public health and esthetic issue, affecting most adults and leading to lowered quality of life and higher healthcare costs. While topical treatments are common, systemic approaches are gaining interest for their potential to enhance skin hydration, elasticity, and barrier function. Nonetheless, the effects of oral herbal supplements remain less examined.

AIMThis systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of oral herbal supplements in reducing skin aging in humans, focusing on elasticity, hydration, wrinkle depth, and antioxidant activity.

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through structured database searches (March–August 2025). Twelve RCTs published between 2020 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria, involving adults who received oral herbal supplements versus placebo or standard care. Outcomes measured included skin elasticity, hydration, wrinkle depth, smoothness, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory markers. Quality assessment using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool indicated that all 12 RCTs were judged as having some concerns of bias.

RESULTSInterventions included Glycine max, bilberry, cranberry, Hydrangea serrata, Pycnogenol, and others. Most studies reported significant improvements in dermatological outcomes. Proposed mechanisms involve antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, collagen synthesis, barrier restoration, photoprotection, DNA repair, and microbiome modulation.

CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, oral herbal supplements show promising potential in improving skin aging outcomes by targeting multiple biological pathways. Further research with larger populations, longer durations, and biomarker-based endpoints is needed to confirm efficacy and support standardized use in dermatology and esthetic medicine.

Abstract from Crossref