A new clinical trial on Lycoderm, a carotenoid-based supplement created by the company Lycored, evaluated the beneficial effects that the supplement had on skin health and overall appearance. While previous trials have evidenced the supplement’s ability to significantly increase overall carotenoid levels in the skin and improve resilience to environmental factors, such as UV rays, this was the first clinical trial on the product which relied entirely on photographic analysis and participant self-reporting. Previous studies relied more heavily on biological parameters.  
 
Lycoderm is a proprietary formulation of tomato extract and rosemary leaf extract containing multiple carotenoids, lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene, and carnosic acid, all of which are popular ingredients in nutricosmetic products for their potent antioxidant properties.
 
Following 16 weeks of daily supplementation in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, researchers evaluated the effects of Lycoderm through photo image analysis, questionnaires, and expert visual grading of facial lines and wrinkles.
 
The Lycoderm group saw a 5.6% reduction in wrinkle severity, while those taking the placebo saw no significant effect, and a similar trend was observed for fine lines, the authors of the study wrote.
 
80.6% of the participants taking Lycoderm also reported that their skin felt smoother, and 90.3% of the Lycoderm group reported that their skin felt more hydrated in a questionnaire.
 
Additionally, 67.7% of the Lycoderm group reported that their skin had a more even tone, and 64.5% said that they had seen an improvement in its brightness.
 
Researchers said that the study was based on a free radical theory, which is that free radicals and other oxygen species damage biomolecules, and this damage can cause aging in the skin and throughout the body. Free radicals are continuously produced through natural aging, illness, exposure to solar radiation, and smoke.
 
“We already knew that Lycoderm helps provide nourishment for the skin, building up carotenoids like a reservoir of goodness,” Elizabeth Tarshish, Lycored’s head of clinical affairs, said. “However, seeing is believing and this study shows that Lycoderm can have a remarkable impact on skin appearance as well as health. It’s visible evidence that beauty comes from within, showing how supplementation can help consumers achieve an ‘inner glow’ that enables them to feel truly comfortable in their own skin.”
 
The study, which was recently published in the journal Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmaceutics, can be viewed here.