Tomato-Based Supplement Improves Skin Appearance at 12 Weeks

Supplementation with Lycomato® soft gels is associated with more youthful-appearing skin, such as reduced tonality and wrinkles and improved smoothness and firmness. These study findings were published in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Researchers recruited women (N=50) aged 35 to 55 years who were interested in improving the appearance of their facial skin from a clinical trial participation database. Participants took 1 Lycomato soft gel daily for 12 weeks. All participants underwent clinical evaluations at baseline week 12. An expert grader visually assessed periorbital fine lines and wrinkles, global fine lines and wrinkles, pore appearance, brightness, skin tone evenness, dark spot intensity, skin texture, and firmness on digital images obtained using a professional-grade, digital single-lens reflex camera and scored outcomes from 0 (best score) to 9 (worst score).

The expert grader found periorbital fine lines were reduced by 41.4% (P <.002) and wrinkles by 26% (P <.05), and global fine lines and wrinkles by 51% (P <.001) and 26% (P <.001) at 12 weeks compared with baseline, respectively.

Tonality of skin was also found to be improved, in which brightness and luminosity were 13.5% better (P <.001), skin was 18.3% less patchy (P <.001), and dark spot severity was reduced by up to 11.9% (P <.05) at week 12 compared with baseline. Pore size was reduced by 21.7% from baseline to 12 weeks (P <.001).

At the final follow-up, skin appeared more smooth, lustrous, and firm.

In addition, Lycomato was associated with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss from baseline to week 12 by 8.9% (P <.05), indicating an improvement in skin barrier.

A total of 66% of the participants said they noticed an improvement in their skin, including 84% who reported their skin looked younger. Another 80% noticed brighter skin, 80% reported more hydrated skin, 76% had firmer skin, 72% observed tighter skin, 50% saw an improvement in redness, and 42% noted an improvement in dark spots.

Limitations of the study included the open-label design, lack of a comparator cohort, and the subjective measurements used as outcomes.

Study authors conclude, “Protective effects of oral carotenoids on human skin indicate their application in the field of dermatology as nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and photo-protectants. Due to their antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, the optimal supply of these supplements can increase dermal defense against ultraviolet irradiation and environmental pollutants…”

Disclosure: This research was supported by Lycored. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.