From Anirva, the maker of Dermal Radiance. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Skin often feels drier and less springy as we get older. Many people look for something they can take by mouth to support it. Astaxanthin is one of the names that comes up most often. It is the red pigment found in salmon and shrimp. Here we look at what astaxanthin is and how it may work in skin — the human trials, how much is in Dermal Radiance, and safety.
Jump to a section
- Astaxanthin is a red pigment made by algae. It is also found in salmon, trout and shrimp [1].
- Trials show better skin moisture and elasticity. A 2021 review pooled 8 placebo-controlled trials and found both improved with astaxanthin [2].
- Lab studies point to collagen support. In skin cells, astaxanthin led to less of an enzyme that breaks collagen down [3].
- In a 16-week trial, skin moisture and wrinkles held steady. They got worse in the placebo group over the same weeks [3].
- Dermal Radiance contains 12 mg. That matches the highest amount used in the skin trials [2][7].
What is astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. Carotenoids are natural pigments found in many colorful foods. Astaxanthin is red, and it dissolves in fat [1].
A microalga called Haematococcus pluvialis makes large amounts of it. Astaxanthin is also found in yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp and crayfish [1].
Astaxanthin from this alga is a main source for human use [1]. The two largest trials described below used it [3][4].
How might astaxanthin work in skin?
Antioxidant activity (lab studies)
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant. In lab tests, it was more active than vitamin E and several other carotenoids [1]. These are test-tube results, so they do not tell us how large the effect is in human skin.
Collagen and skin cells (lab studies)
Researchers have tested astaxanthin on human skin cells in the lab. In one study, cells from the skin surface were exposed to UV light. Cells given astaxanthin released fewer inflammation signals. Deeper skin cells were then bathed in fluid from those cells. They made less MMP-1, an enzyme that breaks down collagen [3].
This is a possible pathway for supporting firm skin, but it was shown in cells and is not yet a result in people.
Absorption
Astaxanthin dissolves in fat, not in water. The body absorbs it better when it is taken with food that contains some fat [1].
What does the research show?
The research on astaxanthin and skin is still growing. Several small human trials have been published, and one review has pooled their results.
A 2021 review of the trials
In 2021, researchers reviewed 11 human studies of astaxanthin and skin. They pooled 8 placebo-controlled trials of astaxanthin taken by mouth. The trials used 2 to 12 mg a day for 4 to 16 weeks [2].
Compared with placebo, astaxanthin improved skin moisture and skin elasticity. The change in wrinkle depth was not statistically significant. The review received no outside funding [2].
The authors also listed the limits of the evidence. The trials were small, and most of the people in them were Japanese women. Most had an unclear or high risk of bias, and several were funded or run by companies [2].
A 16-week trial in 65 women
In 2017, a trial in Japan enrolled 65 healthy women aged 35 to 60, and 59 finished. They took 6 mg of astaxanthin, 12 mg of astaxanthin, or a placebo each day. The trial ran for 16 weeks, from August to December [3].
In the placebo group, wrinkles and skin moisture got worse over the 16 weeks. In both astaxanthin groups, they stayed about the same. Skin elasticity improved in both astaxanthin groups during the trial, and the researchers reported no unwanted effects [3].
The authors worked for AstaReal, an astaxanthin maker. Fuji Chemical Industries paid for the trial [3].
A 6-week trial in 36 men
In 2012, the same research group reported two studies. In the controlled one, 36 healthy men took 6 mg of astaxanthin or a placebo for 6 weeks. Wrinkles near the eyes, elasticity and water loss from the skin improved with astaxanthin [4].
The second study had no placebo group. Thirty women took 6 mg by mouth and also put an astaxanthin solution on their skin for 8 weeks. Their skin measures improved, but without a placebo group we cannot be sure why. The authors worked for Fuji Chemical Industry [4].
A 9-week trial on skin and UV light
In 2018, a trial in Japan gave 23 healthy adults aged 30 to 56 either 4 mg of astaxanthin or a placebo for 9 weeks. Researchers then exposed a small patch of skin to UV light. In the astaxanthin group, skin needed slightly more UV light before it turned red. It also lost less moisture after UV exposure [5].
FUJIFILM paid for this trial, and the authors were its employees [5]. Astaxanthin is not a sunscreen. Experts suggest daily sunscreen and shade for sun care.
Study summary
| Study | People | Amount a day | Length | Main result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhou et al., 2021 [2] | 8 pooled trials | 2–12 mg | 4–16 weeks | Moisture and elasticity improved vs placebo; wrinkle depth not significant |
| Tominaga et al., 2017 [3] | 65 women, 35–60 | 6 mg or 12 mg | 16 weeks | Wrinkles and moisture held steady vs worsening on placebo |
| Tominaga et al., 2012 [4] | 36 men | 6 mg | 6 weeks | Eye-area wrinkles, elasticity and water loss improved vs placebo |
| Ito et al., 2018 [5] | 23 adults, 30–56 | 4 mg | 9 weeks | More UV needed before redness, and less moisture loss after UV, vs placebo |
How much astaxanthin is in Dermal Radiance compared with the studies?
| Source | Astaxanthin a day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dermal Radiance (2 capsules) | 12 mg | From the label [7] |
| Pooled skin trials | 2–12 mg | 8 trials, 4 to 16 weeks [2] |
| 16-week trial in women | 6 mg or 12 mg | Both amounts tested against placebo [3] |
| 6-week trial in men | 6 mg | [4] |
| 9-week UV trial | 4 mg | [5] |
Dermal Radiance provides 12 mg. This matches the highest amount used in the skin trials, and it is more than the 4 to 6 mg used in several of them.
The trials tested branded astaxanthin extracts by themselves, so their results do not describe Dermal Radiance.
Food sources of astaxanthin
Salmon is a well-known food source. Wild sockeye salmon has about 26 to 38 mg of astaxanthin per kilogram of flesh. Farmed Atlantic salmon has about 6 to 8 mg per kilogram [1].
By our calculation, a 100 g serving of wild sockeye salmon gives about 3 to 4 mg. Trout, shrimp, krill and crayfish also contain astaxanthin [1].
What the research does not show yet
- Pooled results did not show a clear change in wrinkle depth [2].
- The trials lasted 16 weeks or less. We do not know the effect of longer use on skin.
- Most people in the trials were Japanese women. Results may differ in other groups [2].
- We found no study of astaxanthin combined with the other Dermal Radiance ingredients.
Safety and interactions
In the 16-week trial, women took up to 12 mg a day. The researchers reported no unwanted effects, and blood test results stayed normal [3].
In 2020, the European Food Safety Authority reviewed astaxanthin in supplements. It set an acceptable daily intake of 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight, from all sources. It judged 8 mg a day from supplements to be safe for adults, on top of astaxanthin from food [6].
Dermal Radiance has 12 mg per serving, which is above that 8 mg figure. For a 70 kg (154 lb) adult, the acceptable daily intake works out to 14 mg a day from all sources, by our calculation.
Dermal Radiance is made for adults.
In our search, we did not find guidance from the major health reference sites on astaxanthin and medicines. If you take prescription medicines, it is sensible to ask before you start.
- Take it with a meal that has some fat. The body absorbs it better that way [1].
- If you take another astaxanthin or krill oil supplement, add up the total amount.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking prescription medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
Astaxanthin is one part of Dermal Radiance
Dermal Radiance is a daily two-capsule supplement with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts. They were chosen to support healthy collagen, skin firmness and elasticity, and radiance. Astaxanthin is one of them.
Dermal Radiance has not been clinically tested as a finished product. For this reason, we cannot say how its ingredients work together. The studies in this article tested astaxanthin by itself, and their results describe astaxanthin alone.
If you take Dermal Radiance, you are not relying on astaxanthin alone. It is one of 20 ingredients in each serving. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label [7].
Try Dermal Radiance
A daily two-capsule formula with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts, including 12 mg of astaxanthin per serving.
See the full ingredient listIf you are deciding
Skin trials of astaxanthin ran for 4 to 16 weeks, so changes take time [2]. Experts also suggest habits that support skin, such as sunscreen, enough sleep and a varied diet. A supplement adds to these habits and does not replace them. If you would like to try Dermal Radiance, the directions are two capsules a day with a meal [7].
The short version
Astaxanthin is a red pigment from algae. In pooled trials, it improved skin moisture and elasticity compared with placebo. In lab studies, it supported collagen in skin cells. Dermal Radiance provides 12 mg, the highest amount tested in the skin trials.
Frequently asked questions
Does astaxanthin help skin?
In a 2021 review of 8 placebo-controlled trials, astaxanthin improved skin moisture and elasticity [2].
Does astaxanthin help with wrinkles?
In single trials, eye-area wrinkles improved, or did not worsen as they did on placebo [3][4]. Pooled results were clearer for skin moisture and elasticity than for wrinkle depth [2].
Does astaxanthin support collagen?
In lab studies on skin cells, astaxanthin lowered an enzyme that breaks down collagen [3]. This has not been confirmed in people.
How much astaxanthin is used for skin?
Skin trials used 2 to 12 mg a day [2]. Dermal Radiance provides 12 mg [7].
How long does astaxanthin take to work?
The skin trials lasted 4 to 16 weeks [2]. In one trial, elasticity improved by week 8 in the 12 mg group [3]. Results vary from person to person.
Is it safe to take astaxanthin every day?
A trial of up to 12 mg a day for 16 weeks reported no unwanted effects [3]. The safety section gives the figures from regulators.
What foods have astaxanthin?
Wild sockeye salmon has about 26 to 38 mg per kilogram. Trout, shrimp and krill also contain it [1].
When should I take astaxanthin?
With a meal that contains some fat. Astaxanthin dissolves in fat, and the body absorbs it better with food [1].
Does astaxanthin protect skin from the sun?
It is not a sunscreen. In one small trial, skin needed slightly more UV light before turning red after 9 weeks of astaxanthin [5]. Experts suggest sunscreen and shade.
References
- Ambati RR, Phang SM, Ravi S, Aswathanarayana RG. Astaxanthin: sources, extraction, stability, biological activities and its commercial applications—a review. Mar Drugs. 2014;12(1):128-152. doi:10.3390/md12010128. PMID: 24402174.
- Zhou X, Cao Q, Orfila C, Zhao J, Zhang L. Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of astaxanthin on human skin ageing. Nutrients. 2021;13(9):2917. doi:10.3390/nu13092917. PMID: 34578794.
- Tominaga K, Hongo N, Fujishita M, Takahashi Y, Adachi Y. Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2017;61(1):33-39. doi:10.3164/jcbn.17-35. PMID: 28751807.
- Tominaga K, Hongo N, Karato M, Yamashita E. Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects. Acta Biochim Pol. 2012;59(1):43-47. doi:10.18388/abp.2012_2168. PMID: 22428137.
- Ito N, Seki S, Ueda F. The protective role of astaxanthin for UV-induced skin deterioration in healthy people—a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients. 2018;10(7):817. doi:10.3390/nu10070817. PMID: 29941810.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA). Safety of astaxanthin for its use as a novel food in food supplements. EFSA Journal. 2020;18(2):5993. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5993.
- Anirva. Dermal Radiance Supplement Facts label and product page. anirva.com/pages/anti-aging-skin-supplement-dermal-radiance (accessed October 2, 2026).
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