Approaching Chemistry: Milk Thistle Benefits for Skin

Milk thistle is a natural liver-protecting ingredient. At the same time, it also has significant effects on skincare and is considered a substitute for retinol, with broad prospects in the field of beauty. What are the milk thistle benefits for skin? Come and study with me.

What is milk thistle?

Milk thistle is an annual plant belonging to the Asteroideae subfamily, and its seeds are the medicinal part of this plant. The main active ingredient in it is silymarin. Its flowers are red-purple, and their seeds or fruit parts have been used as medicine for over 2000 years, earning the title of “Guardian of the Liver”. Silymarin is the main active ingredient of silymarin extract, with a content of up to 50% in silymarin mixtures.

Milk thistle benefits for skin

Modern pharmacological research has shown that monomeric components such as silymarin have a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-light damage. Therefore, it is often used in cosmetics.

It is known as a natural substitute for retinol in cosmetics.

l Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid antioxidant. Research has shown that silymarin also has the effect of inhibiting free radical damage to cell membranes and preventing lipid peroxidation. The coordinated state of lipid peroxidation and oxygen-free radical reactions maintains the body's immune system and physiological and biochemical reactions. Once disrupted, cells will undergo pathological changes, which is lipid peroxidation. Therefore, because silymarin extract has high anti-aging activity and antioxidant properties, it can be added as a mixture to skincare products to achieve anti-aging effects.

l Research has found that silymarin has a good chelating effect on trivalent iron ions, indicating that the glucosamine salt complex of silymarin is suitable as a safe and efficient whitening additive widely used in whitening cosmetics.

l Silymarin has absorption effects on both UVA and UVB bands, which can reduce the inflammatory damage and photoaging damage caused by ultraviolet radiation on the skin.

l Silymarin promotes collagen production in the dermis, restores skin health, helps reduce TEWL, and improves skin barrier function.

l It can also repair scars, treat melasma and rosacea, and has broad application prospects in cosmetics.

Milk thistle benefits

Silymarin not only has the most common hepatoprotective effects (such as relieving hangovers, hepatitis, and toxin elimination), but also has potential anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-hyperglycemic, and antiviral effects.

l Silymarin has the effects of clearing away heat and toxic materials, protecting the liver, and promoting gallbladder function. It can repair damaged liver cells and be used for the treatment of various liver and biliary system diseases. Commonly used to treat liver and gallbladder damp heat, hypochondriac pain, and jaundice, it is a traditional Chinese medicine with significant protective effects on the liver. After entering the human body, silymarin can significantly increase the index of serum bilirubin, white pills, and ball pills, especially in improving liver function, allowing damaged liver cells to repair quickly.

l Silymarin is mainly used to treat liver diseases, like hepatitis and cirrhosis. It can also be used to treat liver toxicity caused by toxins, including poisoning caused by a fungus called Amanita.

l It targets liver damage that may be caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs, and the use of its extract may have preventive effects.

l The characteristic of menopause is a decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels, which may lead to hot flashes, anxiety, fatigue, etc. Silymarin can improve the frequency and severity of hot flashes, also other menopausal symptoms, thereby improving the quality of daily life.

l Silymarin has beneficial effects on blood lipid regulation, especially when combined with other supportive treatments such as weight loss. Besides, a literature review indicates that silymarin can enhance blood glucose control effectiveness.

This medicine does not have much toxicity and there are not many adverse reactions when taken for a long time. However, it is recommended to use it under the guidance of a doctor for greater safety.

Conclusion

To sum up, milk thistle is mostly beneficial to the liver and skin. Milk thistle benefits for skin include antioxidants, brightening, erasing scars, and lessening light damage. It also helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and has a healing and protecting impact on the liver. When taken as directed and under certain circumstances, silymarin taken orally is generally safe for most individuals. However, there have been reports of headaches, nausea, diarrhea, musculoskeletal discomfort, lack of appetite, and exhaustion.