What are flavonoids and what role do they play in maintaining skin health?

Flavonoids are plant compounds that offer numerous health benefits. They are found in vegetables and fruits, especially red ones. Additionally, flavonoids are used in cosmetic products, primarily due to their antioxidant and soothing properties.

In this article, you will discover what flavonoids are, how they act on the skin, and how they can be integrated into your skincare routine to promote healthy, radiant skin protected from environmental factors.

Contents

What are flavonoids?

Flavonoids are phytonutrients widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Plants use these compounds for their own growth. Flavonoids help plants attract pollinators and fight infections. They also give fruits and vegetables their specific colors.

Flavonoids are not truly digested or absorbed in the same way as other nutrients, such as proteins or carbohydrates. Instead, gut bacteria break down flavonoids, and the body benefits from their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Research has shown that flavonoids have a range of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiallergic, and antiviral properties. Researchers believe that a diet rich in flavonoids could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Additionally, these phytonutrients have been associated with improved cognitive function.

Food sources of flavonoids

The main food sources of flavonoids are:

• berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries);
• tomatoes;
• red cabbage;
• onions;
• kale;
• parsley;
• green tea and black tea;
• red wine;
• cocoa;
• citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons, and limes);
• soybeans.

Types of flavonoids

Over 6,000 different types of flavonoids have been identified, grouped into subclasses based on their chemical structure and how they are broken down. The color of foods provides a clue about the flavonoid subgroup they contain.

There are six main classes of flavonoids:

• Flavonols. The most studied flavonols are quercetin, myricetin, and fisetin. Flavonols have numerous health-maintaining actions, including reducing the risk of heart disease. They are found in lettuce, tomatoes, onions, kale, apples, grapes, berries, tea, and red wine.
• Isoflavones. These compounds are found mainly in legumes and soybeans, and less commonly in other plants. Some are considered phytoestrogens, substances that mimic the action of estrogens.
• Flavanones. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, contain flavanones. These compounds give citrus juice and peels a bitter taste. They help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and blood fat levels, and also act as antioxidants.
• Flavones. These flavonoids are also called catechins and are predominantly found in black tea and chocolate, as well as in certain fruits like bananas, blueberries, peaches, apples, and pears.
• Anthocyanins. These flavonoids are found in red grapes, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries.
• Chalcones. These flavonoids have antioxidant properties. Some of these compounds are used in beauty products. Foods rich in chalcones include tomatoes, pears, strawberries, blackberries, and wheat.

According to specialists, there is no established daily value for flavonoids, but research shows that a higher intake of flavonoids can have health benefits, and consuming a diet rich in flavonoid-containing foods is generally recommended for overall health and well-being. The amount of flavonoids needed can vary depending on factors such as age, gender, and general health.

Benefits of flavonoids for skin health

Research has shown that flavonoids offer a range of health benefits:

• A 2011 analysis showed that flavonoids play an important role in fighting cancer.
• A 2021 study observed a link between a higher intake of flavonoid-based foods, such as apples, berries, and pears, and lower blood pressure.
• A 2022 analysis showed that a diet rich in flavonoids helps improve cognitive function, especially among older adults.

In addition to the general health benefits of flavonoids, these plant compounds are also extremely effective for skin health. In cosmetic products, flavonoids are used for their powerful antioxidant activity.

Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage skin cells and accelerate the aging process. By neutralizing free radicals, flavonoids protect the skin from oxidative stress, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.

Flavonoids provide protection against ultraviolet radiation

Certain flavonoids have photoprotective properties. These compounds can help protect the skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation, reducing the risk of sunburn and skin aging due to sun exposure.

At least five studies have examined the effects of applying green tea extract to the skin. The mechanism behind these studies was as follows: applying the extract to the skin, exposing the area to ultraviolet light, and then evaluating signs of UV damage (skin redness, increased markers of inflammation, a higher number of damaged keratinocytes). The results were beneficial, showing that flavonoids have a photoprotective effect. However, further studies are ongoing, as the initial ones were conducted on small samples of subjects (between 8 and 20 people).

Flavonoids soothe skin irritation and reduce redness

Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness. Thus, they are very effective for people with sensitive skin, prone to rosacea and acne, as they can help calm inflammation and prevent skin breakouts.

Flavonoids contribute to collagen synthesis

Flavonoids also play an important role in the synthesis and maintenance of collagen, the main structural protein of the skin, which provides firmness, strength, and elasticity. With age, collagen levels in the skin decrease, which is why fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation spots appear, and the skin becomes saggy and dull.

One reason collagen levels decrease is prolonged sun exposure. Due to their antioxidant properties, flavonoids protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and contribute to collagen synthesis, which helps improve skin texture.

Flavonoids aid in wound healing

Certain flavonoids have wound healing properties by supporting the formation of new blood vessels and skin tissue. This can be beneficial in treating minor skin wounds and can help reduce the appearance of scars.

Onion extract, rich in the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol, has been used to reduce scar formation, especially keloid scars.

Flavonoids in skincare routine

To fully benefit from the advantages of flavonoids for the skin, it is recommended to maintain a healthy diet, rich in diverse fruits and vegetables.

Additionally, incorporating products containing these phytonutrients into your daily skincare routine helps maintain skin health.

Therefore, it is advisable to choose cosmetic products that contain green tea extract, grape seed extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora extract, and licorice root extract, which are rich in flavonoids and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Products from the Cicaderm range contain Mimosa Tenuiflora extract. A natural ingredient used in dermo-cosmetic products due to its regenerative properties, Mimosa Tenuiflora extract contains flavonoids, which protect the skin from infections, help minimize pigmentation, and slow down premature skin aging.

Cicaderm Barrier Cream with Mimosa Tenuiflora – insulates, repairs, and protects skin accidentally or constantly exposed to irritating or allergenic substances. It forms a protective barrier for the skin against pollutants, irritants, and allergens. It restores skin integrity, soothes, and ensures long-term skin comfort. It prevents and reduces the risk of developing contact dermatitis.

Cicaderm Repairing Cream with Mimosa Tenuiflora – aids in rapid healing of skin lesions and reduces the risk of scar formation. Applied immediately to the lesion, it stops bleeding, reduces inflammation, and helps reconstruct skin integrity. It creates favorable conditions for aesthetic healing of small wounds, scrapes, burns, lesions from chickenpox and acne, post-laser and microsurgery scars, and after epilation.

Cicaderm Repair Spray with Mimosa Tenuiflora – quickly repairs wet skin lesions, hard-to-reach areas, or areas that cannot withstand touch, with intense antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. It absorbs exudate, facilitating healing.

Products from the Ivawhite range contain licorice extract. Obtained from the roots of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, native to Mediterranean regions and Western Asia, licorice contains over 300 chemical compounds and flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.

Ivawhite Depigmenting Cream – reduces the number, size, and color intensity of lentigines (age spots), freckles, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Ivawhite Intensive Depigmenting Serum – evens out and improves the brightness and radiance of the face, stimulates the disappearance of hyperpigmentation spots, and prevents their reappearance.

Products from the Resveratrox range contain Centella Asiatica. Used to treat and soothe irritated skin, as it is a rich source of natural bioactive substances, flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, and sugars, Centella Asiatica extract is beneficial in fighting damage caused by free radicals, has anti-inflammatory activity, and supports stratum corneum hydration and epidermal barrier function.

Resveratrox V Anti-Stretch Mark Cream – prevents the formation of new stretch marks and reduces the size of existing ones. By restoring collagen and elastin fibers, it restores skin elasticity. It has a profound restructuring effect and increases the skin's resistance to distension.

Resveratrox Forte Anti-Cellulite Cream – has an intense effect of reducing the lipid layer on thighs, buttocks, and abdomen, significantly reduces the appearance of orange peel skin, and reshapes the silhouette. After use, the skin becomes smooth, firm, and elastic.

Therefore, flavonoids are plant compounds abundantly found in some of the most consumed fruits and vegetables and offer numerous benefits for general health and skin. Their antioxidant power and anti-inflammatory effects make flavonoids valuable and reliable allies in maintaining a youthful appearance of the skin. Both through a balanced diet and a skincare routine that includes natural extracts rich in flavonoids, we can support skin health.