Chapter 25 - Marine antioxidants and their role in improving skin health

Abstract

The skin care industry has been expanding in recent times and is expected to grow to about 190 US billion dollars by 2025. Because skin disorders can severely affect the quality of life, they require attention by the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries to give sustainable solutions. There are many causes of skin disorders, such as injury; bacterial, fungal, or viral infections; smoking; and ultraviolet radiations. Owing to the damage caused by an increased exposure to UV radiations, it can lead to skin cancer, photoaging complications, and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidants have been found to show promising results in treating diseases that involve increased ROS levels. Hence with the aim of safer and effective natural substances, antioxidants from marine flora and fauna, marine microbes, and macroalgae are being extensively researched for skin care treatment. Furthermore, many studies have explored the potential use of these marine antioxidants for improving skin health. We give an insight into these studies and cover the various sources and classes of marine antioxidants along with their respective contribution to skin health. This chapter also highlights the increasing importance of these marine sources in the cosmetics industry and explains why marine antioxidants should be explored further for their potential use in the skin care industry. Their application can potentially give a boost to skin care products and related cosmetics.