A study suggests multiple benefits of quercetin on the skin

The skin: a living protective barrier subject to numerous stresses

The largest organ in the human body, the skin performs several essential functions:

• a physical barrier against external aggressors
• regulation of body temperature
• participation in immune mechanisms
• a major sensory and psychosocial role

Every day, the skin is exposed to external factors (UV rays, pollution, climatic variations, etc.), as well as internal imbalances and metabolic stress.

These factors can increase oxidative stress, activate inflammatory mechanisms and slow down the skin's natural repair processes.

They can also contribute to pigmentation irregularities and the appearance of visible signs of skin ageing.

Beyond the aesthetic concerns (dull complexion, discomfort, imperfections), these imbalances can sometimes have an impact on quality of life.

Against this backdrop, research is focusing increasingly on molecules of plant origin, particularly flavonoids, to better understand their potential interactions with skin health.

Among them is quercetin, a natural compound that is attracting growing scientific interest.

What a recent scientific review reveals about quercetin and the skin

A recent study (1) compiles 65 studies selected from over 1,300 publications to assess the biological effects of quercetin on various skin parameters.

Quercetin and cutaneous oxidative stress

The review highlights quercetin's antioxidant potential.

In various experimental models, it may help neutralise certain unstable molecules produced during oxidative stress (often called 'free radicals'). These can weaken cells when present in excess.

Quercetin may also support the activity of the body's natural defence systems, such as certain antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase, glutathione), which help to protect cells.

These mechanisms suggest that it may help to preserve cell integrity in the face of the oxidative damage involved in skin ageing.

However, these observations are mainly based on experimental models, and must be interpreted with caution.

Quercetin and the modulation of skin inflammation

The review also mentions possible interactions between quercetin and certain signalling pathways involved in the inflammatory response.

Studies suggest that quercetin may act on biological mechanisms that regulate the production of substances involved in inflammation.

These substances, such as certain cytokines or enzymes, are normally involved in the body's defence mechanisms. But when they are produced in excess, they can maintain a state of discomfort or imbalance in the skin.

These effects, observed in cellular and animal models, suggest a potential role for quercetin in the inflammatory balance of the skin.

However, the review emphasises that this is an evolving area of research, not an established dermatological treatment.

Quercetin and skin repair

The review also looks at the skin's natural repair processes.

Some data suggest that quercetin may:

• influence the activity of fibroblasts, cells essential to skin structure
• participate in the production of collagen
• interact indirectly with factors involved in tissue regeneration

These results – which come mainly from preclinical studies – suggest a possible contribution to the physiological processes of skin repair.

Quercetin, pigmentation and tyrosinase activity

Finally, the review mentions a possible effect of quercetin on pigmentation mechanisms.

Some experimental studies show that quercetin could influence the activity of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour.

By modulating this activity, quercetin could theoretically play a role in the processes linked to skin pigmentation.

As with the other areas studied, these results come mainly from preclinical models and must be interpreted with caution.

A promising scientific avenue, but still evolving

The review highlights the diversity of biological mechanisms associated with quercetin: antioxidant activity, modulation of inflammation, possible influence on tissue repair and pigmentation.

However, it brings together data from experimental models and clinical observations, without always clearly distinguishing between the different modes of administration (topical or nutritional).

Research is continuing to better understand its potential role in skin balance.

Although it is not yet an established treatment, quercetin appears to be an interesting avenue of research in the nutritional and dermocosmetic fields.

Where can I find quercetin, and how can it be incorporated into an overall approach?

Quercetin is a flavonoid naturally present in many plant-based foods: it is found in apples, red berries, red and white onions, tea, broccoli and citrus fruits.

Consumed as part of a varied, balanced diet, it contributes to the overall intake of polyphenols, plant compounds that have been widely studied for their interactions with mechanisms linked to oxidative stress.

In addition to its potential benefits for the skin, quercetin is also being studied for its other presumed biological properties, particularly in the fields of inflammatory balance, specific immune responses in the context of allergies and overall cellular protection (2-4).

This work is part of a constantly evolving scientific context.

For people wishing to optimise their intake, quercetin can be offered in the form of food supplements, formulated to form part of an overall nutritional approach aimed at supporting cellular balance.

Discover the Super Quercetin food supplement, a formula concentrated in quercetin naturally extracted from the Dimorphandra mollis tree, with improved bioavailability.

Discover IsoQuercitrin, a highly bioavailable form of quercetin, designed to optimise its absorption.

It is important to remember that food supplements are not a substitute for medical advice and do not constitute a targeted treatment.

They are part of an overall nutritional support approach, complementing a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle and appropriate skin protection.