Pycnogenol® prevents skin hyperpigmentation following sclerotherapy

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Dermatology
• Nutraceuticals

Background:

• Varicose vein sclerotherapy is a common treatment for varicose veins.
• Skin discoloration can be a minor side effect of sclerotherapy.
• Evaluating adjunct therapies to improve outcomes is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of oral Pycnogenol® in mitigating skin discoloration post-sclerotherapy.
• To compare Pycnogenol® plus standard management (SM) against SM alone.

Main Methods:

• A registry supplement study involving 161 participants.
• One group received Pycnogenol® for 12 weeks alongside SM; the control group received SM only.
• Skin staining was assessed using a standardized score.

Main Results:

• Pycnogenol® group showed significantly lower and less frequent skin discoloration (P<0.05).
• The number of stains per treated vein was reduced with Pycnogenol® supplementation.
• Pycnogenol® demonstrated good tolerability with no observed side effects.

Conclusions:

• Pycnogenol® intake appears to enhance healing and prevent post-sclerotherapy skin discoloration.
• Further long-term studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
• Pycnogenol® may be a beneficial adjunct to standard sclerotherapy management.