# Pterostilbene and resveratrol: Exploring their protective mechanisms against skin photoaging – A scoping review

## TL;DR

This review explores how pterostilbene and resveratrol may protect skin from UV damage, with resveratrol showing more evidence and pterostilbene needing more study.

## Contribution

The paper provides a scoping review comparing the protective effects of pterostilbene and resveratrol against skin photoaging.

## Key findings

- Resveratrol shows significant potential in reducing skin photoaging in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Pterostilbene may offer advantages over resveratrol, but more research is needed to confirm its efficacy.
- Standardized models and human trials are crucial for reliable photoaging research.

## Abstract

Prolonged ultraviolet (UV) exposure depletes the skin's endogenous antioxidants, leading to photoaging. Exogenous antioxidants are essential to counter this, with stilbenes such as pterostilbene and resveratrol emerging as promising candidates due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The current scoping review presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of pterostilbene and resveratrol on skin photoaging. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in April 2025. Original research articles that investigated the effects of pterostilbene and resveratrol on skin photoaging in cells, animals, or humans were included. 9 eligible articles were included in this review. The findings suggest that resveratrol significantly improves skin photoaging, while preliminary evidence indicates that pterostilbene may offer advantages over resveratrol. However, due to the limited research on pterostilbene, further studies are required to confirm its efficacy. Key considerations in establishing valid in vitro and in vivo models, alongside macroscopic and histologic features of photoaging, were also discussed. In conclusion, while resveratrol shows significant promise in combating skin photoaging, pterostilbene is still in the early exploration phases. Advancing to human trials is crucial to confirm the efficacy of these stilbenes in preventing and treating photoaging.

Image 1

•Skin photoaging occurs due to prolonged and repeated solar ultraviolet radiation.•Resveratrol shows promise in combating photoaging in vitro and in vivo.•Pterostilbene demonstrates potential to outperform resveratrol.•Standardised models are needed to improve photoaging research reliability.•Human trials are essential to validate stilbenes' efficacy against photoaging.

Skin photoaging occurs due to prolonged and repeated solar ultraviolet radiation.

Resveratrol shows promise in combating photoaging in vitro and in vivo.

Pterostilbene demonstrates potential to outperform resveratrol.

Standardised models are needed to improve photoaging research reliability.

Human trials are essential to validate stilbenes' efficacy against photoaging.