Very few studies have investigated the effect of yeast on skin,
and no report could clearly explain the mechanism of
improvement in moisture content and elasticity. Yeast extract from
Saccharomycopsis was reported to inhibit, via gene expression of
heme-oxigenase-1, the nitric oxide from macrophages, thus
preventing the damage of epidermal cells 24). Antioxidant-enriched
yeast may promote the ability of regeneration and protect the skin
against doxorubicin toxicity 25). These results indicate that the
supplementation of yeast as an anti-oxidant may prevent the
damage of epidermal cells and enhance the ability of tissue
regeneration. It is also possible to prevent the oxidative damage of
collagen which plays a role to keep the skin elasticity. When the
regeneration of the skin is activated, it also promotes the synthesis
of collagen and ceramide which acts as a skin moisturizer. This
may be a reason that the dried brewer’s yeast improved the skin
elasticity and moisture amount in this study. In healthy adult men
who used skincare cosmetics containing hydrolyzed yeast for 2
weeks, evaluation of effects on the skin by skin imaging revealed
improvements in crows feet (wrinkles and stickiness at the corner
of the eye) 26). This result is compatible with the present findings