A review of the effects of Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) on skin health and diseases

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is a unique medicinal mushroom that has been used for the treatment of various diseases in Asian countries for more than 4 thousand years. Today, this mushroom is also used in treatments related to traditional medicine. In addition to its diverse biological properties, its positive effects in improving the quality of the skin and treating skin diseases have attracted the attention of researchers. Polysaccharides and triterpenes are among the most important and effective metabolites of this mushroom, which are important in skin treatment and health due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. This review summarizes the latest research achievements on the role of this mushroom in skin health and treatment. A number of studies have shown that the extracts of Reishi mushroom can accelerate wound healing, relieve post-burn infections, and prevent skin flaps due to ischemia (re-perfusion) damage. The effect of Reishi mushroom extracts on the prevention and treatment of wrinkles and the effect on skin whitening has made them a natural ingredient for skin care. Also, studies conducted on the effects of Reishi mushroom in the treatment of some skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), cutaneous sarcoidosis, and the potential use of this mushroom in the treatment of skin cancer have been discussed.