As the many benefits of functional mushrooms continue to unfold, you may be surprised to learn that chaga, a dark, charcoal-looking lump can Golden Teacher Mushroom support the appearance and health of your skin.

Found growing on birch trees in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere, this fungus has a wide distribution in nature and has been used medicinally for centuries in Russia, Japan, China, Korea, and Northern America.

Inonotus obliquus, or chaga, looks very different from the average mushroom. In fact, the large black conk that protrudes from the trunk of the birch tree is actually a sclerotia.

Inside its black, fissured exterior is a bronzed mass of compacted mycelium. If you are intrigued by this “ugly duckling” of the medicinal mushrooms and wondering how it could possibly influence beauty, continue reading to better understand the chaga benefits for skin, hair, and nails.



Chaga Benefits for Skin, Hair, and Nails.

Though we may take it for granted, the skin and its derivatives (hair and nails) make up the integumentary system—our body’s largest organ.

Our skin serves as a barrier keeping our tissues, organs, and body fluids inside while protecting us from outside influences, including toxins and pathogens.

It is our first line of defense against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi, but also protects us from the sun, environmental pollutants, and dehydration.

When applied topically, chaga may have hydrating and skin-lightening benefits. When taken consistently in the form of a supplement, chaga may.

Support Healthy Aging

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a primary cause of premature skin aging due to the degradation or decreased synthesis of collagen.

Chaga’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, Golden Teacher Mushroom and photo-protective properties may have implications for skin aging.‡ Laboratory experiments with human skin cells suggest phenolic acids may improve wrinkles caused by UV damage.