Soy and soy food products are staples on American dinner tables, with one consumer survey showing that 28% of Americans consume soy foods and beverages at least once a week. However, there is more to the legume than featuring it on dinner tables.
Besides healthy soy foods, soy extract is a staple ingredient in natural beauty products. Soy extract-based products, including lotions, creams, moisturizers, shampoos, body washes, cleansers, and even nail care products like cuticle oil.
The legume has numerous nutrients and phytochemicals that are beneficial not only for dietary intake but also for topical use. Below are the benefits of soy in skincare products.
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Post Contents
Tackles Skin Pigmentation
Pigmentation disorders like macular stains, port wine stains, and pigment changes from skin damage have a high prevalence in the general population. However, sustainable soy extract made in the US helps tackle skin pigmentation when infused into skincare products like creams, lotions, and bath products.
The disorders’ primary cause is alterations in melanocytes, the skin cells that produce melanin. Melanin is the natural substance that produces color pigmentation on the skin, hair, and eyes, and alterations in its production cause the skin to develop either darker or lighter color patches.
Essentially, pigmentation disorders typically affect the neck, eye region, forehead, and nose, although they can affect any area of the body. Moreover, one observational study established a link between hyperpigmentation disorders and an increased risk of psychological disorders.
Pigmentation disorders have multiple causes, including hormonal changes and UV rays exposure. Both elements trigger the production of serine protease, an enzyme produced in the melanocytes.
However, one study shows that soy extract contains serine protease inhibitors that prevent the enzyme’s activation, preventing the development of dark patches on the skin. Besides establishing soy extract’s efficacy in alleviating skin pigmentation, the pre-clinical study also identified soy extract as safe.
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Soy Extract is An Effective Moisturizer
According to one study, moisturizers play a crucial role in skin health, including improving the skin barrier, skin repair, and functioning as a humectant and an emollient. Moisturizer products feature various primary ingredients with humectant (moisture trapping), emollient (skin softener and hydrant), and occlusive (protective barrier) properties.
Soy extract features all the above properties, helping to keep skin soft and supple. Moreover, the extract is effective for combination skin, helping to moisturize the dry patches while eliminating the excess shine from the oily patches.
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It Helps Reduce The Appearance Of Ageing
The aging process includes multiple physiological changes that alter the body’s overall function. One such change is reduced sex hormone production or a slight change in how the body responds to sex hormones.
For example, estrogen, the primary sex hormone in women, activates estrogen receptors that activate the fibroblasts in the skin. The fibroblasts produce the collagen matrix, which is the primary structural compound in the skin. Collagen gives the skin elasticity, helping to prevent skin wrinkles and sagging associated with aging.
However, the aging process, particularly menopause, limits endogenous estrogen production, enhancing aging. On the other hand, aging also goes hand in hand with enhanced oxidation activities, amplifying the appearance of skin oxidative stress damage from years of constant exposure to free radicals. Fortunately, soy extract has compounds that counter aging by enhancing collagen production while hampering oxidative stress.
First, soy contains isoflavone, a phytoestrogen (plant-based estrogen-like substance)that mimics the hormone’s function in the body. According to one study, isoflavone’s mechanism of action entails increasing estrogen’s bioavailability, allowing the hormone to function effectively in lower quantities. Therefore, the isoflavone content in soy helps maintain optimum collagen production.
Second, soy is rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants tackle oxidative stress, leaving the skin looking firm, plumb, and bright.
Soy Alleviates Acne
According to one survey, acne is the most prevalent skin condition in the US, affecting more than 50% of the population. Although acne has multiple causes, the most prominent cause is androgen hormones, a group of sex hormones that enhance sebum production. Excess sebum traps dirt in the skin pores and follicles, and the build-up leads to acne development.
However, one study shows that soy has antiandrogen properties, helping to counter acne development. The study, conducted among 40 participants, established that supplementation with 160mg of soy isoflavone helped ease the lesions associated with acne.
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Soy Enhances Hair Growth
There are over 2500 soybean varieties grown globally, including the black soybean. One study established the black soybean’s efficacy in promoting hair growth by preventing hair loss. According to the study, black soy contains cysteine, the amino acid that functions as the building block for the cysteine protease enzyme.
Cysteine protease regulates keratinocyte production; keratinocyte mediates hair follicle growth, development, and differentiation. The differentiation process forms the hair shaft that facilitates hair lengthening. Participants in the study above experienced significant hair growth over 12 months of treatment with soy but reported no undesirable side effects.
Besides its cysteine content, soy is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. A second study established that omega-three and omega-6 fatty acids enhance hair growth by improving hair density. The researchers theorized that omega-3 nourishes the hair and promotes blood circulation in the scalp, stimulating hair growth. Moreover, the fatty acids prevent hair follicle inflammation.
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Soy is a superbly healthy plant source, promoting health benefits inside and outside the body. Therefore, consider purchasing soy extract-infused products as a health-promoting, chemical-free alternative to standard skincare products.
