Soybeans extracts may have a beneficial effect on photodamage.

October 7th, 2009 by admin

Soybeans extracts may have a beneficial effect on photodamage. What are the components of soybeans that may be helpful in skin care?


Among the many biological agents in soybeans are antioxidants and proeinase inhibitors. Soybean trypsin inhibitor and protease inhibitor play a role in the regulation of pigmentation. These inhibitors are inactivated by heat. In a recent study, a soy formulation containing protease inhibitors that were not heat denatured, was tested for it’s possible usefulness in improving skin tone and lightening skin dyspigmentation.

The study cited below compared an active moisturizer containing stabilized soy extracts (Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer, Johnson and Johnson) against its vehicle, with both products containing a sunscreen with an SPF 30.

In this 12-week study of approximately 60 women, the active soy formulation was deemed superior, safe and effective in ‘providing improvement in facial skin tone, clarity, mottled hyperpigmentation, blotchiness and fine lines as well as overall texture and appearance’.



Efficacy of a Soy Miosturizer in Photoaging: A Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled, 12-Week Study Wallo, Nebus and Leyden, MD Journal of Drugs in Dermatology Sept 2007 Answer to Skin Care Question 2:

What group of individuals should avoid excessive consumption of soy?

Because of soy’s potential for estrogenic side effect, patients at high risk for or with a history of estrogen-sensitive tumors such as breast or uterine cancer should avoid excessive consumption of soy.

Reference: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology June 2009

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