Soy Isoflavones for Hair Loss and Skin Aging

The mechanisms by which Soy Isoflavone Extract impacts Androgenetic Hair Loss are well established. The singular consumption of Soy lowers DHT by 15%. The COMBINATION of Soy Isoflavones and Green Tea lowers DHT by 80% in animal models, and as discussed in a recent update, confers specific anti-inflammatory benefits on androgen induced inflammation. Soy Isoflavones also facilitate Equol production. Equol is, as you may already know, an anti-androgen that essentially handcuffs DHT, neutralizing its effects. A subset of the Asian population are genetic Equol producers, who not surprisingly, have no MPB. Studies have shown that the sole inclusion of dietary soy or Isoflavones will eventually after several months, turn genetic Equol non-producers into Equol producers.

Equol production can be rapidly facilitated in genetic non-producers by combining Soy Isoflavones, Green Tea Extract, Sea Vegetables and Pro-biotics, in particular Bacillus Coagulans. It is this very combination that is a patent pending treatment for MPB. According to its producer, Bear Biotech, shedding rapidly subsides with its use in 2-3 weeks.

The cosmetic benefits of Soy Isoflavone consumption don’t stop there. Recent studies have shown oral Soy Isoflavone consumption stimulates collagen production and firms facial skin. Here is one of the first studies published:

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2007 Feb;53(1):57-62

Oral intake of soy isoflavone aglycone improves the aged skin of adult women.

Izumi T, Saito M, Obata A, Arii M, Yamaguchi H, Matsuyama A

Abstract

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to clinically evaluate the effect of soy isoflavone aglycone on the aged skin of middle-aged women. Twenty-six women volunteers in their late 30s and early 40s were randomly assigned to receive either a test food (13 women, the test food group) or a placebo food (13 women, the control group). These groups were given the test food (40 mg of soy isoflavone aglycone per day) and placebo, respectively, for 12 wk. The extent of linear and fine wrinkles at the lateral angle of the eyes was selected as the major evaluation criterion to assess the effects of foods, and the wrinkles’ area ratio was used as the evaluation parameter. The extent of skin microrelief at the lateral angle of eyes and that of malar skin elasticity were used as secondary evaluation criteria, and the skin microrelief’s area ratio and recovery of skin elasticity were used as the respective evaluation parameters. These parameters were assessed 4, 8, and 12 wk after the start of the test food or placebo intake. The test food group showed a statistically significant improvement of fine wrinkles at week 12 (p<0.05) and of malar skin elasticity at week 8 (p<0.05), compared with the control group. Although there was no significant difference between the test food group and the control group regarding effects on skin microrelief at lateral angle of the eyes, a significant intragroup improvement was observed at week 8 in the test food group (p<0.05). As for the test food safety, none of the subjects presented adverse symptoms during the study period or discontinued the intake of the test food. These data indicate that the oral intake of 40 mg soy isoflavones per day improves the aged skin of middle-aged women.

You can be assured that these benefits are not specific to women only.

L’Oreal’s subsidiary Inneov, producer of the hair loss treatment pill Hair Mass, also has several other cosmeceuticals dealing with skin aging. There foundation formula, Anti-Age Fermete is a combination of Vitamin C and Soy Isoflavones which they say, based on their research, firms and re-densifies skin, increasing collagen production by 64%, increasing its’ tensile strength and snap back. The effects were found to get progressively better over a period of 6 months, resulting in a tighter skin appearance in all subjects.

Although preventing and treating Androgenetic hair loss will always be our main focus, the prevention and treatment of skin aging, particularly facial skin aging, comes a close second. The gratification I get from maintaining a full head of hair would be compromised to say the least if it were accompanied by a face of loose, sagging, cross linked leather that was indistinguishable from a Gucci Bag or Willie Nelson.. I take a perverse pride at 52 in still being occasionally and suspiciously carded for wine purchases. My topical facial regime has for years consisted of Retin A, Emu Oil, and an Organic Sunscreen (Soleo is by far my favorite) used as a daily moisturizer. Although I’e surfed avidly for decades, my skin has remained almost as smooth as a baby’s ass. I unfortunately can’t say that about most of my surfing contemporaries, who from a dermatological standpoint (due to years of UV exposure), resemble the homeless. What I’ve used internally for hair growth has definitely helped. It is good to know that a significant portion of our hair protocol recommendations, such as Super Absorbable Soy Isoflavones, play a documented role in keeping my skin smooth and taught as well. In future updates we will periodically discuss skin aging and how best to address it both from an external and internal standpoint, and provide legal sources for Retin A that don’t require a prescription. Our goal is not to age gracefully and in good health, our goal is not to age at all.