A natural skin cream can contain just about anything. One of the popular ingredients right now is progesterone. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of progesterone creams.

Progesterone is manufactured by the human body. It can be created in the laboratory using diosgenin, a compound found in yams.

Supplements and creams that are said to include the naturally occurring form of progesterone contain the yam extract. There is no evidence that the human body can convert the extract into progesterone. So, the compound is considered ineffective by the mainstream medical community.

The claimed benefit of progesterone creams is to improve the skin’s elasticity. There are no good studies supporting the claim.

Other compounds have been proven effective for improving the skin’s elasticity by as much as 40% within three weeks of daily use. A naturally occurring bioactive protein called keratin is one such compound.

Keratin is the protein building block used by the body to make new cells for the epidermis. It is also found in hair and fingernails. In other animals, keratin is found in hooves, horns, fur and wool.

The effectiveness of a keratin-enriched natural skin cream will vary depending on how the protein is extracted and softened. If animal hooves and horns are used, the high temperatures and caustic solvents render the protein inactive.

At least one company has been able to extract the protein from sheep’s wool and process it just enough to soften it without destroying its function. One of its functions is to pull moisture into the skin’s cells. That effectively increases firmness.

In addition to improved moisture content, scientific studies have shown that the functional keratin stimulates the production of new cells. A 160% increase in skin cell proliferation has been seen after just a few days of use.

If I had to choose between a natural skin cream containing progesterone and one containing functional keratin, I would choose the latter. The progesterone creams cost less, but they are not likely to be effective. So, they are a waste of money. It may only be a small amount of money to waste, but it is wasted just the same.

Keratin is not the only effective anti-aging compound available. Good research supports the use of creams containing coenzyme Q10, wakame kelp extracts, vitamin E, Shea butter and avocado extract. By the time you read this, there may be other ingredients to look for in a natural skin cream.

Researchers are focusing more and more on naturally occurring ingredients. Most of the synthetics relied upon in past decades have proven to be less than safe.

When it comes to hormones, progesterone might not be any safer than estrogen. Research has shown that creams containing estrogen can drive the growth of breast cancer cells.

Progesterone creams may be accompanied by the same risk. The oral tablets are known to cause or contribute to breast cancer. Keratin and the other nourishing ingredients mentioned above will not increase your risk of breast cancer.

The bottom line is this. Not every natural skin cream is safe and effective. It all depends on what it contains.

Author Bio: Valerie Rosenbaum is an expert author on the subject of natural skin care products. Through years of research she discovered skin care products that she can confidently recommend. They use a proprietary blend of plant derived ingredients like Wakame kelp. To learn more visit her anti-aging skin care blog.

Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: natural skin cream