Ingredients that Encourage Facial Hair Growth ?

[mjfan]

I've been using the Soy & Calendula moisturizer from The Body Shop for over a month now and I noticed the hairs at the corners of my mouth are now longer. I also noticed this with the Aveeno body moisturizer (with soy) that I used in the past for the corners of my mouth. Does anyone know if soy is the culprit here?

 

[acester]

mjfan I think you are right because soy protien is known to maximise hair growth

 

[paprika_hiccup]

I've been using the Soy & Calendula moisturizer from The Body Shop for over a month now and I noticed the hairs at the corners of my mouth are now longer. I also noticed this with the Aveeno body moisturizer (with soy) that I used in the past for the corners of my mouth. Does anyone know if soy is the culprit here?

Soy has substances called isoflavones which are considered phytoestrogens, as they are substances found in plants that are chemically similar to natural hormones in the body. These hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), specifically the balance between them, effect hair growth, so it is hightly possibly that topical application of products containing soy could have stimulated hair growth on your face. I would stop using soy-based skincare products, as see how it goes. If it really is the soy at work, I think it is pretty amazing, as it suggests how powerful it really can be

 

[mjfan]

My worst nightmare has come true Thanks for giving a heads up!

 

[cbcb]

One possible way the phytoestrogens in soy products *might* encourage hair growth (probably a lot of mainstream naysaying, but here goes).. the phytoestrogens in soy are weaker than your natural estrogen. So if the phytoestrogens bind to your estrogen receptors in an area (as they do), then your balance of 'female' (ie, estrogen) hormones in that area changes, and the androgenic (more 'male') hormones may gain more foothold.

 

[thewannabe]

There's such a predominance of soy in skin care products out there right now; I think mjfan's observance is an unusual one. But I could be wrong... but I'm surprised this occurance isn't more common.

I eat a TON of soy products... I wonder if that has added to my 'feminitity'?

 

[Acid]

this could be a breakthrough in haircare: faster growing hair or hair regrowth ability

soy shampoo anyone?

 

[PrinceOfCats]

Whatever hormones are in soy they would have to be in your blood stream to take any effect. I don't see how applying topical products could possibly end up with them in large quantities in your bloodstream unless you're bathing in liquid mercury...

 

[cbcb]

Before anyone dumps soy on their scalp, do some reading. There have been at least anecdotal reports of some soy-related products slowing, as opposed to speeding up, hair growth. It's probably google-able. Just proceed w/caution.

 

[adorefaith]

PrinceofCats....many women both in adolescence and then later in life, during menopause, use the topical application of herbal creams that act as natural hormone stimulants/balancers to treat the effects of the hormone imbalance....hair growth, dark spots, etc....the application of these treatments goes right into the blood stream and, over time, affects the bodies reaction...so I'm not suprised that the use of soy in your moisturizer/lotion has an affect, as people before me have said....

My mother as a young girl used cortico-steroid creams topically to treat excema.....30 years later she is now seeing results of this and has to treat a hormone imbalance that started to be caused so many years ago....doctors assured her, as well as many others, there were no long-term effects from these creams...and sure enough....the sensitivity to hormone imbalance has even been passed straight down to me...

So yes, mjfan, I'd say its entirely possible...

 

[Erin]

Isn't there a soy shampoo out now?

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

my mother takes alot of soy suppliments and drinks soy milk but shes not hairy!

 

[cbcb]

Okkkkay. Here goes:

From: http://bioagnews.byu.edu/NewsRelease.asp?id=94

"A little-known molecule created when soy is digested may provide solutions to baldness, prostate problems, skin conditions and even mood disorders, according to a team of researchers that includes Brigham Young University scientists.
They assumed that a molecule, called equol, made by metabolizing soy isoflavins, would bind to estrogen and account for the change. But it didn't happen.
Instead, further testing showed that the equol binds to a key androgen, the potent male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
...
Oddly, DHT stimulates facial hair growth, though it inhibits growth on top of the head. And because the molecules are powerful in the brain, mood and anxiety levels are also likely affected..."

The rest of that document seems to say that this thing may be able to modulate the effects of androgens (like, encourage hair growth on the head while discouraging it on the face). But... plants often come with ingredients that have opposing effects (like pro-something and anti-something).. there may be other things in soy that have such an effect... don't have time to Google that right now.

 

[mjfan]

Where do you find information on chemicals that encourage hair growth? I'm thinking trying African Black soap and shea butter but I'm not sure if the ingredients in them are going to produce the same effect as soy.

 

[Alina]

has anybody tried Aveeno Positively Smooth to get rid of facial hair? does it work?