For ages people have sought natural solutions to treat aging skin. Women of history had their own unique beauty solutions derived from nature. It’s said that Cleopatra used milk baths to soften and enhance her skin. In the modern day, oil derived from the pomegranate fruit appears to have some potential for enhancing the appearance of aging skin.
Pomegranate Oil for Aging Skin
This ancient fruit, native to Southeastern Asian, is being studied for its role in reducing the signs of skin aging. Although all parts of the pomegranate plant appear to have beneficial effects on the skin, including the leaves, seed, and peel; the oil is emerging as a key player when it comes to slowing down the effects of skin aging. Pomegranate oil, derived from the seed of the plant, appears to cause changes in the outer layers of the skin that may help to reduce skin wrinkling and aging.
Pomegranate Seed Oil: A Study
A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that pomegranate oil stimulates keratinocytes, the majors cells found in the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. It appears that pomegranate seed oil may help to regenerate these cells and, in turn, offset the appearance of aging skin. Although pomegranate oil had no effect on collagen synthesis in this study, pomegranate peel extract did, suggesting that more than one part of the pomegranate fruit could have anti-aging effects.
Why Is Pomegranate Oil Good for the Skin?
Pomegranate oil from pomegranate seeds is a rich source of a unique polyunsaturated acid known as punicic acid which has strong anti-inflammatory properties; and the oil is also known to have anti-oxidant effects. Punicic acid has been shown to have stop growth of prostate cancer cells in the laboratory, but it’s unclear what role it plays in skin aging or whether it’s the ingredient in pomegranate oil responsible for the anti-aging benefits.
