What Does Pomegranate Extract Do for the Skin?

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Joe M500

Depending upon your skin care needs, pomegranate extract is a healthy and natural choice when trying to tackle certain skin issues. According to Skin, Inc., due to the powerful benefits of pomegranate extract, it could play a significant role in protecting the skin from all types of environmental damage.

Definition

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic

Pomegranates have been grown and harvested since ancient times. According to the Huntington College of Health Sciences, they originated from Persia (Iran) and have been cultivated in Central Asia, Georgia, Armenia and the Mediterranean region for several millennia. They eventually made their way to other parts of the world, and they have many health benefits.

Decrease Cancer Risk

According to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), research suggests that pomegranate extract may have significant clinical benefits in decreasing risk for the most common cancer, skin cancer.

Boost Sun Protection

According to Skin, Inc., adding pomegranate extract boosts the sun protection factor (SPF) of sunscreen by 20%. This could mean fewer sunburns and more time between applications of sunscreen.

Anti-Aging

Because pomegranates contain vitamins B and C, taking pomegranate extract capsules could reduce or reverse the signs of aging by promoting cell turnover - creating new, healthy skin.

Antioxidant

According to the AACR, pomegranate fruit extract contains several polyphenols and anthocyanidins (pigment that gives certain fruits their dark red colors). Its antioxidant activity is higher than that of red wine and green tea.