Ingredient
Placental Protein
Placental Protein is flagged for pregnancy, breastfeeding, trying to conceive, PCOS, postpartum and general use. The concern behind the strongest flag is hormone disruptor and fetal development.
- Placenta Extract
- Placental Extract
- Hydrolyzed Placental Protein
Verdict by profile
Truva checks every ingredient against six profiles. Jump to any of them for the full assessment.
- Strongest verdict
- Not Recommended
- Its verdict for pregnancy, the profile this one is worst in
- Profiles flagged
- 6 of 6
- Counting avoid, high risk and medium risk
- Irritancy
- 1 of 5
- Higher means more likely to sting or redden
Placental Protein and pregnancy
Not Recommended
- Hormone disruptor
- Fetal development
Placental protein is derived from animal placenta and contains a complex mixture of proteins, peptides, growth factors, and importantly, hormones including estrogen and progesterone. It's used in cosmetics for anti-aging and skin regeneration claims. The primary concern during pregnancy is the presence of bioactive hormones in placental extracts. According to endocrinology experts, exposure to exogenous hormones during pregnancy can potentially disrupt the delicate hormonal balance necessary for healthy fetal development. While topical absorption may be limited, the presence of hormones that could affect the endocrine system makes this ingredient particularly problematic during pregnancy. There is insufficient data on the safety of topically applied placental extracts during pregnancy, and the theoretical risks related to hormone exposure are significant. Most obstetricians and dermatologists recommend avoiding placental extracts during pregnancy due to the hormonal content and lack of safety data. The EU's decision to ban human placental extracts and the controversy surrounding even animal-derived versions reflects ongoing safety concerns. Pregnant women should choose alternative anti-aging ingredients with better-established safety profiles.
Placental Protein and breastfeeding
Not Recommended
- Passes into breast milk
- Hormone disruptor
Placental protein contains hormones including estrogen and progesterone, along with growth factors and other bioactive compounds. These components raise concerns about potential effects on breastfeeding and infant exposure. The hormonal content of placental extracts is problematic during breastfeeding. Hormones can potentially be absorbed through the skin and may affect milk production or be transferred to breast milk, leading to infant exposure to exogenous hormones. While data on topical placental extract use during breastfeeding is very limited, pediatricians and lactation consultants generally recommend avoiding products with known hormonal content due to potential effects on the breastfed infant's developing endocrine system. Most healthcare providers advise against using placental extracts while breastfeeding due to the presence of bioactive hormones and insufficient safety data. Women should opt for hormone-free alternatives for anti-aging and moisturizing benefits during the breastfeeding period.
Placental Protein and postpartum
Caution Advised
- Hormone disruptor
Placental protein contains hormones and growth factors that some claim provide anti-aging and skin regeneration benefits. However, the hormonal content remains a concern even when not breastfeeding. For postpartum women not breastfeeding, the hormonal content of placental extracts could potentially interfere with the body's return to normal hormonal balance after pregnancy. While the risk is lower than during pregnancy or breastfeeding, many healthcare providers still recommend caution with hormone-containing cosmetic ingredients during the postpartum period. Women may prefer to wait until their hormonal cycles have normalized before using such products, or choose hormone-free alternatives.
Placental Protein and trying to conceive
Not Recommended
- Hormone disruptor
- Fertility effects
Placental protein contains hormones including estrogen and progesterone. When trying to conceive, maintaining natural hormonal balance is crucial for ovulation, implantation, and early pregnancy. Fertility specialists generally recommend avoiding exposure to exogenous hormones when trying to conceive, as they could potentially interfere with the delicate hormonal changes necessary for conception. While topical absorption from cosmetics may be limited, the theoretical risk of hormonal interference makes placental extracts inadvisable when actively trying to conceive. Women undergoing fertility treatments should be particularly cautious about any products with hormonal content.
Placental Protein and PCOS
Not Recommended
- Interferes with hormones
- Affects estrogen
Placental protein contains estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones naturally present in placental tissue. These bioactive hormones can potentially be absorbed through the skin and interact with the body's endocrine system. For women with PCOS, which is fundamentally a hormonal disorder involving imbalanced androgens, estrogen, and progesterone, introducing exogenous hormones through skincare products is particularly concerning. The hormones in placental extracts could potentially interfere with PCOS management, affect menstrual cycles, or complicate fertility treatments. While data on topical absorption and systemic effects is limited, the theoretical risk of hormonal interference makes this ingredient unsuitable for women managing PCOS. Endocrinologists and dermatologists who specialize in hormonal conditions generally recommend that women with PCOS avoid cosmetic ingredients with known hormonal activity. There are many effective anti-aging and moisturizing alternatives that don't carry the risk of endocrine disruption.
Placental Protein and general use
Caution Advised
- Endocrine disruptor
- Common allergen
Placental protein is a controversial cosmetic ingredient derived from animal placenta, containing proteins, growth factors, and hormones. It's marketed for anti-aging and skin regeneration benefits, though scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited. For the general population, the main concerns are the presence of bioactive hormones (estrogen and progesterone) which could potentially cause endocrine disruption, and the risk of allergic reactions to the foreign proteins. The EU has banned human-derived placental extracts and maintains strict standards for animal-derived versions. Some users report benefits, but the safety profile remains questionable compared to other anti-aging ingredients with better-established safety data. Regulatory bodies and dermatologists remain divided on placental extracts. While they're not universally banned, many experts recommend choosing alternative ingredients with clearer safety profiles and better evidence for efficacy. Those who choose to use products with placental protein should be aware of the hormonal content and potential for sensitization.
Everything else flagged for the same profiles
Related ingredients
Ingredients suggested in place of Placental Protein, each one with its own page here.
Ingredients that raise the same concerns.
Where this came from
Truva summarises published guidance from bodies including ACOG, the FDA, the EU SCCS and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review. It has no access to your medical history and it is not a substitute for your doctor, dermatologist or midwife. These assessments have not been reviewed by a clinician, and nothing here is a diagnosis or a prescription. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or being treated for PCOS, take the ingredient list to the person looking after you.
Assessment last pulled from the ingredient database on .
One ingredient is the easy case.
A label has thirty of them. Truva reads the whole list at once and answers for the profile you set: pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum, trying to conceive, PCOS, or general use.
Download on theApp Store