PLACENTAL EXTRACT
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
 | Contamination concerns - PROGESTERONE, ESTROGEN, ESTRONE |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption, Data gaps |
|
See products containing PLACENTAL EXTRACT | |
About PLACENTAL EXTRACT: This ingredient is derived from the placenta, an organ that develops in female mammals during pregnancy, lining the uterine wall and attached by the umbilical cord to provide nourishment and oxygen to the fetus. The placenta produces progesterone, estrogen, and other hormones, which raise potential health concerns in personal care products. In one study four girls between one and eight years of age developed breasts or pubic hair two to 24 months after starting the use of estrogen- or pla ... read more
This ingredient may be derived from animals. From PETA's Caring Consumer: Contains waste matter eliminated by the fetus. Derived from the uterus of slaughtered animals. Animal placenta is widely used in skin creams, shampoos, masks, etc. Alternatives: kelp, olive oil, wheat germ oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, almond oil, safflower oil, etc.
PLACENTAL EXTRACT has reported used in the following product types: conditioner (8); facial moisturizer/treatment (4); toners/astringents (1); anti-aging (1); mask (1)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Potential risk of infectious disease - Must be free of detectable pathogenic viruses or infectious agents | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| Potential risk of infectious disease - | FDA Ingredients with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Concern |
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more studies show weak endocrine disruption | Tiwary, C, 1998 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Insufficient data to determine safety | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 37 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Ingredients with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Concern | BOVINE PLACENTA | •High risk: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a fatal transmissible disease; FDA advises companies to ensure safety of ingredients imported from countries where BSE is prevalent |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | HUMAN PLACENTAL EXTRACTS | •Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PLACENTAL PROTEIN | •Insufficient data to support safe use in cosmetics •Should not deliver any metabolic or endocrine activity •Must be free of detectable pathogenic viruses or infectious agents: warning from industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •May contain harmful impurities |
| FDA, 2006 | ESTROGEN, ESTRONE, ESTRADIOL, PROGESTERONE, PLACENTAL EXTRACT OR VITAMINS | FDA may consider this a misbranded cosmetic if the extract has been prepared from placentas from which the hormones and other biologically active substances have not been removed and the extracted substance consists principally of protein. |
| FDA, 2006 | PLACENTAL EXTRACT | Impurity: estradiol, estrone, progesterone |
| Tiwary, C, 1998 | PLACENTA-CONTAINING HAIR PRODUCTS | Girls developed breasts or pubic hair 2 to 24 months after starting the use of estrogen or placenta-containing hair products |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Ingredients with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Concern | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2000. FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Cosmetics Compliance Program. Domestic Cosmetics Program. Coverage of Bovine-Derived Ingredients for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Issued July 31, 2000. |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Open scientific literature | FDA, 2006. "GUIDE TO INSPECTIONS OF COSMETIC PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS," U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Accessed on May 14th, 2007 at: http://www.fda.gov/ora/inspect_ref/igs/cosmet.html. |
| Open scientific literature | FDA, 2006. "GUIDE TO INSPECTIONS OF COSMETIC PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS," U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Accessed on May 14th, 2007 at: http://www.fda.gov/ora/inspect_ref/igs/cosmet.html. |
| Open scientific literature | Tiwary, C. M. (1998). "Premature sexual development in children following the use of estrogen- or placenta-containing hair products." Clin Pediatr (Phila) 37(12): 733-9. |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Favorites basket
No items in basket.
Skin Deep User Tools BETA
Looking for a product report that we don't have in Skin Deep? Sign up to enter it into the Skin Deep database and leave product reviews.
SKIN DEEP NEEDS YOUR HELP
We always want Skin Deep to be free to the public, but delivering high-quality research costs time and money. Help by donating just the cost of a bar of soap or bottle of shampoo.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Stay informed with email updates on toxics in everyday products and how they can affect your health.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
Find out more about the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.