Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks

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The skin is made of three layers which include the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous stratum which correspond to the outer layer, the middle layer, and the innermost layer, respectively. When the body undergoes rapid weight loss or weight gain, this results in overstretching of the dermis and results in tears in the dermal layer of the skin causing “stretch marks.”

Stretch marks are prone to appear in males and females who are undergoing puberty. They appear in women’s breasts, hips, thighs, and buttocks. Men who are active in sports, undergo bodybuilding, and those who have steroid intake also get stretch marks.

All people are prone to get stretch marks. There are different methods in removing or preventing stretch marks like undergoing cosmetic surgery like laser stretch mark removal. One of the ways most people claim to work is to use cocoa butter to get rid of stretch marks but does it really work?

A little Bit About Cocoa Butter

As derived from its namesake, cocoa butter creams are derived from the cocoa bean and are made from a natural vegetable fat. They are characterized by having a very low melting point and are solids at room temperature. When applied to the skin, cocoa butter creams easily and immediately melts when applied to the skin.

Cocoa butter deeply penetrates the skin and aids in the prevention of stretch marks. Its great antioxidant properties aids in the erasure of existent marks while performing skin lubrication. The skin’s elasticity is also enhanced by cocoa butter.

History has recorded cocoa butter as a possible stretch mark remover. Many people are attracted in employing cocoa butter as it is both cheap and natural but does it really work?

Does Cocoa Butter Really Work For Stretch Marks?

Unlike other creams that promise the removal of the stretch marks, cocoa butter can penetrate both the top layer and the second layer, which are the epidermis and dermis, respectively. The cocoa butter’s ingredients has antioxidant properties that are beneficial for skin health. Healing starts from the inside layer to the outside layer. Since cocoa butter is natural, it is proven to be safe and will not cause any side effects like those felt with synthetic products.

Discoloration of the skin is one of the unwanted effects of stretch marks. Cocoa butter has been proven to have removed discoloration efficiently. This has also been a common effective home remedy that people use at prices within reach of the common people. At par with cocoa butter, emu oil is also efficient in removing stretch mark discoloration.

A brief look into a few studies has shown that:

Cocoa butter does not remove or prevent stretch marks and a recent study published in the International journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2009 does not proof its effectiveness over stretch marks in both non-pregnant and pregnant women.
MayoClinic has mentioned that cocoa butter only moisturizes the skin and makes it less rough but it does not fade stretch marks.
It is safe for use on the skin.

Are you disappointed? Well, even if it doesn’t effectively remove stretch marks, its moisturizing effect does reduce itchiness around the stretch mark area. A good product to start with is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Cream.

See what this video says about cocoa butter for stretch marks

Which Cocoa Butter Products Do I Recommend For Skin health?

Bear in mind that most cocoa butter products help moisturize skin and although some claim it works for stretch marks, I wouldn’t recommend it as a first line of treatment for stretch marks ( at least if you use stretch mark creams, I recommend this cream for stretch marks). For starters, the most popular one is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Cream. Most of their cocoa butter formulation consists of a combination of cocoa butter, Vitamin E, collagen, elastin and shea butter. You can have a look at them below: