Posts Tagged Treat Stretch Marks

Cocoa Butter For Stretch Marks – Is it Effective?

For several years, cocoa butter has become a household name mainly because of its effect on stretch marks. It has become a very attractive choice for many individuals suffering from stretch marks. For one, it does not cost as much as certain methods like surgery, and secondly, it is natural and therefore generally safe to use. Our skin is definitely flexible and elastic in its nature, however, we can only stretch it so far until it tears and breaks down. Once this happens, scarring occurs and this is when stretch marks become visible. So is it true that cocoa butter works? Let’s find out.

Cocoa butter was once praised unanimously for its ability to treat stretch marks effectively. Cocoa butter has been known to be helpful because it is able to absorb well in the top layer of the skin up to the second layer, or dermis. The ingredient has also been known to specifically treat discoloration caused by stretch marks. Stretch marks typically appear in either deep red, purplish red, pink or white. Sometimes it is actually the color that makes people conscious about the appearance of stretch marks, as it can really stand out. Cocoa butter has been known to help in that area.

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Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter, also called cacao butter, is the cream-colored fat extracted from cacao seeds (cocoa beans) and used to add flavor, scent, and smoothness to chocolate, cosmetics, tanning oil, soap, and a multitude of topical lotions and creams. Cocoa butter has been called the ultimate moisturizer, and has been used to keep skin soft and supple for centuries. It is one of the most stable, highly concentrated natural fats known, and melts at body temperature so that it is readily absorbed into the skin. Cocoa butter is often recommended for treatment of skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. When applied topically, it creates a barrier between sensitive skin and the environment and also helps retain moisture. In addition, cocoa butter contains cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP), a substance that inhibits the production of the immuno globulin IgE. IgE is known to aggravate symptoms of both dermatitis and asthma.

Pregnant women have long used to cocoa butter formulations to prevent and treat stretch marks, but this pleasant-smelling substance is added to countless other topical preparations as well. Lotions and oils containing cocoa butter are often used in aromatherapy massages to promote feelings of relaxation and well-being. Recent research indicates that massaging the skin with cocoa butter may help relieve stress, boost the immune system, and even prevent cancer. This is because cocoa butter, like chocolate, contains a lot of CMP. Researchers in Japan reported that CMP inhibits the growth of cancerous cells and tumors by reducing active oxygen levels in the body, and concluded that CMP inhibits the oxidation of LDL (good) cholesterol and the production of inflammatory cells; there is some evidence that the CMP in cocoa butter may also help prevent heart disease and ease arthritic symptoms.

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