The benefits of Cocoa Butter for stretch marks are many, but before we get into that, let’s dive into stretch marks.
Pregnancy, weight gain or weight loss, steroid use, fast development… stretch marks happen to the majority of women (…and men are not exempt.) They are natural, common, and should be embraced as part of your life journey. But there’s nothing wrong with wanting to lighten or prevent these tiger stripes. Can cocoa butter help? You bet it can!
What are stretch marks?
Let’s first get to talking about what stretch marks actually are. Stretch marks vary from person to person, but generally speaking, they are long, narrow streaks on the surface of the skin. They can be raised and red colored (Striae Rubrae) or flat and paler/whiter in color (Striae Albae.)
Stretch marks can vary in color; from white to red to brown. This depends on the skin color and whether the stretch marks are raised or not.
Stretch marks can affect both men and women. They appear on the surface of the skin when it’s been stretched too quickly. It is a natural defense mechanism for the skin to tear in its middle layer as a way to protect itself from the sudden growth.
The skin is made up of three layers. It is the dermis layer that is affected by stretch marks. This is the middle layer that in turn, affects the upper layer. The upper layer is called the epidermis.
At the first signs of stretch marks forming, your skin may feel dry, tight, or even itchy. Stretch marks often form at a very slow pace, although many people think they just “sprung up overnight.” But really, this is not the case. The problem is that often we ignore the beginning symptoms of stretch marks in the first place.
Stretch marks can fade over time. But it can take years. They often start by slowly fading in color. They are not a medical concern, but many people do not appreciate or want the aesthetic of these marks.
How do stretch marks form in the first place?
Let’s address how stretch marks come to fruition in the first place.
As stated above, they usually begin when your skin starts to feel dry, tight, or itchy. They form when the skin is stretched too quickly. When stretched too quickly, the middle layer (the dermis) tears as a defense mechanism. Unfortunately, this affects the upper layer of the skin as well.
Stretch marks typically form on the abdomen, breasts, and hips. They can also occur on the thighs, calves, upper arms and buttocks.
Over 50% of occurrences are from during or after pregnancy, but other causes are known as well. This includes growth spurts, rapid weight gain or weight loss, the use of steroid creams, and certain pharmaceuticals.
Why do stretch marks take so long to heal?
Simply put, it’s because stretch marks form in the middle layer.
Unlike a cut or scrape, which happens on the top layer (the epidermis), stretch marks occur in the middle layer (the dermis.) It is much easier to heal when it is only the top layer of skin that is compromised.
What is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is natural based plant-derived fat. It comes from the beans of the cocoa tree. It is native to the tropical regions of the South and Central Americas. As stated in our article about cocoa butter,
“Cocoa butter is removed from the beans by the use of an expeller, a hydraulic press or extrusion. These methods of extraction do not include any solvents or hexane, and this leaves the unrefined butter with their characteristic smell and color.”
Cocoa Butter is incredibly rich in vitamins A, E, and stearic acid. It absorbs not only into the epidermis layer of the skin (top layer) but the dermis as well (middle layer.)
Cocoa butter starts off hard as a rock, but melts into the skin. In many recipes, cocoa butter is first melted then whipped. As expected, this butter smells exactly like chocolate. It is delicious!
How does cocoa butter help stretch marks?
Cocoa butter helps stretch marks by seeping into the dermis (middle layer) and not just the epidermis (top layer), and cocoa is simply the one butter that can achieve this. When the butter is absorbed into the dermis, it is able to retain even more moisture.
Shea Butter is also a top solution for stretching skin, we have a more in-depth article comparing the two butters here.
Cocoa butter helps to soften stretch marks and even prevent them. In early pregnancy, it is recommended to begin applying cocoa butter to the areas that can be easily affected by stretch marks on month one all the way up until delivery. As your body goes back to its pre-pregnancy state, it is also useful to continue using the cocoa butter as the skin starts to shrink back.
Cocoa butter is also great for weight loss programs and during growth spurts for teens.
You will find that cocoa butter is not just great for stretch marks, but for moisturizing all over the body. It has such a nutrient-rich profile, the benefits extend far beyond preventing and treating existing stretch marks. It makes a fantastic all-over body butter.
Where to buy high-quality Cocoa Butter?
As stated previously, it is best to use cocoa butter that is unrefined, pure, and organic! Creams should have the highest concentration of cocoa butter in their formulation. One of your best bets is to use pure cocoa butter, straight from the source!
We would love for you to try our cocoa butter! It is the highest quality you can find and we have thousands of testimonials talking about how amazing it is.
In regards to stretch marks, here are a few of our reviews:
“Amazing! 9 months pregnant and have been using it 3 times a day since 3 months, I have NO stretch marks and baby is coming any day now :)” -5-star customer
“….I have also noticed that my stretch marks have begun to lighten and shrink a lot. I didn’t expect that added bonus because no other product has done that for me. I have used everything from the high-end creams to the basic Palmers without ever seeing any results. I wasted so much money over the years on fake miracle-in-a-bottle scams when I should have gone this natural route. I think the reason this product is working so well on my skin is because it’s “pure” cocoa butter and not mixed with other additives like in the stores.” -KK
“I ordered this product to make my own stretch mark cream after my pregnancy and it turned out so luxurious! Better than any over the counter cream I have ever used.” -Laura
“Love his cocoa butter! It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth without a greasy film. I use it at least 3x times a day and still no stretch marks.” -Alesia