Shea Butter For Stretch Marks | Does African Shea Butter Help With Stretch Marks

Can you use shea butter for stretch marks? Know the effectiveness of shea butter against stretch marks with some other home remedies in this article.

The fat extracted from the nuts of the Shea tree is termed Shea Butter. It is usually found in the warm temperate regions and is an off-white or ivory color. Shea butter is native to West Africa, and most of it still comes from the same area. It has been used in the cosmetic industry for a long time. It has a high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins. Applying Shea butter is favorable because of its easy-to-spread consistency, and it is an excellent product for conditioning the skin. It smoothens and soothes the skin as well. But can you use shea butter for stretch marks? Keep reading to find out!

Causes of Stretch Marks

A Stretch mark is a scar that appears when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. This change in the skin causes collagen and elastin to rupture. The collagen and elastin support our skin, and as the skin heals, the stretch marks may appear. The stretch marks may appear due to the following reasons:

1. Growth spurts that happen in puberty
2. Pregnancy
3. Rapid weight loss or gain
4. Weight training when you have rapid muscle growth

At the first appearance, stretch marks tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on the skin tone. The early stretch marks can be itchy and slightly raised. Over time, the color of the stretch marks may fade, and the narrowband sinks beneath the skin. There can be a slight depression on a matured stretch mark. 

Does Shea Butter Help With Stretch Marks?

Shea butter is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can lighten the skin. In addition to that, it is highly moisturizing, and therefore, its regular application can help make your skin healthy and glowing. It also repairs the damaged cells on stretch marks.

How to Use Shea Butter?

Take some pure shea butter and apply it directly to the stretch marks. Massage softly for some time and leave it on. Make sure you repeat this a few times during the day.

Benefits of Shea Butter

1. Safe for All Skin Types

Shea butter is a tree nut product, but it’s deficient in proteins that can trigger allergies. IT doesn’t contain chemical irritants known to dry out skin, and it doesn’t clog pores and is, therefore, suitable for all skin types. 

2. Moisturizes the Skin

Shea butter is used for its moisturizing effects due to its fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids. The skin absorbs these oils, and they restore the lipids and thus rapidly creating moisture. It also restores the barrier between your skin and the environment, reducing the risk of dryness. 

3. Does not Make Skin Oily

Shea butter contains high linoleic acid and oleic acid levels, which balance each other out. Hence, upon its application, the skin does not look oily as the skin fully absorbs it

4. Anti-Inflammatory

Shea butter slows down the production of cytokines and other inflammatory substances that may help minimize the irritation caused by environmental factors, such as dry weather, as well as inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema.

5. Antioxidant Properties

Shea butter has a significant amount of vitamins A and E. These vitamins promote vigorous antioxidant activity. These antioxidants are anti-aging agents and prevent a dull-looking skin

6. Promote Cell Regeneration

Shea butter’s moisturizing and antioxidant properties work together to help your skin generate healthy new cells.

Other Easy Home Remedies for Stretch Marks 

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil can be very effective on stretch marks. It has healing properties that can repair the damaged cells. All you need to do is apply coconut oil to your stretch marks twice a day.  

2. Aloe Vera

Not only is it an excellent healing agent, but it also smoothens and soothes the skin. It has glucomannan and gibberellin compounds that help in the synthesis of collagen and fades stretch marks. Take the gel from the aloe vera leaf and add the oils of the vitamin A & E capsules. Mix the solution well and apply it to the affected area. 

3. Sugar

Sugar is known to perform the microdermabrasion method, which can help to fade the stubborn stretch marks. Take one cup of sugar and 1/4th cup of a softening agent like coconut oil or almond oil. Add some lemon juice and scrub the mixture on your stretch marks for at least 8-10 minutes. Repeat this 2-3 times a week every time before taking a shower. 

4. Castor Oil

Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid. This acid is a skin-conditioning agent that helps to lighten stretch marks. It also works well for skin and hair fall. All you need to do is warm the castor oil and gently massage it on your stretch marks for 15-20 minutes. 

5. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is known for its natural bleaching properties and helps in reducing the visibility of the stretch marks. You need to apply lemon juice or rub a slice of the lemon wedge on your marks regularly for it to start showing effect.

6. Potato Juice

Potatoes contain starch and other skin lighting enzymes. They are often used to lighten dark circles, spots, and blemishes from the skin. Potato juice can bleach the skin and effectively reduces the visibility of stretch marks when applied regularly.

Consulting A Dermatologist with Stretch Marks

The treatment for stretch marks available at a store or in online stores can be pretty expensive. If you feel that the store or the home remedies are not working well even after weeks of treatment or after spending a lot of money, the results are not as per the requirement; then you should see a dermatologist. They may have in-office procedures more effective than creams, lotions, gels, or home remedies.