Cocoa Butter For Stretch Marks

Cocoa butter for stretch marks may theoretically seem like it should work--at least in terms of preventing them from forming. Although there are an abundance of cocoa butter-based creams and balms on the market that purport to do just this, medical experts explain why this luscious-smelling substance has no preventive or restorative effects on stretch marks, which are some of the toughest scars to remove, even with medical procedures.

Problem With Stretch Marks

Stretch marks, also called striae or striae distensae, occur when the skin expands rapidly to accommodate body mass. This can occur during the growth spurts of puberty, in weight-lifters who rapidly build muscle or those who become obese. Stretch marks are closely associated with pregnancy; according to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 90 percent of expectant women get rippling, red or purple band-like scars on their belly, breasts and thighs during the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. But "The Patient's Guide to Stretch Marks" explains that weight gain alone isn't the sole culprit; hormones cause the skin's elastin to break down, and damaged elastin is irreversible--making stretch marks extremely difficult to treat with cosmetic procedures.

Cocoa Butter Study

In 2008, the Department of Health Behaviour and Education of the American University of Beirut Medical Center conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine if cocoa butter had an effect on stretch marks. Of the 175 pregnant women who completed the study, 91 received cocoa butter and 84 a placebo. The women were given topical applications that contained either cocoa butter or a placebo and told to apply it to the abdomen, breasts and thighs daily until they gave birth.

Study Results

Researchers measured the outcome of the cocoa butter study, post-partum. Results indicated that there was no difference between the development or severity of stretch marks between the group of women who used cocoa butter and those who used a placebo. In conclusion, researchers noted that topical use of cocoa butter does not reduce the chances that stretch marks will develop.

Other Creams and Treatments

Cocoa butter isn't the only homespun remedy for stretch marks that is ineffective. "The Patient's Guide to Stretch Marks" lists a number of similar ingredients, such as Vitamin E, shea butter, grapefruit seed extract, aloe vera and various oils, that can tempt consumers into purchasing a useless product. Recommended topicals include prescription retinoids and steroid creams, as well as creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids, which can have a slight effect on stretch marks. However, the most thorough treatment for stretch marks--and the way to best get them to blend in with the surrounding, undamaged skin--is through a series of laser treatments provided by a dermatologist.

What You Can Do

Cocoa butter won't hurt you, say experts at the Mayo Clinic. It can make your skin feel softer and more supple, and may reduce itching, says the AAD. There's no way to prevent stretch marks from forming, and for pregnant women, they may be an inevitable part of impending motherhood. The Mayo Clinic advises that mothers-to-be work with a health care practitioner to minimize weight gain during pregnancy and establish an exercise plan.