Cocoa butter is a natural fat derived from cocoa beans. The waxy, pleasant-smelling substance is a key ingredient in a variety of products, from chocolate to cosmetics to topical lotions. Cocoa butter contains high amounts of cocoa mass polyphenol, or CMP, a chemical known to inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors. CMP is also used to treat symptoms of arthritis and asthma. Despite these benefits, cocoa butter is primarily celebrated for its effectiveness in treating skin conditions. Cocoa butter is often available in bar form, so you can easily apply it to your skin.
Skin Moisturizer
Cocoa butter is excellent at relieving symptoms of dry or irritated skin due to its melting properties. The butter quickly liquefies at body temperature, so when you apply it topically, the epidermis rapidly absorbs it. Moreover, thanks to its wax-like texture, cocoa butter creates a barrier between the skin and skin-drying substances, while helping to retain moisture already within the skin.
Stretch Mark Prevention
Cocoa butter contains ample amounts of vitamin E, a substance known to fight free radicals, which can severely damage the collagen fibers that support the skin. Because stretch marks are composed of tiny tears in collagen fibers, many people believe that cocoa butter is therefore effective in preventing stretch marks. Scientific evidence, however, does not confirm its effectiveness. Nonetheless, countless people, particularly pregnant women, continue to use cocoa butter in the hopes of staving off stretch marks. On an anecdotal level, some women insist that their lack of stretch marks during pregnancy was due to the consistent application of cocoa butter.
Improve Appearance of Scars
Using cocoa butter to fade scars is an old folk remedy. Although scientific research has not proved that cocoa butter effectively minimizes scarring, many people believe that regularly massaging cocoa butter into scars, particularly new scars, helps even out skin tone and improve skin texture. Successful results in boosting skin texture, however, may be due to the massage as much as the cocoa butter. The website Massage Today reports that massaging scars can help improve skin's elasticity, which helps manage the development of scar tissue.
Member Comments