Stretch marks are stripes or bands of abnormal skin that develop as a result of rapid skin stretching or the presence of certain medical disorders. Cocoa butter, a form of vegetable fat derived from cacao beans, is frequently suggested as a remedy for stretch marks. However, cocoa butter does not appear to have significant short- or long-term effects on stretch mark-affected skin.
Basics
Stretch marks -- also called striae -- are commonly associated with the relatively rapid skin stretching that occurs during pregnancy, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus. Both males and females can also develop the condition as a consequence of childhood obesity or during the rapid growth stages of puberty. In addition, you can develop stretch marks if you overuse skin cream products that contain cortisone, have Cushing syndrome or have a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Cocoa Butter
In 2008, the National Institutes of Health's PubMed.gov published the results of the largest study ever conducted on cocoa butter's effectiveness in treating stretch marks. During the study, pregnant women were given topical applications of cocoa butter for several months in areas where stretch marks commonly develop, including their thighs, breasts and abdomens. When compared to women in the study who did not receive cocoa butter, cocoa butter, recipients did not experience any change in either the initial development of stretch marks or eventual stretch mark severity. Both Medline Plus and MayoClinic.com also note that cocoa butter has little or no effect on your stretch marks.
Effective Treatments
There are a number of treatment options that can help you diminish the appearance of stretch marks, MayoClinic.com notes. However, no single treatment works for all individuals and no current treatment can completely remove all of the marks from your body. If you have had stretch marks for six weeks or less, you may receive benefits from topical applications of a medication called tretinoin. If you have new or older stretch marks, you may benefit from either of two non-wounding laser techniques called pulsed dye laser therapy and fractional photothermolysis. If you have older stretch marks, you may benefit from a laser technique called excimer laser therapy or from a skin resurfacing technique called microdermabrasion.
Medical Significance
Stretch marks are typically medically insignificant and do not pose any risks to your health, Medline Plus explains. However, you should contact your doctor if you develop marks without the presence of any known common causes. During pregnancy, you can help reduce stretch mark formation -- in addition to improving your own health and the health of your child -- by exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet.
Considerations
Stretch marks often fade on their own when the source of stretching disappears, Medline Plus notes. In addition to the age of your stretch marks, factors that affect appropriate treatment options include the expense, length and frequency of various available options, as well your reasonable expectations of treatment outcomes. If you are pregnant, strictly avoid the use of any product that contains tretinoin. You can help avoid stretch mark formation by avoiding rapid increases in your weight.
