Stretch marks, visible micro-tears in the skin, often occur during pregnancy, adolescence, or as a result of repeated dieting. They can be unsightly and a source of self-consciousness. To prevent their occurrence, natural methods such as shea butter can be utilized.
Shea butter for preventing and reducing stretch marks.
Summary
Published on July 11, 2023, updated on October 4, 2024, by Manon, Scientific Editor — 5 min of reading
Themes:
Stretch marks: causes, appearance, and risk factors.
Stretch marks are skin lesions that share similarities with scars. They are the result of tearing in the deep dermis, that is, the skin tissues located between the epidermis and the hypodermis. Generally, stretch marks are visible during adolescence and pregnancy, either during sudden growth spurts or due to hormonal upheaval. They can also appear when the affected part of the body increases in size.
The stretching of the skin creates a disruption in the skin's structure, which breaks the collagen fibers. Collagen is a protein naturally present in the dermis and contributes to its structure.
Stretch marks appear as streaks, elongated scars, or linear depressions that align with the direction of skin tension. They are progressive. Indeed, the first phase, or the inflammatory phase, is characterized by a reddish-purple appearance. This is due to the dilation of blood vessels and the skin may be painful. During the second phase, or the scarring phase, the stretch marks lighten until they take on a pearly white color. No treatment can affect this type of stretch marks, they are permanent.
They are generally located under the breasts, on the thighs, on the hips, or in the abdominal area. In others, they may appear in the lower back, on the inner side of the knees and/or at the root of the arms. Moreover, there are also forms of stretch marks related to health problems, notably an excess of corticosteroids, which are accompanied by other signs.
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Preventing stretch marks with shea butter.
During pregnancy or in the context of weight loss, the use of shea butter can be beneficial in preventing the appearance of stretch marks. This vegetable butter has moisturizing and nourishing properties for the skin. Thanks to its high lipid content, it penetrates the skin barrier to deeply nourish the epidermal cells. Shea butter also contains resinous esters that soften the skin and prevent the loss of elastin.
The triterpenes found in this oil contribute to cellular renewal and collagen protection to prevent it from breaking down. They deactivate proteases such as collagenase, a metalloprotease, and elastase, a serine protease. Shea butter aids in cellular renewal and helps to make collagen fibers more resilient.
Thus, to anticipate the appearance of stretch marks, it is recommended to use shea butter by massaging the affected area. The massage will stimulate microcirculations in the dermis as well as the production of collagen and elastin.
Diminishing stretch marks with shea butter.
Addressing already established stretch marks proves to be quite challenging, if not impossible. Indeed, they do not completely disappear, especially when they are in the scarring phase. However, stretch marks in the inflammatory phase, of a reddish-purple color, can be diminished if they are treated promptly.
When stretch marks form, this involves inflammation and an increase in vascularization. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, shea butter can act through the NF-kB signaling pathway to reduce the redness of new stretch marks and alleviate itching.
Rich in Vitamin A, which is an antioxidant agent, shea butter allows the skin to heal and ensures good cellular renewal.
Damaged skin is more sensitive to environmental factors, particularly UV rays. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause stretch marks to darken. The esters contained in shea butter absorb some of the UVB rays. However, shea butter alone does not constitute a sunscreen but when used in conjunction with a sunscreen, it helps to boost the SPF index. To do this, simply apply a layer of pure, unrefined shea butter to the stretch marks before using sun protection.
To mitigate stretch marks with shea butter, we recommend our baobab oil stretch mark gel-in-oil and shea olein. It should be applied regularly by massaging it into clean, dry skin twice a day. This gel is recommended for preventing all types of stretch marks, whether they are related to hormonal changes (pregnancy, adolescence), or to a stretching of the skin tissues due to growth, weight loss, or weight gain.
Sources:
GAUTAM H. K. &al. Anti-inflammatory effects of shea butter through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the Nf-κB pathway in LPS-activated J774 macrophage cells. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (2012).
PEKER K. & al. Medicinal and nutritional benefits from the shea tree. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare (2017).
BABY A.R. &al. Butyrospermum parkii butter increased the photostability and in vivo SPF of a molded sunscreen system. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2020).
