Does Cocoa Butter Really Work On Stretch Marks?

The NY Times recently published an article claiming that cocoa butter is largely ineffective on improving the appearance of stretch marks. The article is based on a study published in 2008 following 175 women in their first pregnancies.

In the study, some of the women were given cocoa butter, and others were given a placebo. After several months the results were examined and the researchers reported that there was no difference in the severity and development of the stretch marks with either lotion.

Read Also: How to Remove Stretch Marks

So if cocoa butter doesn’t work, what does?The NY Times then goes on to claim that Vitamin E is a far more effective cream to use on stretch marks. A similar study was carried out on 100 pregnant women in 2000. The study discovered that those using the cream alpha tocopherol, a form of Vitamin E, led to fewer stretch marks developing than on the placebo.

Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched to beyond it’s limit of elasticity. Taking vitamin A, C, and E supplements has long been hailed as a great way of adding more elasticity to your skin, along with keeping yourself hydrated.

Read Also: Stretch Marks Cream

Vitamin E cream is a great option as it’s usually fairly cheap and can be picked up easily in the high street. It’s also a lot cheaper than the various surgical and beauty treatments that grace the back pages of glossy magazines. However, if you already have stretch marks and want to completely remove them, surgery may be your only option as there is little evidence that Vitamin E will fully remove them.

Have you used cocoa butter or vitamin E cream through pregnancy? What results did you get?

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Cocoa Butter Can Remove Stretch Marks

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

THE FACTS Cocoa butter has many uses, but one of the most common is combating the linear marks that result from rapid growth, especially in pregnancy, and weight gain.

The problem afflicts most pregnant women, not to mention many body builders, teenagers going through puberty and people who are overweight. Cocoa butter is a popular solution, but studies have found that it produces rather unimpressive results.

The largest study on the subject was published in 2008 by a team of dermatologists and obstetricians. It followed 175 women in their first pregnancies, some randomly assigned to apply a cocoa butter lotion each day and others assigned to use a placebo. Neither the subjects nor the researchers knew who was using which treatment. After many months, the researchers found no difference in the development or severity of marks, known medically as striae, over the abdomen, breasts or thighs.

For those looking for an alternative, scientists have found that vitamin E creams are more effective. In a similarly double-blinded study of 100 pregnant women in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2000, for example, researchers found that those who were assigned to use a cream containing alpha tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, developed fewer marks than those given a placebo.

Surgical and radiofrequency treatments are available, too, but they carry a higher price.

THE BOTTOM LINE According to research, regular application of cocoa butter does not reduce stretch marks.

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Cocoa butter lotion won't prevent stretch marks

Applying cocoa butter lotion during pregnancy does not help prevent stretch marks that many women develop, according to a new study.

Stretch marks, or striae gravidarum as doctors refer to them, typically occur on the abdomen and breasts, but can also appear on the hips, thighs, and buttocks. The cause of the problem is unknown, but many women believe that rubbing cocoa butter on the skin can help prevent the marks.

Although scientific evidence supporting the use of cocoa butter is lacking, many physicians and midwives continue to recommend it.

In the present study, Dr. A. H Nassar and colleagues sought to settle this issue by examining the stretch marks that arose in 210 pregnant women who were randomly assigned to apply cocoa butter or inactive "placebo" to their abdomen, breasts, and thighs once daily starting during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Read Also: Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks

Eighty-three percent of women completed the study, Nassar, from the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon and colleagues note.

Overall, 45 percent of cocoa butter-treated women developed stretch marks compared with 49 percent of women given placebo lotion. Although the percentage is slightly lower in the cocoa butter group, from a statistical standpoint, the difference was not considered significant, meaning that it may have simply arisen by chance.

There was also no difference between the groups in the severity of their stretch marks.

"Our findings do not support the use of cocoa butter lotion for the prevention of striae gravidarum," Nassar and colleagues conclude. Further studies, they say, are needed to confirm their findings in other populations and to evaluate the effectiveness of other commonly used products in preventing stretch marks.

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Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Stretch Marks During Pregnancy: Dermatologists Share Advice On Prevention And Treatment

Women’s bodies go through many physical changes during pregnancy, the majority which are out of their control.

Stretch marks are a natural result of a woman’s skin stretching as she develops further in her pregnancy.

While the end result of giving birth is undoubtedly worth it, understanding how they can be prevented and treated will be welcomed.

Statistically, women getting stretch marks during pregnancy is relatively high with around 70% to 90% of women suffering from them in some way, according to the NHS.

stretch marks pregnancy

We chatted to dermatologists and doctors specialising in skin health to find out more.

Why causes women to get stretch marks during pregnancy?

“Stretch marks develop when the collagen in the skin is stretched beyond its elastic limit,” Dr Justine Hextall, consultant dermatologist, at The Harley Medical Group told HuffPost UK Parents.

“This causes fissuring which appears as stretch marks in our skin.”

During the latter stages of pregnancy specifically when the baby is rapidly growing, a woman’s skin cells rupture due to being pulled apart so much.

When the cells rupture they will also leave scarring - the stretch mark.

Better Births midwife Rachel Scanlon from The Royal College of Midwives said it also may be a result of your genes.

“Some women have a genetic disposition to stretch marks, so if your mum had them you might be more likely to have them.”

Dr Hextall agreed, adding: “There are some women who may just have more elastic skin and can sail through growth spurts and pregnancies with perfect skin, others are not so lucky.

“It is that old-age, look at your mother!”

How can I prevent getting stretch marks?

Before noticing stretch marks have developed, there are a number of things women can do to prevent them.

No single thing will always work, so understanding how you can look after your skin as early as possible will be an advantage.

Dr. Erich Schulte, founder of QMS Medicosmetics said an effective method to prevent stretch marks is a combination of regular exercise and healthy nutrition.

Maintaining a healthy weight will minimise any rapid weight gain that could contribute towards excessive stretching of the skin.

He told HuffPost UK Parents: “Boost your routine with supplements ideally containing Vitamins E and C (like Intravital Plus) and make sure you choose skincare products that will strengthen the collagen and elastin fibres in your skin tissue before you’re further along in your pregnancy.”

Dr. Kishan Raichuram, skin health expert at IGDP, said another way to prevent stretch marks is through keeping your skin as healthy and hydrated as possible.

“While it’s impossible to entirely prevent them, pregnant women can improve skin condition to hopefully reduce the chances by keep the area well moisturised and nourished,” he said.

stretch marks pregnancy

Dr. Schulte agreed, adding that preparing your skin as soon as you know you are pregnant will help strengthen it.

He explained: “This will make your less prone to damage and injury to the tissue. It will also help restore the skin post-pregnancy.

“Exfoliation is a key benefit as that continues to stimulate the cell turnover and works well in conjunction with body-firming creams.

“Also don’t stop the skin care routine once you have given birth as the skin still needs the support.”

What should women do if they notice them during pregnancy?

Firstly, don’t panic - finding stretch marks on your stomach does not mean they will stay there forever.

The wider, red, dipped scarring will improve significantly and over time, they are likely to become less pigmented and more silvery in colour.

“If stretch marks do develop try to prevent too much sun exposure to the area as they can pigment and take longer to fade,” explained Dr Hextall.

“Massaging the skin with bio-oil or silica gel may well reduce the redness and improve the appearance.

“I like Bio-oil as it is very accessible for patients and enables them to be pro-active in treating their stretch marks. I suggest massaging oil into the skin.

“Soon the redness of new stretch marks fades and they appear silvery and as such are much less noticeable.

“Topical silica gels are also good at reducing redness in all scars.”

For pregnant women, Bio oil is recommended to be massaged in a circular motion into the stretch marks, twice daily.

It should be applied from the start of the second trimester to areas that are prone to stretch marks such as the abdomen, breasts, lower back, hips, buttocks and thighs.

Midwife Scanlon agreed that moisturising and massaging your stretch marks will be beneficial, as well as keeping hydrated.

“Drinking lots of water will keep your skin more elastic,” she said.

stretch marks pregnancy

Are there any treatments to get rid of stretch marks post-pregnancy?

There are more invasive techniques women can try with a higher chance of removing stretch marks.

Dr Hextall said The Harley Medical Group’s Dermaroller involves ‘micro-needling’ to stimulate the skin and regenerate naturally and safely.

Also referred to as ‘Collagen Induction Therapy’, this treatment introduces fine needles to the skin to create microscopic channels.

Read also: What Causes Stretch Marks

The skin is encouraged to produce new collagen which will generate new skin cells. The skin then becomes thicker and plumper reducing any marks.

She explained: “Another treatment includes bipolar radio frequency which also helps to stimulate new collagen.

“This also has the effect of plumping and tightening the skin which lessens the appearance of stretch marks.”

This treatment delivers targeted heat to the dermis [the lower or inner layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin]. The energy is delivered beneath the surface of the stretch mark, stimulating the body’s natural healing response and maximising collagen production.

Dr. Raichura agreed micro-needling is helpful in lessening the appearance of stretch marks.

He said: “It can be very effective but of course the result varies with individual cases and relies totally on the ‘natural’ healing processes of the body.

“Other treatments include formulations of Vitamin A which are improve surface texture and pigmentation, and can be combined with skin peels to enhance the result further.

“Laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and even surgery (in extreme cases) are also options for treating stretch marks.”

Dr Hextall said her main advice would be for women not to worry if they notice them.

“Relax, you are not alone!” she said. “Around 80% of women develop stretch marks in pregnancy, the appearance will improve naturally over time, it’s amazing how our bodies and specifically our skin will bounce back.

“Try to enjoy your pregnancy and look forward to your new baby, that’s the most important thing.”

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How to get rid of stretch marks - the best products and treatments to try

The University of Manchester would have you believe that the death knoll for stretch marks is as simple as green tea - or the tea's chemicals at least, which have just found their way into the latest wonder cream that promises to stop those unsightly shiny body markings from happening. The makers of said wonderstuff, Solution for Stretch Mark, promise “that it works on a deeper level” than other treatments.  

The good news is that for the eight out of ten expectant mothers who will develop stretch marks this could be their preventative hope in a jar (though we'll reserve judgment until we see the stats). But for women who already have existing pink markings, can anything be done?  

What are stretch marks?

Referred to as 'striae' by the professionals, stretch marks are a form of scarring caused by thinning skin and a loss of elasticity in the deeper levels of your skin.  From fresh red streaks to the older, purplish, shiny flecks, stretch marks commonly effect pregnant women and adolescent girls during growth spurts.  So what can they do? 

Laser treatments can remove stretch marks 

There are rumours of technologically advanced lasers making their way over from the US.  Until then the NHS relies on red pulse dye lasers to help fade stretch marks, while private clinics would almost certainly opt for resurfacing co2 lasers.  Remember though, neither can remove marks completely. 

Carboxytherapy

"Stretch marks are essentially little scars in the tissue and are a very stubborn condition to treat. As with any scar, it’s likely that they won’t disappear completely with treatment. However, in more than 80% of patients we can reduce the stretch mark width and make them significantly less obvious," says Dr Stefanie Williams, founder of EUDELO.  "We treat stretch marks with carboxytherapy. That means that we superficially inject tiny amounts of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) directly into the stretch mark with a tiny needle. The injected medical CO2 gas makes your skin ‘think’ there is an oxygen deficit and it responds by increasing blood flow to the skin and regeneration of tiny blood vessels in the skin. This will with time allow more oxygen and nutrients to reach the skin, which leads to improved elasticity, skin regeneration and tissue remodeling.  

"Carboxytherapy sessions can be alternated with Growth Factor or PRP (latelet rich plasma) Needling. A sterile needle pen is used to create microscopic punctures in the skin. These intentional ‘injuries’ induce thousands of tiny, controlled wound-healing responses, which lead to further collagen production and tissue remodeling. 

"In order to further enhance the benefits of the medical needling, we combine the procedure with infusion of an advanced growth factor solution or PRP (platelet rich plasma, which is also very high in growth factors – derived from your own blood)."

Taking supplements can minimise your risk of getting more

Stretch marks are often symptomatic of a zinc deficiency - the mineral associated with the repair and regeneration of skin cells.  Not easily found in foods, oysters and venison are the richest sources, your best bet for minimising the risk of stretch marks is a good supplement. Try Biocare's Zinc Citrate, £6.

Creams can help fade them 

With peptides, collagen boosters and anti-oxidants Strivectin body cream, £70, was, and still is, the gold standard cream to fade stretch marks in the UK, with clinical results to prove it. 

Retinol works to remove stretch marks 

"If you're going down the topical route it's all about resurfacing the skin, which means looking for a high strength vitamin A retinol (try Avene Ysthéal Emulsion, £15) and peel, and possibly needling designed to stimulate collagen," says Dr. Rabia Malik, specialist in aesthetic medicine.  "You categorically can't get rid of stretch marks, but you can improve them."

"Needling," adds Dr Sabrina Shah-Desai, consultant ophthalmologist & ocuplastic surgeon, " also improve the skin condition and reduce the appearance of the stretch marks and also improve the penetration of cosmeceutical grade actives if they are applied post treatment."

Is there a natural cure?

There is apparently no end to the beauty uses found in the humble coconut. Its oil, rich in fatty acids namely lauric acid, feeds skin so that it repairs itself better without the need to stretch and weaken.  Combine with vitamin E capsules for an added collagen boosting, moisturising effect. We love  Swanson Organic Coconut Oil, £10.50.

Or opt for a cosmetic solution

"A cosmeceutical grade glycolic wash or home use scrub to increase the skin cell turnover and improve the general appearance of the skin in this area definitely helps," says Shah-Desai.  "Quite often this is an effective way to 'fade' or reduce the appearance of stretch marks. "

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