Shea Butter: Africa's Miracle Moisturizer
A person can purchase a variety of moisturizing products that contain shea butter.
Alternatively, a person can apply raw, unrefined shea butter directly to the skin until it is completely absorbed.
A person can also:
use it as a replacement for shaving cream
apply it to the lips
apply it to the nail cuticles
Anti-aging
According to a 2018 articleTrusted Source, shea butter contains components that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, such as triterpenes.
These are a group of compounds that may aid with:
cell migration
collagen deposition
cell proliferation, which is the process in which cells grow and divide
There is some evidence to suggest that shea butter could be effective against wrinkles.
Dry skin
Shea butter is emollient. As an emollient, shea butter helps trap moisture in the skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) suggests using products such as shea butter within a few minutes of drying off.
Shea butter also contains linoleic acid.
According to 2018 researchTrusted Source, products containing linoleic acid had anti-inflammatory effects on the skin and hydration boosting properties.
Eczema
Shea butter contains bioactive ingredients that give it anti-inflammatory properties.
A small 2015 studyTrusted Source consisting of 25 people with mild-to-moderate eczema found that shea butter may help alleviate the signs and symptoms of eczema.
Scars
Shea butter may have an ability to soften scar tissue.
A keloid is a type of raised and enlarged area of scarring. There is evidenceTrusted Source to suggest that using shea butter may help prevent the formation of keloids.
However, it is important to note that the researchers used lab cultures. As a result, there is not enough research to show how effective shea butter is at preventing keloid scars.
Acne
A 2016 study suggests that shea butter oil may have antibacterial properties.
However, the AAD suggests that applying products that contain shea butter to a person’s face, back, or chest may cause clogged pores, which can lead to acne.
People who experience acne-prone skin may want to avoid using shea butter, or products containing shea butter, on the face.
SOURCE: MEDICAL NEWS TODAY APRIL 21, 2021
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
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