Shea Butter
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) – It is also called
Karite,
which comes from the fruit kernels of the shea nut tree. This
sweet, pulpy fruit grows wild throughout the dry arid regions
of Central Africa. The pits are collected to sun dry and then
roasted to get it ready for the difficult work of extracting
the creamy, rich solid oil by hand. This butter has an amazing
amount of healing properties and softening capability. Natural
shea butter has been used traditionally as a balm for minor
burns, muscle aches, rheumatism and more. Valued by a variety
of people for hair and skin care use, natural shea butter skin
lotion is a fabulous skin softening emollient due to its unique
fatty acid profile and excellent natural moisturizing qualities.
Shea butter benefits also include the protection of skin from
environmental damage.
Benefits of Shea Butter
Shea butter has a wide range of amazing healing properties
stemming from its physical make up of vitamins A, E, and cinnamic
acid, just to name a few. Shea butter has been shown to have
anti-inflammatory capabilities and has been utilized for these
benefits for hundreds of years. It has been shown to increase
the healing of wounds and improve scars. It is used to heal
eczema, burns, rashes, severely dry skin, and to lessen the
irritation of psoriasis.
Damage from the sun produces free radicals, which in turn
increases the rate at which skin ages and can even become
cancerous. To avoid damage, skin needs year round protection.
Shea butter contains natural UV sun protection. Daily usage
of shea butter skin cream or lotion on the face and body
drastically reduces sun exposure while slowing down the effects
of aging. It also acts as a natural barrier to protect against
elements such as smoke, smog and environmental pollutants
in the air.
Shea butter benefits the skin leaving it soft and supple
after topical application. It is quickly replacing cocoa
butter for the use of stretch mark prevention. Shea butter
lotions are used by massage therapists and spas due to its
non-greasy after feel and effective softening results. In
fact, the usage of shea butter to replace other oils is growing
as more and more therapists discover shea butter skin care
treatment products.
Shea Butter Clinical Study
Shea butter is currently undergoing clinical tests in quite
a few universities. Researchers hope to understand its healing
properties and to find out how shea butter can be more useful
for medical therapy. Several studies have revealed that Shea
butter has UV anti-erythemic activity, which helps tissue cell
regeneration and softening of the skin (1).
(1) Tran, T., Parfumes, Cosmétiques
et Arômes, 58, 65-66, 1986
Soft-E-Care™ products that contain Shea Butter:
Soft-E-Lotion™
Soft-E-Gloves™
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