Most of us have suffered with acne. For some, it disappears with time.
For others, it’s a chronic problem that’s always looming over us.
If you fall into the second category, I understand, because I’ve struggled with acne for years.
When a friend suggested I try a Shea butter acne treatment, I was intrigued.
I was willing to try just about anything.
So I began to research Shea butter for skin and loved what I came across. Sit back and read my Shea butter guide to learn how a Shea butter acne treatment can transform your skin.
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What Is Shea Butter?
The name is a bit misleading. Shea butter for face health is actually an oil. It’s made from the Shea tree, which grows wild and produces nuts that look similar to cocoa beans. Shea butter contains vitamins A, E, D, F, and cinnamic acid.
The extraction process is a bit complicated, which makes the oil pricy compared to others used to treat acne. But the benefits are so phenomenal that it’s worth the added production cost to consumers.
What is unrefined Shea butter? This is the type of Shea butter you should be looking for. It means that it’s as natural as it can get, with no added ingredients.
How Is Shea Butter Made?
Shea trees aren’t cultivated. Instead, they grow wild in dry regions, like the Savannah of West Africa and Southern Sudan. They don’t produce fruit until they’re 20 years old and even then, it can take 200 years for a tree to reach full maturity.
Compared to other extracted products, making Shea butter is a complicated process. Here’s how trees across the world produce a heavenly product that can be delivered to your doorstep:
1. The fruit of the Shea tree is collected. A shell can be found inside each piece of fruit.
2. The shells are cracked by hand, releasing the Shea nuts inside.
3. The nuts are washed and then allowed to dry.
4. The nuts are then pounded and crushed into small pieces.
5. The pieces are roasted and mashed into a paste that’s dark in color.
6. Water is added to the paste, which is then whipped until fully mixed.
7. The paste is purified by washing it several times with distilled water.
8. The paste is then heated, allowing the fats to rise to the top and the oils to settle at the bottom.
9. The fat is skimmed off the top and the oil is left to harden. The hardened oil is Shea butter.
Is Shea Butter Good for Acne?
Absolutely. Shea butter for face health is a natural treatment for acne that can yield amazing results.
Does Shea butter increase pimples? No! Even though it’s an oil, it won’t clog pores or lead to breakouts. In fact, it can be used to moisturize your skin, level out oil production, and destroy bacteria that can lead to pesky pimples and breakouts.
However, it’s best to use Shea butter in tandem with another product. For example, one study found that using Shea butter along with a salicylic acid treatment for acne improved the efficiency of the acne treatment by 24%. If you’re already using an acne treatment, Shea butter can help improve its effectiveness and leave you with soft, supple skin that glows.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Results are different for everyone. In my case, my skin felt softer almost immediately, but it did take a couple weeks to see a noticeable improvement in my acne. However, within the first week I noticed that new pimples and blemishes weren’t popping up like they normally would.
There might be a purge period, which is caused by pores pushing out excess oil and debris. So if you notice your acne beginning to worsen, don’t stop treatment just yet. Give your skin a little time to adjust to the healing properties of Shea butter. Most should see an improvement within a month of consistent use.
How to Apply Shea Butter When Treating Acne?
If you’re using Shea butter to treat acne, follow these steps to get the most out of your Shea butter acne treatment:
1. Begin by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and warm water. Try to use a product with salicylic acid.
2. Gently pat your skin dry or allow it to completely air dry before applying the Shea butter.
3. Take a quarter-sized or smaller amount of Shea butter and begin to massage it into your face with your fingers. Rub in circular motions. The Shea butter might feel greasy at first, but keep massaging it into your skin until it absorbs.
4. It is recommended to apply Shea butter at night because it can sit on top of the skin for some time before it’s completely absorbed. If you can, apply it twice each day for best results. However, even just once a day will still help eliminate acne.
Can You Use It for Body Acne?
Yes. I recommended it to a friend after seeing the improvement of my own acne. She suffers with back acne and has always felt self-conscious.
She began applying Shea butter after showering with an acne-fighting body wash and said that within a few weeks, she was able to wear tank tops and sleeveless dresses again with confidence.
Just make sure to follow the same directions given for using Shea butter for your face. Wash your skin, allow it to completely dry, and then massage in the Shea butter. Do this nightly for best results.
Does Shea Butter Fade or Lighten Scars Caused by Acne?
It sure does! Thanks to the high levels of vitamins A and E, scars can fade and even disappear with consistent use.
Vitamin A is known to rejuvenate the skin and speed up cell production. Vitamin E contains regenerative antioxidants. Both of these ingredients work in tandem to increase cell production and improve the quality of new cells. Shea butter also helps to moisturize and improve skin’s elasticity.
All of these factors can help scars slowly but surely fade with time.
Is Shea Butter Bad for Acne-Prone or Oily Skin?
No. Many worry that it could make oily skin worse, because it’s an oil all by itself, but the opposite is actually true.
Shea butter helps to balance out your skin’s oil production by keeping skin moisturized. Our pores can end up secreting more oil when our skin begins to dry out. On the other hand, if our skin has enough moisture, oil production begins to slow down.
There will be an adjustment period, but with time, you should notice that Shea butter is helping keep oil and shine at a minimum.
So is Shea butter good for oily skin? In my experience, absolutely.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Shea butter is a completely natural product and the risk of side effects is very small. Because it is derived from a fruit, there is always a chance for an allergic reaction, but this is not common.
If you notice any redness, bumps, or irritation, stop using Shea butter immediately and closely monitor the area.
If there is irritation, check your Shea butter product. Make sure there are no added ingredients like fragrances or preservatives. These could be the real source of your irritation.
If you are using a pure product and still have problems, speak with your doctor or dermatologist to rule out an allergy.
Can Shea Butter Get Rid of Old Acne Scars on the Face and Body?
Yes, you can use Shea butter for acne scars. Whether your scars are from acne that popped up a month ago or ten years ago, Shea butter can help.
The older the scar is, the longer it might take to see results, so continue daily applications of the butter until you notice a difference.
I had a scar on my shoulder that had bothered me for years. I religiously applied Shea butter for acne scars to it for several months, and now I can barely tell it’s there. Be diligent and you’ll see a difference.
I still can’t believe that such a simple product helped rid me of my acne for good. I’ve tried just about every product on the market, and none have come close to Shea butter.
If you’re tired of acne and blemishes, it’s time to try a Shea butter acne treatment. I promise, your skin will never look better. The days of acne will be in your past!
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