Shea butter is a natural fat extracted from tree nuts shea which grows widely in the African savanna. The nutrients contained in it have many benefits, especially for healthy skin and hair. Shea butter can be used as a sunscreen to dandruff medication.
To be shea butterseeds from tree nuts shea will be processed into powder by drying, roasting, and grinding. Next, the powder is boiled until it produces oil.
The oil that appears on the surface of the water is then separated and cooled until it becomes a solid like cream or butter. This butter can be used for cooking or processed into beauty products, such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, and skin moisturizer.
Nutrient Content in Shea Butter
which makes shea butter as one of the prima donna in skin and hair care products is the nutritional content in it. Shea butter contains anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antioxidant substances that protect the skin from free radicals, and is believed to be able to overcome a number of skin disorders.
Nutrients contained in shea butter among others:
- Vitamins A and E. These vitamins can improve circulation and growth of skin cells, and make the skin healthier.
- Essential fatty acids consisting of linoleic, palmitic, stearic acids and oleateto balance the oil levels on the skin.
- Substance triterpene, tocopherol, phenoland sterolswhich has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Triglyceride fats, to maintain healthy skin.
- Cetyl esterwhich helps retain skin moisture
Another advantage is shea butter does not contain substances that have the potential to make the skin dry and irritated, but also does not make the skin oily, so it is safe for use on all skin types.
Various Benefits Shea Butter for skin and hair
The following are some of the benefits that can be obtained from using shea butter:
1. As a moisturizer and sunscreen
Shea butter can work as an emollient that softens and moisturizes dry skin. Besides that, shea butter contains SPF, so it can be used as an additional sunscreen to protect the skin from the sun. But to increase sun protection, you should still use sunblock.
2. Treat minor burns
The anti-inflammatory component of shea butter It is believed to reduce redness and swelling. Its fatty acid components can also soothe minor burns, such as sunburnby retaining skin moisture during the healing process.
3. Delay premature aging
The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin is a sign of premature aging. Shea butter able to prevent premature aging because of the content triterpene in it which can maintain and increase the production of collagen.
Meanwhile, vitamins A and E in shea butter can help the skin regeneration process by stimulating the formation of new skin cells. The combination of these nutrients is able to prevent premature aging, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the skin, so the skin looks youthful.
4. Prevent and reduce stretch marks and keloids
The content of vitamins A and E in shea butter known to moisturize and restore skin elasticity, so it can help prevent and reduce inflammation stretch marks. A study also showed that the content of essential fatty acids in shea butter can hydrate the skin while reducing the growth of keloids.
5. Prevents acne
Shea butter rich in various types of essential fatty acids that can control excess oil production and restore and maintain skin moisture, so the skin is not dry and not oily. The balance of oil levels in the skin can prevent acne.
6. Treating skin infections
Nutrient content in shea butter believed to be able to fight skin infections caused by fungi, such as ringworm and water fleas. Shea butter It is also often used to treat skin infections caused by mites, such as scabies.
7. Overcoming inflammation of the skin
The anti-inflammatory component of shea butter It is known to soothe the skin and relieve itching caused by eczema, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, even on baby’s skin. The results showed that shea butter Can be used in conjunction with creams to treat eczema.
8. Treating dandruff
One way to treat dandruff is to restore moisture to a dry and irritated scalp. nowa study showed that the combination of shea butter with other moisturizers can help reduce dandruff and the risk of scaly skin.
There are 2 types shea butterthat is refined and unrefined shea butter. Refined shea butter is shea butter which undergoes many filtering processes, whereas unrefined shea butter is shea butter pure which does not undergo much filtering.
Please note that the filtering process can make shea butter lose some of its nutrients. So if you want to feel the maximum benefit, you should choose the product unrefined shea butter because the nutrients are still preserved.
Although it is considered safe for all skin types, you can still run the risk of irritation or allergies to shea butter. So if you have complaints on your skin or hair after using shea butter, stop using it immediately and consult a doctor.
