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Striae gravidarum (stretch marks) are a concern for most pregnant women. Unsightly purple bands develop on the abdomen, breasts, and buttocks, becoming pale and atrophic after pregnancy. At least half of all pregnant women develop stretch marks, and many treatments to minimize their development have been proposed. Cocoa butter, a natural fat obtained from cocoa, is widely believed to have a salutary effect, but this substance has never been tested in a randomized clinical trial.
Investigators randomized 210 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies in two cities in Lebanon to receive lotion containing cocoa butter and vitamin E or placebo lotion. Women applied a thin layer to their breasts, abdomen, and thighs once daily, beginning at 12 …