Shea Butter Benefits: What the Research Shows

Shea butter probably moisturizes skin the way other butters do, but the evidence for the bigger claims is thin. The studies we found are small or run in lab cells, and one review lists it as ineffective on an eczema severity score. This guide separates what was measured from what labels claim.

We sell an African Shea Butter, so read this with that in mind. Where our own listing says more than the sources do, this page says so. For shea on hair, see our shea butter for hair guide.

What Is Shea Butter?

It is a vegetable butter listed as Butyrospermum parkii. A 2022 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology gives its main fatty acids as oleic acid (40 to 60%) and stearic acid (30 to 45%), with 4 to 16% linoleic acid.

• The part that is not fat: The same review lists 3 to 10% of shea butter as unsaponifiable matter. It says specific effects of vegetable butters and oils are expressed by free fatty acids and compounds of that fraction.
• What our label says: Our African Shea Butter lists shea nut butter and rosemary extract, in a 30 mL (1 oz) size.

Does Shea Butter Moisturize Skin?

Probably, in the basic sense that a butter sits on skin and slows water loss, but we found no shea-only trial that measured it. The review above covered clinical studies of butters and oils on healthy skin, a group that includes shea butter, and found them semi-occlusive: they lowered water loss and/or raised hydration, within about 30 minutes in the studies, lasting from 1 to 60 days.

• The review's caution: It says the studies had few patients, differed in design, length and dosing, and often did not know the oils' fatty acid or unsaponifiable profile.
• What dermatologists say about thickness: The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says creams add more moisture than lotions, ointments more again, and people with dry skin should start with a cream or ointment. It does not name shea butter.
• When to apply: The AAD says moisturizer works better right after a shower, because on damp skin it traps water and keeps it from evaporating.

Does Shea Butter Help Eczema?

It is not proven. We found no trial of plain shea butter on eczema; the sources we read are a small open-label study of a formulated cream and a review that lists shea butter as ineffective on a severity score.

• The cream study: In a 2015 Hong Kong study, 34 children with atopic dermatitis used a cream and cleanser containing a lipid complex with shea butter extract for four weeks. The authors say it did not demonstrate any reduction in clinical severity. Itch scores fell from 6.7 to 6.0 (out of 10) and quality of life improved only in the group who rated the cream acceptable, and the authors list regression to the mean and co-treatment as alternative explanations.
• The comparison: Results were similar to a ceramide-precursor cream from an earlier study of different patients. The authors say similar outcomes are likely against any traditional emollient, such as aqueous cream or Vaseline, so this does not show shea extract works better.
• The review: A 2020 systematic review in JAAD International of complementary and alternative treatments for common skin diseases lists shea butter as ineffective in improving SCORAD, the severity score for atopic dermatitis.

Does Shea Butter Reduce Inflammation?

Only in lab cells so far. A 2018 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences describes a study in which shea butter reduced inflammatory signals (iNOS, COX-2 and cytokines, through the NF-κB pathway) in activated macrophage cells.

• What that is: A cell-culture study, not a trial on people. It points to a mechanism worth studying, not to an effect on skin.
• Skin barrier: The same review's table rates shea butter's skin barrier repair effect as "possible", not established.

Does Shea Butter Fade Scars, Stretch Marks, or Wrinkles?

We found no evidence that it does. Our own listing says it reduces the appearance of scars, stretch marks and blemishes, but none of the sources we read tested shea butter for these, so treat those lines as unproven.

• What we checked: A systematic review, a review of clinical studies and a summary of lab studies. None tested shea butter on scars, stretch marks or wrinkles.
• Collagen: Our listing says it enhances collagen production. We found no source for that.
• Sun protection: Our listing says it gives some protection against UV. The AAD says broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher should be part of a daily routine, so do not rely on a butter for it.

How Do You Use Shea Butter on Skin?

Patch test, then smooth a small amount onto damp skin after washing. No source we read gives a shea butter routine, so these steps adapt the AAD moisturizing advice; the amounts are our suggestion, not a tested dose.

1. Patch test. Dab a small amount on your inner forearm and wait a day. The AAD's dermatologist jokes that poison ivy is all natural, and says natural in no way means it cannot trigger allergies.
2. Apply after washing. Put it on while skin is still damp so it traps water.
3. Start small. Warm a small amount between your palms before smoothing it on. A little covers a lot of skin.
4. Go easy on oily or breakout-prone skin. The AAD says too much moisturizer can clog pores and lead to acne in some people. Try it on your body first.
5. Stop if it irritates. Persistent redness, stinging or itching means it is not suiting your skin.

What Is in Our African Shea Butter?

Shea nut butter and rosemary extract, as listed, in a 30 mL (1 oz) size. It is not shea alone, and it lists no added fragrance.

• Fragrance: The AAD advises avoiding fragrance in moisturizers because it can irritate dry skin. Our label lists none.
• What our listing claims: It says the butter is safe for all skin types, soothes eczema, fades scars and stretch marks and gives some UV protection. We found no source for those, and the eczema evidence is above.
• Where it fits: It is a body butter, not a treatment. For oils with their own write-ups, see our body oil guide and our guide to facial oils for dry skin.

When Should You See a Dermatologist About Dry or Eczema-Prone Skin?

See one if dryness gets worse or becomes painful, cracked, bleeding, stinging or very irritating. This guide is information, not medical advice.

The AAD quotes a dermatologist saying you may need a prescription and help optimizing your home routine. Eczema is a condition to have assessed: the 2015 authors write that, because it is a complex atopic disease, an emollient alone is bound to be suboptimal in efficacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shea butter good for dry skin?

It is a plausible moisturizer: butters like it were semi-occlusive in studies on healthy skin. We found no shea-only trial, and the AAD advises applying moisturizer on damp skin after washing.

Does shea butter help eczema?

It is not proven. A 2015 study of a cream with shea butter extract did not demonstrate any reduction in clinical severity, and a 2020 review lists shea butter as ineffective on SCORAD.

Is shea butter safe for sensitive skin?

Not guaranteed. The AAD's dermatologist says natural in no way means it cannot trigger allergies, so patch test first and stop if it irritates.

Does shea butter fade stretch marks?

We found no source showing it does. None of the studies we read tested shea butter on stretch marks, scars or wrinkles.

Does shea butter protect skin from the sun?

Do not rely on it. The AAD says broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher should be part of a daily routine.

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