Ingredient · dataset v56
Cocoa Butter and fungal acne
May trigger · Moderate evidence
Why it's a potential trigger
Mostly palmitic, stearic and oleic fats; the exact menu Malassezia yeast eats.
Evidence strength
Moderate evidence (2/3)
Function
Oil
Plant oils: triglyceride oils and butters the yeast harvests after its enzymes split them.
Also listed as
Cacao Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Theobroma Cacao Butter, Cocoa Seed Butter
Products without this ingredient
- Humane Maximum-Strength Acne Wash 8 oz
- CLn 2-in-1 Gentle Wash & Shampoo 8 fl oz
- Eucerin Dermopure Cleansing Gel
- Acure Dry Shampoo, Non Aerosol, Clean, 100% Vegan 1.7 oz Travel Size
- Morphe Bake & Set Translucent Setting Powder Jumbo
- Neutrogena Evenly Clear Acne Cleansing Mask 4.2 fl oz
Related oil
- Acai Fruit Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Apricot Kernel Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Argan Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Avocado Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Babassu Seed Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Baobab Seed Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Black Currant Seed Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Borago Officinalis Seed Oil — May trigger · Moderate evidence
Sources
- Brunke & Hube 2006 — MfLIP1 extracellular lipase hydrolyses Tweens (Microbiology)
- Mayser et al. 1995 — ester hydrolysis depends on alcohol moiety (Acta Derm Venereol)
- EU CosIng database — search the INCI name
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13 (dataset v56).
Questions
Does Cocoa Butter trigger fungal acne?
We flag it as a potential trigger (moderate evidence). That means it belongs to a class the Malassezia yeast is known to feed on — not that every product with it will cause a flare. Concentration, formulation and individual skin chemistry matter.
Does Cocoa Butter feed Malassezia?
Yes: we flag Cocoa Butter as a potential trigger (moderate evidence). It belongs to a class Malassezia is known to feed on — not a claim that every product with it causes a flare. Concentration, formulation and individual skin chemistry matter.
How confident is this call?
Moderate evidence: Mostly palmitic, stearic and oleic fats; the exact menu this yeast eats.
Is this medical advice?
No. We screen ingredient lists; we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. When in doubt, ask a dermatologist.
Check a full list containing Cocoa Butter →
Not medical advice: we screen ingredient lists for potential triggers — we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. Dataset v56.