Effect of Aromatherapy Oil Applications on Strıae Gravidarum: A Systematic Review

Striae gravidarum is a skin change that occurs during pregnancy, which does not pose a physiological threat to health but can cause psychological distress for individuals. Women may use moisturizers or aromatherapeutic oils in attempts to prevent the formation of striae.

The purpose of this study is to review the literature on randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of aromatherapy oils in preventing striae gravidarum.

The protocol for this systematic review and the writing of the article were based on the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) criteria. The systematic review was conducted using the Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases between December 2024 and January 2025. Studies were selected by defining inclusion and exclusion criteria according to the PICOS method.

This systematic review included four randomized controlled trials with a total of participants. Two of the studies were published in 2024, one in 2022, and the other in 2020. This systematic review included four randomized controlled trials with a total of 671 pregnant participants. The essential oils used in the studies included coconut oil, rose oil, sesame oil, sweet almond oil, and olive oil. The studies found that coconut oil was effective in preventing striae gravidarum, while rose, sesame, and sweet almond oils were not effective.

There is some evidence for the effect of aromatherapy in preventing striae gravidarum. However, larger sample sizes, higher-quality studies, and randomized controlled trials with blinding methods are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy oils and determine their beneficial effects on pregnant women.