Comparison of the effect of sesame and almond oil on the incidence of striae gravidarum

Background: Striae gravidarum (SG) is one of the most common skin changes during pregnancy. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of almond oil and sesame oil on the incidence of SG. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 165 pregnant women referring to community health centers of Kashan, Iran. The participants in the two intervention groups received sesame oil or almond oil twice a day, from the 16th week to the end of the 36th week of gestation. The manifestations of SG and its severity were recorded at the end of the study. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression analysis. Results: SG occurred in 63.60%, 60%, and 58.20% in the almond, sesame oil and control groups, respectively. No significant difference was found in the incidence of striae between the three groups in the 36th week of gestation (P = 0.837). None of the confounding variables could predict the occurrence of striae (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Neither sesame oil nor almond oil could significantly affect the occurrence of SG. Given the controversies between the studies, further studies are required to evaluate the effect of almond oil and sesame oil in the prevention of the SG.