Hospital patients: pressure sores in 5.6% with almond oil vs 13.9% placebo vs 25.1% standard care
Borzou 2020 · Source
Sweet Almond Oil
Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil · certified organic
One of the oldest massage and skin oils in the world, tested in randomized trials on pregnant bellies, fragile newborn skin and skin under pressure.
160pregnant women in a trial on stretch marks
5.6%pressure sores with almond oil massage, vs 25% with standard care
Ancientused in Persian, Ayurvedic and Greco-Roman care
Why we love it
Sweet almond oil is gentle, glides well for massage, and softens dry skin. It has a long record of use on sensitive skin, from babies to pregnant bellies.
What does the research show?
Stretch marks in pregnancy
In a double-blind trial of 160 first-time pregnant women, sweet almond oil on the belly reduced the redness and itch of stretch marks and limited their spread compared with no treatment.
Skin under pressure
In a randomized trial of 108 hospital patients, pressure sores developed in 5.6% of those whose skin was massaged with almond oil, compared with 13.9% given a mineral-oil placebo and 25.1% given standard care.
Fragile skin
In a trial of 90 preterm babies, almond and sunflower oil both improved skin hydration.
Studies
Human study tested in people Lab study tested in the lab
Preterm babies: better skin hydration with almond or sunflower oil than no oil
Caglar 2020 · Source
Pregnant women: less redness and itch from stretch marks; limited their spread
Hajhashemi 2018, J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med · Source
Almond-olive blend vs jojoba during birth: no difference in tears
Harlev 2013, J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med · Source
How has it been used traditionally?
Almond oil has been used as a skin and massage oil in Persian, Ayurvedic and Greco-Roman traditions and appears in several pharmacopoeias as Almond Oil.
Is sweet almond oil safe on my skin?
Sweet almond oil is gentle and has a long record on sensitive skin. Almond is a tree nut, so if you have a nut allergy, check with your clinician first. Oils can weaken latex condoms.
Last reviewed: November 2026.
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Reviewed by the Momotaro Apotheca medical team, including OB-GYNs and naturopathic doctors. Educational information, not medical advice. All ingredient research