Download PDF
Facial Plast Surg 2023; 39(02): 173-179
DOI: 10.1055/a-1938-0343
Original Research

Effects of Essential Oils on Scars and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review

James C. Wang
1   Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
2   Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
,
Callie L. Fort
3   School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
,
Christina M. Matl
3   School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
,
Bailey D. Harvey
3   School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
,
Joshua C. Demke
2   Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
,
J Regan Thomas
1   Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
,
Douglas M. Sidle
1   Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
› Further Information
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) have been considered as a potential alternative therapy for wound healing and scar reduction. The aim of this article was to provide a comprehensive review examining the effects of EOs on wound healing and scars. PubMed, Cochrane, Ovid, and Embase computerized searches were performed through June 2020. Two independent reviewers conducted data extraction, with search results reviewed by the senior author following the PRISMA protocol. Three manuscripts examining three different EO-containing topical agents were analyzed. Outcomes include healing rate, erythema, pain, pruritus, patient discomfort, physician satisfaction, percent wound reduction, wound/scar surface perimeter area, and qualitative dermatological evaluation. All articles concluded that the EO-containing topical agents resulted in either superior or noninferior outcomes in comparison with controls. Hypericum–Calendula oil obtained lower wound surface perimeter area. Erythema (p = 0.001) was significantly decreased by the peppermint EO–containing topical agent. Physicians also reported greater satisfaction (p < 0.001) in wound appearance with use of the peppermint EO–containing topical agent. A paucity of studies have examined EO use for wound healing and scar reduction. Treatment with EO-containing topical agents resulted in decreased erythema with increased physician satisfaction of wound appearance. Future studies should assess what level of purity is needed for improved results and which EO, or combination of EOs, is most beneficial.

Keywords

oil - essential oils - wound - wound healing - scar


Publication History

Accepted Manuscript online:
07 September 2022

Article published online:
15 November 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 Valencia IC, Falabella AF, Schachner LA. New developments in wound care for infants and children. Pediatr Ann 2001; 30 (04) 211-218
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Bell L, McAdams T, Morgan R. et al. Pruritus in burns: a descriptive study. J Burn Care Rehabil 1988; 9 (03) 305-308
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Monstrey S, Middelkoop E, Vranckx JJ. et al. Updated scar management practical guidelines: non-invasive and invasive measures. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2014; 67 (08) 1017-1025
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Valdivieso-Ugarte M, Gomez-Llorente C, Plaza-Díaz J, Gil Á. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties of essential oils: a systematic review. Nutrients 2019; 11 (11) E2786
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Stoeken JE, Paraskevas S, van der Weijden GA. The long-term effect of a mouthrinse containing essential oils on dental plaque and gingivitis: a systematic review. J Periodontol 2007; 78 (07) 1218-1228
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Guo S, Dipietro LA. Factors affecting wound healing. J Dent Res 2010; 89 (03) 219-229
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Winter GD, Scales JT. Effect of air drying and dressings on the surface of a wound. Nature 1963; 197: 91-92
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Hinman CD, Maibach H. Effect of air exposure and occlusion on experimental human skin wounds. Nature 1963; 200: 377-378
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Wong BJ-F, Arnold MG, Boeckmann JO. eds. Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 2016. Springer;
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Abbasi MS, Rahmati J, Ehsani AH, Takzare A, Partoazar A, Takzaree N. Efficacy of a natural topical skin ointment for managing split-thickness skin graft donor sites: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial. Adv Skin Wound Care 2020; 33 (07) 1-5
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Banov D, Banov F, Bassani AS. Case series: the effectiveness of fatty acids from pracaxi oil in a topical silicone base for scar and wound therapy. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2014; 4 (02) 259-269
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Lavagna SM, Secci D, Chimenti P, Bonsignore L, Ottaviani A, Bizzarri B. Efficacy of Hypericum and Calendula oils in the epithelial reconstruction of surgical wounds in childbirth with caesarean section. Farmaco 2001; 56 (5–7): 451-453
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 OCEBM Levels of Evidence Working Group. The Oxford Levels of Evidence. Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Accessed June 9, 2022. Available at: https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/resources/levels-of-evidence/ocebm-levels-of-evidence
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Guyatt GH, Oxman AD, Kunz R, Vist GE, Falck-Ytter Y, Schünemann HJ. GRADE Working Group. What is “quality of evidence” and why is it important to clinicians?. BMJ 2008; 336 (7651): 995-998
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Edris AE. Pharmaceutical and therapeutic potentials of essential oils and their individual volatile constituents: a review. Phytother Res 2007; 21 (04) 308-323
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Modarresi M, Farahpour MR, Baradaran B. Topical application of Mentha piperita essential oil accelerates wound healing in infected mice model. Inflammopharmacology 2019; 27 (03) 531-537
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Ghodrati M, Farahpour MR, Hamishehkar H. Encapsulation of peppermint essential oil in nanostructured lipid carriers: in-vitro antibacterial activity and accelerative effect on infected wound healing. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2019; 564: 161-169
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 da Silva Teixeira R, Rocha PR, Polonini HC, Brandão MAF, das Gracas Alfonso Miranda Chaves M, Raposo NRB. Mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity and major fatty acid constituents of Amazonian native flora oils. Braz J Pharm Sci 2012; 48 (03) 399-404
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Ruthig DJ, Meckling-Gill KA. Both (n-3) and (n-6) fatty acids stimulate wound healing in the rat intestinal epithelial cell line, IEC-6. J Nutr 1999; 129 (10) 1791-1798
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Cardoso CRB, Souza MA, Ferro EAV, Favoreto Jr S, Pena JDO. Influence of topical administration of n-3 and n-6 essential and n-9 nonessential fatty acids on the healing of cutaneous wounds. Wound Repair Regen 2004; 12 (02) 235-243
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Leal ICR, Júnior II, Pereira EM, da Laport MS, Kuster RM, dos Santos KRN. Pentaclethra macroloba tannins fractions active against methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and Gram-negative strains showing selective toxicity. Rev Bras Farmacogn 2011; 21 (06) 991-999
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 da Silva JO, Coppede JS, Fernandes VC. et al. Antihemorrhagic, antinucleolytic and other antiophidian properties of the aqueous extract from Pentaclethra macroloba. J Ethnopharmacol 2005; 100 (1–2): 145-152
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Zirak N, Shafiee M, Soltani G, Mirzaei M, Sahebkar A. Hypericum perforatum in the treatment of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders: current evidence and potential mechanisms of action. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234 (06) 8496-8508
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Barnes J, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): a review of its chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001; 53 (05) 583-600
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Wölfle U, Seelinger G, Schempp CM. Topical application of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). Planta Med 2014; 80 (2–3): 109-120
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Süntar IP, Akkol EK, Yilmazer D. et al. Investigations on the in vivo wound healing potential of Hypericum perforatum L. J Ethnopharmacol 2010; 127 (02) 468-477
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Gunpinar S, Kilic OA, Duran I, Tosun M, Firat T, Soyler G. Evaluation of the effect of topical Hypericum perforatum oil on excisional palatal wound healing in rabbits. J Invest Surg 2020; 33 (01) 49-58
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Abutaha N, Nasr FA, Mohammed AZ, Semlali A, Al-Mekhlafi FA, Wadaan MA. Calendula arvensis L. as an anti-cancer agent against breast cancer cell lines. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46 (02) 2187-2196
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Abudunia AM, Marmouzi I, Faouzi MEA. et al. Anticandidal, antibacterial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of Calendula arvensis flowers. J Mycol Med 2017; 27 (01) 90-97
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Baltz JO, Franciosi EB, Wiss K. Petroleum jelly baths: a tip for easy emollient application. Pediatr Dermatol 2020; 37 (05) 964-965
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Fang QQ, Wang XF, Zhao WY. et al. Development of a chitosan-vaseline gauze dressing with wound-healing properties in murine models. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 102 (02) 468-475
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Norman G, Dumville JC, Mohapatra DP, Owens GL, Crosbie EJ. Antibiotics and antiseptics for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; 3 (03) CD011712
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Harrabi S, Ferchichi A, Fellah H, Feki M, Hosseinian F. Chemical composition and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of wheat germ oil depending on the extraction procedure. J Oleo Sci 2021; 70 (08) 1051-1058
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. Aloe vera: a short review. Indian J Dermatol 2008; 53 (04) 163-166
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Shelton RM. Aloe vera. Its chemical and therapeutic properties. Int J Dermatol 1991; 30 (10) 679-683
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Maenthaisong R, Chaiyakunapruk N, Niruntraporn S, Kongkaew C. The efficacy of aloe vera used for burn wound healing: a systematic review. Burns 2007; 33 (06) 713-718
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A. The effect of aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wound: a systematic review. Iran J Med Sci 2019; 44 (01) 1-9
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Oryan A, Alemzadeh E, Moshiri A. Biological properties and therapeutic activities of honey in wound healing: a narrative review and meta-analysis. J Tissue Viability 2016; 25 (02) 98-118
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Molan P, Rhodes T. Honey: a biologic wound dressing. Wounds 2015; 27 (06) 141-151
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Yilmaz AC, Aygin D. Honey dressing in wound treatment: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2020; 51: 102388
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Subrahmanyam M. Honey dressing accelerates split-thickness skin graft donor site healing. Indian J Surg 2015; 77 (Suppl. 02) 261-263
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Bleasdale B, Finnegan S, Murray K, Kelly S, Percival SL. The use of silicone adhesives for scar reduction. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2015; 4 (07) 422-430
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Hsu KC, Luan CW, Tsai YW. Review of silicone gel sheeting and silicone gel for the prevention of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Wounds 2017; 29 (05) 154-158
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 O'Brien L, Jones DJ. Silicone gel sheeting for preventing and treating hypertrophic and keloid scars. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013; 2013 (09) CD003826
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Kalowes P, Messina V, Li M. Five-layered soft silicone foam dressing to prevent pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit. Am J Crit Care 2016; 25 (06) e108-e119
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar