Licorice Root for Skin Australia: What the Research Actually Shows

Licorice root for skin appears in creams aimed at irritated and reactive skin, and unlike many botanicals it has been tested in small clinical trials rather than only in laboratories. The research is genuinely promising for inflamed skin and pigmentation, but the studies are small, short and few. It is best understood as a supportive ingredient with reasonable evidence behind it, not a replacement for treatment your doctor has recommended.

At a Glance

• Licorice root contains several active compounds, not one
• Small trials suggest benefit in inflamed skin, but they are limited in size and length
• Glabridin is studied for pigmentation; glycyrrhetinic acid for inflammation
• The blood-pressure warnings attached to licorice concern eating it, not skin creams
• Reviews consistently note the need for larger, better-quality trials

What Licorice Root for Skin Actually Contains

Several compounds working differently, from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra.

The extract used in skincare is not a single substance. Glycyrrhizin is the major saponin and the compound that makes licorice taste sweet. Glycyrrhetinic acid is derived from it. Glabridin, liquiritin and isoliquiritigenin are flavonoids. Different products emphasise different fractions, which is one reason results vary between them.

The compound most studied for inflammation is glycyrrhetinic acid, which has been shown to act on several inflammatory enzyme pathways rather than a single one. Glabridin is the compound studied for pigmentation, where it acts on tyrosinase, an enzyme in the melanin pathway.

That multi-compound picture matters practically. A product listing "licorice root extract" does not tell you which fraction dominates or at what concentration, and neither is usually disclosed.

What the Evidence Shows

Better than most botanicals, and still limited.

A double-blind trial published in 2003 compared licorice extract gels at two concentrations against a base gel in people with atopic dermatitis, with thirty participants in each group over two weeks. The stronger gel reduced redness and swelling more than the weaker one, and both were compared against the gel base alone. That is a genuine controlled comparison — but it is one small study, over a short period, from more than two decades ago, and it has not been followed by large confirmatory trials.

A 2025 review of licorice in dermatology, drawing on trials and laboratory studies from 2000 onward, described the extract as showing promise in acne, rosacea and atopic dermatitis while stating plainly that higher-quality randomised trials are still needed. That is the honest summary of where things stand.

Work on glycyrrhetinic acid in irritant dermatitis is ongoing, including a registered clinical study examining whether topical formulations improve skin disturbances caused by a standard irritant. Registered does not mean proven, and results are not yet in.

Laboratory and animal studies are more numerous and more positive, but they consistently outrun the human evidence. Our guides to aloe vera, manuka honey and turmeric and curcumin describe the same pattern for other botanicals.

Where It Might Reasonably Fit

As support alongside established care, not instead of it.

For mild irritation and reactive skin, a well-formulated product containing licorice extract is a reasonable thing to try. It is generally well tolerated, and the anti-inflammatory rationale is better supported than for most plant extracts in skincare.

For post-inflammatory pigment change — the darker marks left after eczema, acne or a healed rash, which are more pronounced on brown and Black skin — glabridin is one of the more studied plant-derived options. That is a slower and more modest effect than prescription approaches, and worth framing realistically.

Where it does not belong is as a substitute during a flare. If a doctor has prescribed an anti-inflammatory, a licorice-containing cream is a companion for the surrounding skin rather than an alternative. Our guides to supporting the skin barrier and choosing a moisturiser cover the foundations that matter more than any single active.

For rosacea specifically, our page on current treatment options sets out what is established, and a licorice-containing product sits alongside that rather than replacing it.

Licorice Root for Skin vs Eating Licorice: The Safety Difference

The warnings you may have read are about the wrong route.

Licorice has well-known effects when eaten in quantity. Glycyrrhizin affects cortisol metabolism and can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, which is why licorice confectionery and licorice supplements carry cautions, particularly for people with hypertension or heart conditions.

Those cautions apply to swallowing it. Topical products at cosmetic concentrations involve minimal systemic absorption, and the concerns attached to oral licorice are not generally considered to transfer to a cream. If you take a licorice supplement as well, that is worth mentioning to your GP or pharmacist — the oral route is where the interaction risk sits.

On the skin, licorice is regarded as well tolerated, including in formulations intended for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. As with any botanical, individual reactions occur. Testing a small area on intact skin before wider use is sensible, and our page on patch testing explains how formal testing works if a reaction needs identifying.

If a product containing it stings, itches or produces a rash a day or two after use, stop and reconsider — that pattern suggests contact dermatitis, which our contact dermatitis guide covers.

Related Guides

Learn More — everyday care for reactive skin

Compare — what the research says about colloidal oatmeal

Shop — creams and gentle preparations

FAQ

Does licorice root for skin help eczema?
Small controlled trials suggest licorice gels reduce redness and swelling in atopic dermatitis, but the studies are limited in size and duration. It is supportive rather than established treatment.

Will it raise my blood pressure?
That concern relates to eating licorice or taking supplements. Topical products at cosmetic concentrations involve minimal absorption.

Is it useful for the marks left after a flare?
Glabridin, one of its compounds, is studied for pigmentation. Any effect is gradual and modest compared with prescription options.

Can I use it with prescribed treatment?
Generally yes, since they do different jobs, but confirm timing and suitability with your pharmacist.

Is licorice the same as liquorice?
Yes — a spelling difference. Australian labels use both.

How long before I would notice anything?
The trials that exist ran over about two weeks. Realistically, judge a product over several weeks rather than days.

Does it help rosacea?
A recent review describes it as promising for rosacea, but that reflects early evidence rather than established treatment.

Is it safe in pregnancy?
Oral licorice is generally advised against in pregnancy. For topical products, check with your GP or pharmacist rather than assuming.

Key Takeaways

• The extract contains several actives, not one
• The clinical evidence for irritated skin is real but small and dated
• Reviews consistently call for larger, better-quality trials
• Blood-pressure cautions concern eating licorice, not skin creams
• Reasonable as supportive skincare alongside, not instead of, treatment

When to Seek Medical Advice

See a GP or pharmacist if a skin condition is not improving, rather than continuing with a botanical product on its own — delayed treatment of eczema, psoriasis or rosacea makes control harder rather than easier.

Seek advice if a rash develops or worsens after starting a new product, particularly if it appears where the product was applied a day or two later, which suggests contact allergy rather than the original condition.

Also mention it to your GP if you take oral licorice supplements or eat licorice regularly and have high blood pressure, heart or kidney conditions, or are pregnant — the oral route is where the meaningful cautions apply. Healthdirect covers complementary medicines and what to consider, and DermNet sets out established eczema management. You can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse.

Australian Psoriasis and Eczema Supplies stocks gentle creams and balms, including preparations containing botanical extracts.

This article is general educational information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Evidence for botanical ingredients is often limited; discuss persistent skin symptoms with your GP.