Olive Oil for Skin Australia: Why the Research Points the Other Way

Olive oil for skin is one of the most widely recommended home remedies for dry skin and baby massage, but the controlled research does not support it. A randomised trial in newborns found that olive oil applied twice daily for four weeks impeded the development of the skin barrier compared with using no oil at all. The likely reason is its fatty acid profile. Olive oil in food is a different question entirely, and the evidence there is more favourable.

At a Glance

• A randomised newborn trial found olive oil impeded skin barrier development
• The researchers recommended against advising parents to use it pending further study
• Its high oleic acid content is the probable mechanism
• Olive oil in soap behaves differently from olive oil applied neat
• Eating olive oil and applying it to skin are separate questions with different evidence

What the Newborn Trial Found

A controlled comparison, and the result surprised many people.

The OBSeRvE study randomised full-term newborns to olive oil, sunflower oil, or no oil at all, applied twice daily for four weeks. Researchers measured the structure of skin lipids, transepidermal water loss, hydration and skin pH.

Compared with no oil, both olive oil and sunflower oil impeded the development of skin barrier function from birth. The lead researcher stated that, to avoid potential harm, these oils should not be recommended to new parents for use on their baby's skin until further research supports the practice.

Two caveats matter. It was a pilot trial rather than a large definitive one, and it studied newborns specifically rather than adults. But the direction of the finding is the opposite of the common advice, and the researchers were explicit about the practical implication.

This matters in Australia because oil massage for babies is widely practised and olive oil is the kitchen-cupboard default. Our guides to baby eczema and newborn skin in the first weeks cover what is actually recommended.

Why Olive Oil for Skin Behaves This Way

Fatty acid composition, not quality or purity.

Natural oils differ substantially in what they contain, and that difference determines how they behave on the skin barrier rather than how "natural" or expensive they are.

Olive oil is high in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. Oleic acid is known to disrupt the ordered lipid structure of the outer skin layer — the arrangement that holds water in and keeps irritants out. Applied repeatedly to skin that is already compromised, that is working against the barrier rather than supporting it.

By contrast, high-linoleate oils behave differently. Linoleic acid binds to receptors on keratinocytes and has been studied for its role in skin development, and sunflower seed oil high in linoleate has been found in animal models of infant skin to enhance barrier integrity and repair.

Even so, the newborn trial found sunflower oil also impeded barrier development against no oil at all — so "use a different oil" is not the straightforward conclusion either.

Our explainer on occlusives, humectants and emollients covers how properly formulated moisturisers work, and supporting the skin barrier covers the principle.

Olive Oil for Skin in Soap Is a Different Situation

Formulated in, versus applied neat.

Olive oil appears as a base ingredient in many gentle soaps and cleansing bars, where it has been saponified or blended into a formulation. That is not the same as pouring oil onto skin, and the concerns above are about direct repeated application rather than its presence in a finished product.

A soap containing olive oil is judged on how the whole formulation behaves — whether it strips, whether it is fragranced, how it leaves the skin feeling. Our guide to choosing a soap for eczema covers what matters in that decision.

The same distinction applies to other kitchen oils that appear in skincare. Our page on coconut oil covers a different oil with a different fatty acid profile and its own evidence.

Eating It Is a Separate Question

Do not carry the topical finding across to diet.

Dietary olive oil has a reasonable evidence base as part of an anti-inflammatory eating pattern, and it features prominently in research on Mediterranean-style diets. Our page on the Mediterranean diet and psoriasis covers that literature.

Those are genuinely different questions. What a fatty acid does to the lipid structure of the stratum corneum when rubbed on is not what it does when eaten and metabolised. Evidence supporting olive oil in the diet is not evidence for putting it on eczema.

If you are looking for something to apply, a formulated emollient designed for the purpose is the better choice — our guide to choosing a moisturiser covers selection.

Related Guides

Learn More — signs of a damaged skin barrier

Compare — what the evidence shows for calendula

Shop — emollients and gentle cleansers

FAQ

Is olive oil for skin bad for everyone?
The strongest evidence concerns newborns and repeated direct application. Occasional use on intact adult skin is unlikely to cause harm, but it is not a good choice for eczema-prone skin.

Should I stop using it on my baby?
The trial researchers advised against recommending it to new parents pending further research. A formulated infant emollient is the safer choice — ask your maternal and child health nurse.

What about extra virgin or cold-pressed?
The concern relates to oleic acid content, which is inherent to olive oil rather than a matter of grade or purity.

Is sunflower oil better?
Its fatty acid profile is more favourable in laboratory terms, but the same newborn trial found it also impeded barrier development against no oil.

Why do so many people recommend it?
It is inexpensive, familiar and long-established in traditional practice. Long use is not the same as tested benefit.

Is olive oil in my soap a problem?
Generally no. Formulated into a product is a different situation from applying oil directly.

Can I use it to remove cradle cap?
Oils are often suggested for softening scale. Given the barrier findings, discuss it with your maternal and child health nurse rather than assuming.

Does this apply to eating olive oil?
No. Dietary olive oil has its own, more favourable evidence base and should not be confused with topical use.

Key Takeaways

• A randomised newborn trial found olive oil impeded barrier development versus no oil
• Researchers advised against recommending it for baby skin pending further study
• High oleic acid content is the likely mechanism
• Olive oil formulated into a soap is a different situation from neat application
• Dietary evidence is separate and does not transfer to topical use

When to Seek Medical Advice

Speak to your maternal and child health nurse or GP before using any oil on a baby's skin, particularly if there is a family history of eczema — the routine advice has shifted and is worth checking rather than assuming.

See a GP if dry or irritated skin is not improving with a formulated emollient, or if you have been relying on a home remedy for a condition that is not settling, since delayed treatment makes eczema harder to control.

Seek assessment if skin becomes red, weeping, crusting yellow or painful after applying any product, which suggests irritation or infection rather than the original dryness. Healthdirect covers dry skin and when to seek help, and the Raising Children Network provides Australian guidance on baby skin care. You can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse.

Australian Psoriasis and Eczema Supplies stocks formulated emollients and gentle cleansers suited to dry and sensitive skin.

This article is general educational information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Check with a health professional before using oils on infant skin.