Olive Oil as a Carrier: Evidence, Safety and How It Is Used
Olive oil as a carrier oil, not an essential oil: what trials show for skin pressure injuries, the caution for eczema-prone skin, and the allergy and quality points.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Safety first: patch test, be careful on inflamed or eczema-prone skin, and do not assume a bottle is pure. Poison Control says a rash is the most common allergic reaction to an oil, and that any allergic reaction with trouble breathing is a medical emergency. [1] A review of 27 clinical studies of plant oils on skin concluded that oils high in oleic acid and low in linoleic acid may cause extra damage to the skin's outer layer when the skin is already inflamed, while non-affected skin may not react badly; it also says how often and how long an oil is used matters. [6] An umbrella review reports few skin side effects of olive oil, such as occupational allergic contact dermatitis and lichen planus pigmentosus. [3] If anyone swallows an essential oil blended in it and you are worried, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or your local emergency number. [1]
Olive oil is a carrier oil, which means a plain plant oil. It is not an essential oil. This page keeps three things apart: lab findings, human trials, and the route (on skin, or eaten as food).
What olive oil is
Olive oil is pressed from the fruit of the olive tree, Olea europaea. [3][8] A cosmetic oils review says olive oil is made of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, and calls it well known for both cosmetic and cooking use. [8] Olive oil is widely described as rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. [3] Extra virgin (cold-pressed) and refined olive oils are sold; the sources we read for this page do not compare them for skin use.A carrier oil is used to dilute an essential oil before it goes on the skin. The National Cancer Institute describes aromatherapy massage as essential oils mixed into a carrier oil. [2] Poison Control says dilution in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a bad reaction from direct skin contact with a strong essential oil. [1] A carrier oil does not make an unsuitable essential oil suitable. The sources we read give no olive-oil-specific dilution figure. Charts differ between sources: see why dilution charts differ. This is information, not a prescription. See also carrier oils explained.
Safety by group
- Skin and allergy: see the warning above. [3][6] Poison Control says to stop use and wash the oil off if a rash appears. [1] See patch testing and stopping a reaction.
- Eczema, dry or inflamed skin and babies: the 2022 review of clinical studies suggests caution with high-oleic oils on inflamed skin. [6] A large Cochrane review of skin care (mostly moisturizers) in healthy newborns found they probably do not change the risk of eczema by age 1 to 3 years, and may increase the risk of IgE-mediated food allergy, but that rests on low-certainty evidence from one trial. [7] That review covered emollients in general, not olive oil in particular. Ask a clinician before using any oil on a baby. See around babies and children and sensitive skin and eczema.
- Nut and other allergies: a study of fragrance-allergic patients found no significant cross-reaction to common botanicals including coconut oil and shea butter; olive oil was not named in the abstract we read. [9] The sources we read do not describe olive oil allergy cross-reactions. Not described is not proof of none.
- Sun, pets, pregnancy, seizures, asthma, medicines: not described for olive oil in the sources we read. Not described is not proof of none. See essential oils and pets and pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Swallowing: olive oil is a food. Poison Control's swallowing warning is about essential oils [1]; we found no poison-center statement about olive oil. Do not swallow any essential oil mixed into it.
- Freshness: we found no source we read measuring how long olive oil keeps on the shelf or whether old oil irritates skin. See storing oils.
What research shows
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Route, form and who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preventing pressure injuries (bed sores) | A 2026 cluster randomized trial of 80 hospitalized patients at risk found pressure injury prevalence fell from 52.5% to 5% with olive oil plus routine care, and to 22.5% with routine care alone over 7 days; the authors note a small, short study. [4] A 2026 systematic review of 10 articles found olive oil and hyperoxygenated fatty acids both effective, with no significant difference between them. [5] | Promising but limited | Olive oil on skin of hospital patients with limited mobility, alongside nursing care |
| Overall skin outcomes | An umbrella review suggests topical olive oil to prevent pressure ulcers and acute radiation dermatitis, with few adverse reactions, and rates 77% of the evidence low to moderate quality. [3] | Promising but limited | Reviews of mixed studies; topical use in patients |
| Eczema or dry skin | The 2022 review of 27 clinical studies advises caution with high-oleic oils on inflamed skin. [6] | Mixed | Reviews, including infant, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis studies across many oils |
| Eczema prevention in newborns | Moisturizers and similar skin care probably do not change eczema risk. [7] | No good evidence of benefit | Healthy newborns; emollients as a group, not olive oil alone |
| Hair, anti-aging, scars, stretch marks | Not studied in sources we read with a human trial of olive oil. | Insufficient evidence | Not studied in the sources we read |
Limits: the skin trial was small and short, people can see and feel an oil so blinding is hard, and umbrella-review authors rated most of the evidence low to moderate. Eating olive oil has its own large research; the umbrella review covers it, but that is food, not a carrier use. [3] Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for olive oil as a treatment for acne, eczema, wound healing or aging skin.
How it is used and what the sources say about quality
- Olive oil is used in cooking, in cosmetics and as a carrier oil in massage blends. [2][8]
- Check the label for the botanical name Olea europaea and what else is in the bottle. We did not read a source on olive oil blending or shelf life for this page. See reading an essential oil label and purity and adulteration.
- Store as the label says; see storing oils.
Related pages
Uses studied and safety checks for Olive Oil as a Carrier
Read the safety checks first. Each card says whether a finding comes from people or only from the lab, which way the oil was used (scent, on skin or swallowed) and how strong the evidence is. A finding for one way of using an oil does not carry over to another.
Check before you use (3)
- Skin allergy and irritation (rare reports). An umbrella review lists few adverse reactions to topical olive oil, such as occupational allergic contact dermatitis and lichen planus pigmentosus. Poison Control says a rash is the most common allergic reaction to an oil.
- Eczema-prone or inflamed skin: caution with high-oleic oils. A review of 27 clinical studies concluded that oils high in oleic acid and low in linoleic acid may cause extra damage to the skin's outer layer when skin is inflamed, but non-affected skin may not react badly; frequency and duration matter.
- Children and babies. Poison Control says children have thinner skin and less mature livers and are more vulnerable to oils in general.
Olive oil on skin to prevent pressure injuries
Preliminary or mixedA small 2026 cluster randomized trial (80 patients) found fewer pressure injuries with olive oil plus routine care than with routine care alone, and a 2026 systematic review found olive oil and hyperoxygenated fatty acids both effective.
Supplements: Specific to skin care of at-risk patients; not shown for healthy skin.
Newborn skin care and eczema or food allergy
Preliminary or mixedA Cochrane review found skin care with moisturizers in healthy newborns probably does not change eczema risk, and may increase IgE-mediated food allergy (low-certainty evidence from one trial).
Supplements: Does not support using oils to prevent eczema in babies.
Use as a carrier oil for essential oils
Not enough evidenceCarrier oils dilute essential oils before skin use. Poison Control says dilution is the best way to avoid a bad reaction.
Supplements: No olive-specific dilution figure found; charts differ between sources.
Olive oil composition (fatty acids)
Not enough evidenceReviews describe saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, with olive oil widely described as rich in oleic acid.
Supplements: Description only.
Acne, wounds, scars, hair and anti-aging claims
Not enough evidenceNo human trial of olive oil for these uses was found in the sources we read.
Supplements: No benefit shown in the sources we read.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Healthy SkinPreliminary or mixed
Topical olive oil helped prevent pressure injuries in at-risk hospital patients in a small trial; caution is advised on inflamed skin.
Body systems (2)
- Integumentary SystemPreliminary or mixed
Skin is the organ studied in pressure injury trials.
- Skin, Hair & BeautyPreliminary or mixed
Used as a skin oil; human evidence is pressure injury prevention in patients.
Body parts (1)
- SkinPreliminary or mixed
Applied to skin; benefit shown for pressure injury prevention in hospital patients; rare allergic reactions.
Conditions & symptoms (3)
- Pressure UlcerPreliminary or mixed
A small trial and a systematic review found topical olive oil helped prevent pressure injuries in at-risk hospital patients.
- Contact DermatitisDocumented risk
An umbrella review lists occupational allergic contact dermatitis among rare reactions to topical olive oil.
- EczemaPreliminary or mixed
Cochrane found newborn skin care does not change eczema risk; a review warns about high-oleic oils on inflamed skin.
Frequently asked questions
Is olive oil an essential oil?
No. It is a fatty plant oil pressed from olives, used in food and cosmetics and as a carrier oil to dilute essential oils. [8][2]
Does olive oil help skin?
One small 2026 trial and a systematic review found it helped prevent pressure injuries in hospital patients at risk. [4][5] A review of clinical studies advises caution with high-oleic oils on inflamed skin. [6] We found no human trial supporting olive oil for acne, aging or scars.
Is olive oil good for eczema or a baby's skin?
Not shown. A Cochrane review found skin care with moisturizers in healthy newborns probably does not change eczema risk. [7] A review warns about high-oleic oils on inflamed skin. [6] Ask a clinician first.
Can olive oil cause a skin reaction?
Rarely. An umbrella review lists occupational allergic contact dermatitis and lichen planus pigmentosus as reported reactions. [3] Patch test first. [1]
Is it safe for pets, pregnancy or if swallowed?
Pets and pregnancy are not described in the sources we read. Olive oil is a food; for an essential oil that was swallowed, call a poison center (US 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number. [1]
References
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Undated. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute (US). Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ). 2024. First 100,000 characters read. Read 2026-10-23.
- Cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine, cancer, mortality, derma, and other outcomes of olive oil and oleic acid: an umbrella review. 2025 (abstract read via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-23.
- Topical application of olive oil in preventing pressure injuries among hospitalized patients with mobility limitations: a cluster randomized trial in the United Arab Emirates. 2026 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- Effectiveness of olive oil and hyperoxygenated fatty acids for the prevention of pressure injuries: a systematic review. 2026 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- Vegetable butters and oils as therapeutically and cosmetically active ingredients for dermal use: a review of clinical studies. 2022 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- Skin care interventions in infants for preventing eczema and food allergy. Cochrane review, 2022 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- A comprehensive review of plant-based cosmetic oils (virgin coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil). 2024 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- To avoid or not to avoid: cross-reactivity between fragrance and common botanicals. 2026 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.