Olive Oil for Psoriasis: When It Helps, When It Doesn't
Olive oil is one of the most commonly used home remedies for psoriasis — accessible, natural, and demonstrably moisturising. Many people find it genuinely helpful for softening plaques and reducing dryness. Others find it worsens their skin. Both responses are explainable by the same ingredient.
Is olive oil good for psoriasis?
Olive oil can help soften dry, scaly skin and improve moisture levels, but it’s not a complete treatment for psoriasis.
Olive oil is often recommended online as a natural remedy for psoriasis. Some people swear it softens plaques and reduces dryness, while others say it makes their skin worse. So what’s the truth?
The answer: olive oil can be helpful in certain situations, but it’s not ideal for everyone — and in some cases, it may even trigger irritation.
Why olive oil can help psoriasis
Olive oil is primarily composed of oleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid at around 70–80% of its composition), alongside smaller amounts of linoleic acid, squalene, and polyphenols including oleocanthal and oleuropein — compounds with documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Applied topically, olive oil acts as an emollient and occlusive — it softens and lubricates the skin surface and reduces transepidermal water loss. For thick, dry psoriasis plaques, this can make scales noticeably softer and more manageable, reduce tightness, and improve overall skin comfort.
The polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil also have mild antioxidant activity when applied topically, providing some protection against the oxidative stress associated with chronic psoriatic inflammation.
How olive oil affects psoriasis
Olive oil works mainly by locking in moisture.
It contains:
fatty acids → help hydrate the skin
antioxidants → support general skin health
This can:
reduce dryness
make scaling less noticeable
improve overall skin comfort
However, it works on the surface level only.
Why olive oil can worsen psoriasis: the oleic acid mechanism
This is the most important information in the article and the explanation most people haven't heard.
Psoriasis — and particularly eczema — involves a compromised skin barrier with altered lipid composition. The healthy skin barrier relies on a specific mix of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids in tightly organised lamellar structures. Oleic acid, when applied topically in high concentrations, disrupts this organisation. It substitutes into the lipid bilayers of the stratum corneum, increasing membrane fluidity and permeability rather than maintaining the ordered structure that keeps moisture in and irritants out.
Research examining the effects of oleic acid on the skin barrier — including a frequently cited study in the context of atopic conditions — has shown that repeated application can increase transepidermal water loss and worsen barrier function in compromised skin. This is why some people with psoriasis find that olive oil provides short-term comfort but leaves skin feeling drier and more reactive over time with continued use.
The practical consequence: olive oil works better as an occasional pre-treatment to soften plaques before bathing than as a daily moisturiser. Used daily in large quantities, it can progressively compromise the barrier it appears to be supporting.
When olive oil might help psoriasis
Olive oil may be useful for:
softening thick, dry plaques
mild dryness between flare-ups
occasional moisture support
pre‑shampoo scalp treatments
mixing with other moisturizers for extra slip
A thin layer can help loosen flakes before a shower or bath, making them easier to remove without picking (which can create new lesions).
Pro Tip: Rinse thoroughly afterward and follow with a proper moisturier — don’t rely on olive oil alone.
It works best as a supportive step—not a primary treatment
The scalp application caveat
Scalp psoriasis is the most specific use case for olive oil — applied as a pre-shampoo treatment to loosen thick, adherent scales before washing. This is a legitimate and effective technique: warm olive oil left on the scalp for 20–30 minutes before shampooing helps soften and lift scale without mechanical scraping.
One important caution: olive oil is a rich substrate for Malassezia yeast — the same yeast that drives seborrhoeic dermatitis. For people who have seborrhoeic elements alongside their scalp psoriasis (the two often co-exist), repeated olive oil application to the scalp may encourage Malassezia overgrowth and worsen the seborrhoeic component. Using it occasionally as a pre-wash treatment rather than leaving it on overnight mitigates this risk.
Recommended Products
Blackcurrant Repair Oil
a blended face and body oil for dry, sensitive, eczema, and psoriasis-prone skin. The combination of oils — including evening primrose (GLA content) and jojoba (similar composition to skin's own sebum) — provides a more balanced fatty acid profile than pure olive oil, reducing the potential barrier-disruption effect of high oleic acid concentration.
Buy here
November Polyphenols Olive Oil Extra Virgin
a high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil with measurably higher oleocanthal content than standard olive oil. For dietary use specifically — the elevated polyphenol content is what drives the anti-inflammatory benefit, and cheaper olive oils often have significantly lower polyphenol concentrations.
Fysio Organic Shea Butter
a rich, multi-ingredient body moisturiser combining shea butter (which has a more balanced fatty acid profile and documented anti-inflammatory properties from its triterpene content) with olive oil in a beeswax-stabilised formula. More suitable for daily emollient use on psoriasis-prone skin than pure olive oil.
Buy here
Skin support for psoriasis-prone skin
Topical olive oil addresses surface comfort only. The systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and nutritional factors driving psoriasis require a different approach.
Drought's Skin Support Formula provides 14 nutrients including vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C, and magnesium — addressing the internal nutritional foundations of psoriasis management alongside appropriate topical care. Made in the UK, suitable for vegetarians, designed for consistent long-term daily use.
When not to use olive oil on psoriasis
Avoid topical olive oil on:
Actively inflamed or burning psoriasis — oleic acid on already-compromised barrier skin may worsen irritation. Inverse psoriasis in skin folds — warm, moist fold environments are already optimal for Malassezia growth; oily products compound this. Very sensitive facial psoriasis — the skin is too thin and reactive for the concentrated fatty acid load.
Do not use olive oil as a daily whole-body emollient — the cumulative barrier disruption effect makes this counterproductive over time.
What works better for daily psoriasis moisturising
For consistent daily emollient use on psoriasis-prone skin, ceramide-containing creams, simple ointments (Cetraben, Epaderm, petroleum jelly), and purpose-formulated emollients provide more effective and more consistent barrier support than pure oils. These are covered in the psoriasis skincare routine article in this series.
Dietary olive oil: a different story
This is worth separating clearly because the evidence for topical and dietary olive oil are completely different.
Consumed as food, extra virgin olive oil provides oleocanthal — a polyphenol that inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes (the same enzymes inhibited by ibuprofen, at lower potency). It also provides hydroxytyrosol and other antioxidants with documented anti-inflammatory effects relevant to systemic inflammatory conditions including psoriasis.
The Mediterranean diet — which includes two to four tablespoons of olive oil daily — has the most consistent evidence of any dietary pattern for reducing psoriasis severity. Extra virgin olive oil is a key component of this benefit, not just olive oil generically.
FAQs: Olive oil and psoriasis
Is olive oil good for psoriasis?
As an occasional topical treatment to soften plaques before bathing, yes. As a daily emollient, probably not — the high oleic acid content can disrupt the skin barrier with repeated use.
Can olive oil worsen psoriasis?
Yes, particularly with daily use on compromised skin. Oleic acid disrupts the organised lipid structure of the stratum corneum, increasing permeability and potentially worsening barrier function over time.
Is olive oil safe for psoriasis?
Sometimes — it can soften scales, but it may irritate sensitive or inflamed skin.
Can olive oil reduce psoriasis plaques?
It may soften plaques, but doesn’t reduce their root cause.
Can I use olive oil on my scalp psoriasis?
As a pre-shampoo treatment to loosen thick scale, yes. Leave for 20–30 minutes then shampoo. Avoid leaving overnight or using repeatedly if you have seborrhoeic elements alongside your scalp psoriasis.
How often should you use olive oil?
Occasionally, as a moisturising step—not as a primary treatment.
Why does olive oil burn on my skin?
It may be disrupting your already‑weakened skin barrier.
Is it better to ingest olive oil instead of applying it?
For anti-inflammatory benefit, yes. Extra virgin olive oil consumed as food provides oleocanthal and other polyphenols with documented anti-inflammatory effects relevant to psoriasis.
What works better than olive oil?
Purpose-formulated emollients (Cetraben, Epaderm, CeraVe, petroleum jelly) provide more consistent and more effective barrier support than pure oils for daily use.
Summary
Olive oil has legitimate uses for psoriasis — primarily as an occasional pre-treatment to soften plaques before bathing or showering, and as a scalp pre-shampoo treatment to loosen thick scale. The oleic acid content means repeated daily topical use can progressively disrupt rather than support the skin barrier, particularly on already-compromised psoriasis skin. Dietary extra virgin olive oil, by contrast, provides genuine anti-inflammatory polyphenol benefits as part of a Mediterranean dietary pattern. The most practical approach: use it occasionally and topically with appropriate caution, consume it daily as food, and rely on purpose-formulated emollients for consistent daily barrier support.
In short:
Helps hydrate and soften plaques
May reduce visible dryness and flaking
Doesn’t reduce underlying inflammation
Not a long-term solution on its own
Olive oil can help improve dryness and comfort—but it’s not designed to manage psoriasis long-term.
If you’re stuck in a cycle of flare-ups, it may be time to move beyond surface-level solutions and support your skin from the inside out.
Start your skin support journey →
Written by the Drought Skin team — specialists in natural support for psoriasis and eczema.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. We earn a very small commission from each purchase made through these links. There is no additional cost to you. All products featured have been specifically selected as products we personally use and love. For further information, please see our disclaimer page.
-
Psoriasis Skincare Routine: What Actually Helps, What to Avoid & Common Mistakes
How to Treat Scalp Eczema: Causes, Symptoms & What Actually Helps
Bath Salts for Eczema & Psoriasis: What Actually Helps and How to Use Them
Nightshades & Psoriasis: Do They Really Trigger Flare-Ups?
Types of Psoriasis Explained: Symptoms, Appearance & How They Differ
