Are Olives Good for Eczema?

Partly: olives can be part of a balanced diet for people with eczema who tolerate them because they provide unsaturated fats, but they are not a proven eczema treatment.

Should you eat olives if you have eczema?

You can generally eat olives if you enjoy them and have no known allergy or reaction to them. There is no good evidence that adding olives to your diet will relieve eczema symptoms or prevent flares.

Eczema management usually focuses on protecting the skin barrier and following an individual treatment plan, rather than relying on a particular food. For a broader look at diet, see the best foods for eczema.

How might olives affect eczema?

Olives contain unsaturated fats and plant compounds called polyphenols. These components are part of the nutritional profile of olives, but their presence does not establish that eating olives will reduce eczema-related inflammation.

Eczema involves a disrupted skin barrier and inflammation. Dryness, irritation and other factors can contribute to flares, and the importance of food varies from person to person. It is not known whether compounds from eating olives reach the skin in amounts that would make a meaningful difference to eczema symptoms.

A varied diet and adequate hydration support general health, but neither replaces skin care or prescribed treatment. For more on hydration and eczema, see the best drinks for eczema.

What does the evidence say about olives and eczema?

The available evidence is limited and does not establish that eating olives improves eczema. It does not show that olives reduce itching, prevent flares or improve sleep affected by eczema.

A 2021 review of topical olive preparations discussed their use for skin problems, including atopic dermatitis, but acknowledged a lack of reliable evidence for topical use. The review considered preparations applied to the skin, not the effect of eating whole olives, so its findings cannot establish a benefit from including olives in meals.

There is also no established type or amount of olives to eat for eczema relief. Claims that a particular olive product will control eczema should be treated cautiously unless supported by appropriate human studies.

How can you include olives safely?

If you tolerate olives, use them as a food rather than a remedy. Add them to a meal you already enjoy, such as a salad, or serve them alongside other foods in a varied diet. You do not need to eat them on a special schedule or increase your intake to manage eczema.

Many olives are packed in brine and can contain substantial sodium. Compare labels if you need to limit sodium; rinsing olives may remove some surface brine, but it will not necessarily make them low in sodium.

Remove pits before serving olives to young children, and cut the olives into small, age-appropriate pieces to reduce choking risk. Keep following your clinician’s skin-care and treatment advice whether or not you eat olives.

Who should be careful, and when should you seek help?

If you have high blood pressure, kidney disease or have been advised to restrict sodium, check the label and ask your clinician or dietitian how olives fit into your eating plan. During pregnancy, discuss any concerns about food restrictions or eczema treatment with your maternity care professional.

Food allergy is different from eczema itself. If you suspect olives cause a reaction, stop eating the suspected food and speak with a clinician; do not repeatedly test it at home. Children with eczema may need particular care when a food allergy is suspected, and a pediatric clinician or allergist can help assess the reaction without unnecessary dietary restrictions.

Do not apply olives or ordinary food products to broken or inflamed skin as an eczema treatment. Ask a clinician about suitable moisturizers and prescribed treatments instead, especially for infants and young children. Do not stop prescribed medication because you have changed your diet.

Call emergency services immediately if someone has trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, or feels faint after eating. Use a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector immediately if available.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly if eczema becomes painful, hot, swollen, weepy or crusted, or if fever develops. Seek urgent same-day assessment for rapidly worsening eczema or clusters of painful blisters, particularly near an eye; these can be signs of an infection that needs prompt care.