Olive Oil in Dermatology: Bridging Ancient Traditions with Modern Medicine

Olives, a staple of Mediterranean culture, hold significant historical, spiritual, and cultural importance, particularly in Islamic traditions. This review explores the use of olives and their derivatives in complementary and alternative medicine, focusing on dermatological applications. A systematic literature review using EMBASE and PubMed databases, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, identified 44 articles for inclusion. Olive oil demonstrated effectiveness in reducing erythema, scaling, and pain associated with radiation and contact dermatitis, and in managing symptoms of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis through modulation of inflammatory pathways. It also promoted wound healing, benefiting patients with pressure ulcers, chronic wounds, and burns. Additionally, the Mediterranean diet, rich in olives, was linked to reduced inflammation in conditions like cystic acne and hidradenitis suppurativa. These dermatological benefits are attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of olive's phenolic compounds. This review highlights olives’ potential in dermatology as a natural, affordable treatment option, encouraging further research into their therapeutic applications.