Natural Substances for Atopic Dermatitis: What Aloe Vera, Olive Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Zinc Can Do
Laura Chrobok 02.10.2026
In the previous article, we highlighted the pitfalls of conventional medicine’s treatments for atopic dermatitis. But there are natural substances that offer ways to provide targeted support to the body in dealing with this condition.
Read here about these substances and how you can benefit from their effects.
Aloe Vera and Olive Oil: A Plant Combination with Remarkable Results in Atopic Dermatitis
Aloe vera is one of the best-known plants used in natural skincare. In the context of atopic dermatitis, a clinical study in which aloe vera was applied topically together with extra virgin olive oil is particularly interesting.
In a randomised double-blind study, 36 people with atopic dermatitis were treated for six weeks with either a cream containing aloe vera and extra virgin olive oil or the corticosteroid betamethasone. To assess the course of the condition, the researchers used, among other measures, SCORAD, an established index for determining the severity of atopic dermatitis.
The results were remarkable: for the aloe vera and olive oil cream, the authors reported an improvement of 64.5%, compared with 13.5% in the betamethasone group. The authors reported an improvement in quality of life of 60.7% with aloe vera and olive oil, compared with 22.3% with betamethasone (Panahi et al., 2020).
The study therefore provides interesting clinical evidence for the combination of aloe vera and olive oil in atopic dermatitis. However, the two natural substances were used together. The results therefore prove neither a corresponding effect of aloe vera alone nor of olive oil alone. As a combination, the two natural substances produced a clinical finding that deserves further research.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: DHA and Inflammatory Processes
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. They include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). They perform numerous functions in the body and are involved, among other things, in processes that regulate inflammatory responses.
A randomised double-blind study investigated the effect that targeted DHA supplementation can have in adults with atopic eczema.
The study included 53 adults between the ages of 18 and 40. The intervention group received 5.4 g of DHA daily for eight weeks. The control group received an energetically comparable amount of saturated fatty acids. Within the DHA group, the median SCORAD fell from 37.0 to 28.5 over the study period. In the control group, by contrast, it changed from 35.4 to 33.4. The researchers also observed changes in immunological parameters (Koch et al., 2008).
The authors concluded that DHA may be biologically active and could have a beneficial effect on the course of atopic eczema. At the same time, they described their investigation as a pilot study and considered confirmation of the results in a larger study necessary. The study therefore provides clinical evidence of a potential benefit of DHA in atopic dermatitis. However, it does not demonstrate that omega-3 fatty acids generally improve symptoms in everyone with atopic dermatitis.
Individual Zinc Status: Crucial in Atopic Dermatitis?
The essential trace element zinc contributes, among other things, to the normal functioning of the immune system and the maintenance of healthy skin. A systematic review and meta-analysis therefore investigated whether the zinc status of people with atopic dermatitis differs from that of the respective control subjects.
A total of 14 observational studies and 2 randomised controlled trials were evaluated. In the pooled analysis, average zinc concentrations in serum, hair and erythrocytes were lower in people with atopic dermatitis than in the respective control groups (Gray et al., 2019).
This does not mean that everyone with atopic dermatitis also has a zinc deficiency. But it raises a crucial question: what happens when people with low levels are specifically given zinc?
A study involving 58 children with atopic dermatitis and 43 healthy controls between the ages of 2 and 14 provides an initial answer. The researchers first found that the children with atopic dermatitis had lower hair zinc levels on average. They then investigated the effects of oral supplementation in the atopic dermatitis patients with low hair zinc levels. After eight weeks, hair zinc levels had increased in the supplemented group. At the same time, EASI — an index used to assess the severity of atopic dermatitis — as well as transepidermal water loss, itching and sleep disturbances improved to a greater extent than in the group without zinc supplementation (Kim et al., 2014).
Atopic Dermatitis: Natural Substances Work in Different Ways
Aloe vera and olive oil, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc are often grouped together under the umbrella term natural substances. From a scientific perspective, however, they involve entirely different approaches.
Aloe vera and olive oil were tested in a topically applied combination. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid involved, among other things, in processes that regulate inflammation. Zinc presents a different picture: here, an individual’s nutritional status could help determine whether additional intake is beneficial.
These differences are important. The question of natural options for atopic dermatitis cannot meaningfully be answered with a blanket “it works” or “it doesn’t work”.
What matters is which substance was studied, in which form, in which patients and with what outcome.
Natural Substances for Atopic Dermatitis: More Than Tradition
Natural substances are often promoted on the basis of decades or centuries of use. In the case of aloe vera, olive oil, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, however, clinical studies can also be consulted.
This means that the scientific story of these natural substances is far from over: the studies conducted to date show where natural approaches have already produced measurable results and where further research can begin.
FAQ — (More) Frequently Asked Questions About Natural Substances for Atopic Dermatitis
1. Can I mix aloe vera and olive oil myself to make an emulsion?
This cannot be concluded from the study described. What was investigated was a specially prepared cream containing aloe vera gel and extra virgin olive oil — not an arbitrary homemade mixture of commercially available products (Panahi et al., 2020). Any assessment of the study’s results must therefore refer to the preparation that was actually investigated.
2. Which foods are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids?
That depends on which omega-3 fatty acid is meant. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring provide the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Plant foods such as linseed oil, linseeds, walnuts and rapeseed oil, on the other hand, mainly provide alpha-linolenic acid (National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2025; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung, 2025).
The body can convert ALA into EPA and subsequently DHA. However, this conversion is limited. ALA-rich plant oils therefore cannot be equated with the direct intake of EPA and DHA (NIH, 2025).
3. Can zinc interact with medicines?
Yes, zinc can, for example, interact with certain antibiotics from the tetracycline and quinolone groups. If taken at the same time, the absorption of both zinc and the antibiotic may be reduced. Interactions with penicillamine are also possible (NIH, 2026).
Anyone who regularly takes medicines and also wishes to supplement with zinc should therefore check for possible interactions beforehand.
4. Does a low zinc level automatically mean that zinc should be taken?
No, while the studies presented in this article make zinc an important factor when considering who might benefit from supplementation, a single low level does not constitute a general recommendation for taking supplements independently. Higher-dose preparations in particular should not be used indiscriminately, as excessive zinc intake can have adverse effects (NIH, 2026; Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, 2021).
Further information on atopic dermatitis — and on many other topics — can be found on our blog. You can also find our “Medizinskandale” book series and the “Codex Humanus”, the fifth volume of which was recently published, in our online shop. We look forward to your visit.
Sources:
· Panahi, Y. et al. (2020): “Comparing the Therapeutic Effects of Aloe vera and Olive Oil Combination Cream versus Topical Betamethasone for Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial,” Journal of Pharmacopuncture.· Koch, C. et al. (2008): “Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation in Atopic Eczema: A Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Trial,” British Journal of Dermatology.
· Gray, N. A. et al. (2019): “Zinc and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,” Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
· Kim, J. E. et al. (2014): “Hair Zinc Levels and the Efficacy of Oral Zinc Supplementation in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis,” Acta Dermato-Venereologica.
· National Institutes of Health (2025): “Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Fact Sheet for Health Professionals,” Office of Dietary Supplements.
· Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (2025): “Was ist mit der
(Knochen-)Gesundheit, Omega-3-Fettsäuren, Protein und Vitamin A bei veganer Ernährung?”
· National Institutes of Health (2026): “Zinc – Fact Sheet for Health Professionals,” Office of Dietary Supplements.
· Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (2021): “Höchstmengenvorschläge für Zink in Lebensmitteln inklusive Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln.”
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