Avocado oil benefits for skin look promising on paper, but there has been little testing in people. A 2025 review reports that an earlier narrative review found better skin elasticity and less inflammation with avocado oil formulations. The same review says clinical trials of topical use alone are limited. Some of the other evidence comes from animal studies.
Last updated 3 October 2026. This article summarizes published research reviews and guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and Cleveland Clinic. It is not meant to stand in for your own doctor’s advice.
What are the avocado oil benefits for skin, according to research?
A 2025 review in the journal Foods reports that a separate narrative review (Dewi and colleagues, covering studies from 2018 to 2023) found that formulations with 3 to 20 percent avocado oil, particularly emulgels, improved skin elasticity, reduced dermal inflammation and gave photoprotective effects. These were formulated products, so the results may not apply to plain oil from a bottle.
The review adds that clinical trials of topical use alone are limited. Daily oral use of avocado or avocado oil showed benefits in randomized studies, which is a different route from putting it on your skin.
What do human studies show on topical avocado oil?
A 2019 review in Molecules gathered what is known about avocado oil. For topical use in people it cites a single study, in which avocado oil blended into a vitamin B12 skin cream was well tolerated and showed potential as a long-term topical option for psoriasis.
That is a single result from a specific cream. It does not show that plain avocado oil treats psoriasis or any other condition. If you have psoriasis, your dermatologist decides what to use.
What did animal studies find about wound healing?
The same 2019 review describes rat studies with mixed results. In one, a mix of soybean and avocado oils lowered collagen cross-linking, which the review links with slower wound healing. In another, a semi-solid formulation containing avocado oil promoted collagen synthesis and fewer inflammatory cells during healing.
The avocado oil benefits for skin seen in rats may not carry over to people. Treat them as early clues. They are not a reason to put oil on a wound.
Is avocado oil good for dry skin?
The AAD does not name avocado oil in its dry skin tips. Its advice is creams or ointments that contain jojoba oil, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum or shea butter, and products without fragrance. One AAD dermatologist adds that oils and butters melt into a liquid on the skin, so they moisturize less well.
Cleveland Clinic has a page on avocado oil, but it focuses on eating it. We did not find skin-care claims there. For ways oils are used on dry skin, see our guides to face oil for dry skin and body oil for dry skin, or our page on how to use avocado oil for skin.
Who should be careful with avocado oil on skin?
A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist warns that facial oils may clog pores and bring on pimples, and says oily or acne-prone skin is best kept free of oil. The comment comes from its olive oil article and covers facial oils in general.
The sources we checked do not discuss avocado allergy. If your skin stings, itches or turns red after you use any oil, stop and ask a doctor or pharmacist. Compare with our page on olive oil for skin.
When should you see a doctor?
The AAD says a dermatologist should check dryness that home care does not ease. Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or kidney disease can sit behind it, and each may need treatment. Seek care too if skin looks infected, meaning red, warm, swollen or painful.
Frequently asked questions
Does avocado oil help skin?
It may, but the evidence is early. A 2025 review reports that an earlier narrative review found better elasticity and less inflammation with avocado oil formulations, and it says trials of topical use alone are limited. The research is promising but early, so avocado oil should not replace the care a dermatologist recommends for dry skin or a skin condition.
Is avocado oil good for dry skin?
Not clearly. The AAD points dry skin toward creams and ointments with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum and shea butter, and it never names avocado oil. One of its dermatologists says oils melt on the skin and moisturize less well. If dryness stays, see a dermatologist.
Can avocado oil help wounds or psoriasis?
Evidence is thin. The 2019 review cites mixed rat results on wound healing and one human study of topical use in which avocado oil in a vitamin B12 cream was well tolerated for psoriasis. Neither shows that avocado oil treats these. Do not put oil on a wound or psoriasis patch without asking your doctor.
Can avocado oil clog pores?
It might. Cleveland Clinic says facial oil products may clog pores and cause pimples, and it suggests oily or acne-prone skin skip oil. The comment is about facial oils in general. If you break out after using an oil, stop and ask a dermatologist for advice.
Sources (all checked 3 October 2026)
- Foods, Bioactive Compounds, Technological Advances, and Sustainable Applications of Avocado: A Critical Review, published 6 August 2025.
- Molecules, Avocado Oil: Characteristics, Properties, and Applications, published 2019.
- American Academy of Dermatology, Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin, updated 2 January 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology, Dry skin remedies for darker skin tones, dated 4 November 2022.
- Cleveland Clinic, How Olive Oil Benefits Your Skin, dated 6 May 2025.
- Cleveland Clinic, Yes, Avocado Oil Is Good for You, dated 19 December 2024.
Written by the Dry Skin Tips editorial team. We do not claim medical review of this article. If you have a skin concern, see a qualified health professional.