What are the side effects of olive oil on skin? Although it has tons of benefits for our skin, the olive oil also has several drawbacks that you need to consider before using.

Olive oil can cause side effects on the skin, especially if you have oily skin. The oleic acid in natural olive oil can actually make the skin more oily, making it prone to other problems.

Although it contains antioxidants, the quality of antioxidants in regular olive oil is not as good as virgin olive oil.

Side Effects of Olive Oil on Skin

1. Blackheads

Blackheads are one of the side effects that can appear when olive oil is applied directly on the face.

Yes, this oleic acid content is the one responsible for making the oil content on your skin increase and accumulate.

Over time, the oil on the skin will get trapped in the pores along with dust and other dirt. As a result, the pores are clogged and blackheads are formed.

The type of blackheads that arise can be either closed or open blackheads. Each is characterized by white and blackish color.

2. Acne

Acne that occurs is the result of blackheads. Increasingly oily and blackhead skin can make acne-causing bacteria grow.

As a result, the skin becomes inflamed and olive oil side effects in the form of pimples appear.

At first, the pimples that arise are only solid and reddish bumps. Over time, the pimples can develop more severely, causing spots of pus.

3. Destroying Your Natural Skin Barrier

A study conducted by International Journal of Molecular Sciences back in 2018 stated that oleic acid that present in olive oil can actually damage the skin barrier or the natural protective layer on the surface of the skin.

This is because oleic acid can actually break the natural oil component in the skin barrier as well as make it melt.

Of course, this makes the skin barrier no longer sturdy. As a result, the skin is prone to irritation.

Also Read: “Benefits of Olive Oil For Skin“

4. May Cause Allergy

If you’ve never used products made with olive oil, be aware of how it can affect your skin. It could be that you have an olive allergy, but didn’t know it before.

Olive oil allergies are rare because allergens are more commonly found in the olive fruit. However, it is not impossible for olive oil to be contaminated with allergens from the fruit.

As a side effect of olive oil, allergic reactions that can appear on the skin, namely:

Rash
Itching
Redness
Swelling
Dryness
Peeling, and sores

5. Dermatitis

Dermatitis is inflammation and irritation of the skin.

This condition arises from a collection of various side effects caused by olive oil for the face, such as allergies, damage to the skin barrier, and increased severity of skincare side effects.

If the irritation is left unchecked, it can lead to an inflamed reaction and result in dermatitis.

The symptoms of dermatitis are similar to skin allergies or skin irritation in general, such as dry and flaky skin, redness, and itching.

So there you have it! The 5 side effects of olive oil on your skin! Olive oil side effects can indeed aggravate oily skin conditions, such as blackheads and acne.

If you want to use this ingredient, you should choose it from skincare products, not regular olive oil.

But do you know, to get the full benefit of the olive oil, it’s also important to choose the olive oils that have been tested for its quality and standards.

In Indonesia, a quality olive oil is the one that has been certified by the SNI certification.

And for the standard itself, it is clearly stated in SNI 3741:2013 that regulates cooking oils!