Neem Oil Benefits: 5 Skin & Hair Uses + Best Products To Try

Sometimes big beauty missions like stimulating hair growth or clearing breakouts call for more intense treatments than over-the-counter (OTC) products can offer. That being said, it's not unreasonable to start with natural ingredients and work your way up to prescription-strength players, if you choose.

This nutrient-rich oil, made from the seeds of the neem tree1, has been used for centuries2 as a medicinal treatment; these days, it's still used as a treatment for a variety of skin conditions, from dry skin and wrinkles to psoriasis, eczema, and beyond. 

A bit of background: The neem tree produces small white flowers and a yellow-green fruit, and literally every part of the tree has been used for medicinal and therapeutic treatments. The neem tree has so many medicinal uses, in fact (it contains more than 100 pharmacologically active substances), that in India, it's been referred to as "the village pharmacy." It's no surprise, then, that neem oil has been used for hundreds of years in traditional Indian medicine and Ayurveda1.

And in traditional Indian medicine, the neem tree and its byproducts hold a special place. Siddha medicine2 is one of the oldest medical systems in the world, with origins dating back as far as 10,000 B.C., and the first medicinal plant mentioned in ancient Siddha records is—you guessed it!—neem.

In one 2017 study done on hairless mice, topical neem oil helped treat age-related skin concerns3 such as skin thinning, dryness, and wrinkling. 

What's more, neem oil increased type I collagen and elastin in the skin—two essential factors that contribute to skin aging at its core.

Plus, it's protective: "Neem oil is also rich in antioxidants, which means that it can help protect the skin from damage from free radicals," board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., tells mbg. This function is crucial, as free radical damage can throw your skin into a state of oxidative stress.

"Neem oil is rich in triglycerides and fatty acids—these are emollients that help to support the skin barrier," King says. This makes neem oil a great addition to any moisturizer or face oil, essentially boosting its hydrating power. 

"Neem oil is great for breakouts," clean cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consulting Krupa Koestline tells mbg. "Neem oil, in addition to the various omega fatty acids, also contains nimbin and azadirachtin, which have antiseptic, antifungal, antipyretic, and antihistamine properties. They, therefore, help reduce inflammation, redness, and swelling." Especially for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin, neem oil can be a gentle treatment that won't exacerbate flushing. 

"It also prevents future breakouts by eliminating acne-causing bacteria, purging impurities, tightening the pores, and evening out skin tone," Koestline adds. This is because the oil is shown to have antibacterial properties5, too.

Neem oil may even provide benefits for post-acne scarring. "By softening the skin to make it supple, it facilitates the healing of scars and reduces their look and feel," Koestline says. Research seconds this notion: In one 2013 in vitro study, researchers deemed neem oil an effective long-term treatment for acne6. 

"Neem oil contains nimbidin, which may have anti-inflammatory properties that could make it helpful for inflammatory scalp processes, such as dandruff or psoriasis," Koestline says. 

What's more, one small 2012 study found that neem oil helped heal surgical wounds on the scalp7, further confirming neem's ability to aid in overall skin health. 

Many fatty-acid-rich oils are top-notch for your scalp and strands, and neem oil is very much included in that list.

Neem oil has promising benefits, but the research is still fairly limited compared to other topical ingredients. Especially for skin conditions such as eczema and acne, it hasn't been shown to be the most effective ingredient on the market. 

As for hair growth, again, neem oil lacks concrete evidence. It can help with overall hair and scalp health, and caring for those follicles is crucial for faster growth, but we're still lacking some data for hair growth in particular. Rosemary oil will be a better option for that specific goal—you can read all about it here. 

However, using neem oil is a great launchpad for treating these conditions. If it works for you, then of course you should keep using it. It's not an end-all-be-all if it doesn't, though—so give yourself some grace if it's not the right fit. 

In terms of acne, there are plenty of other options out there. You can read up on potentially helpful ingredients here, and consult a dermatologist if you're struggling to find OTC products that work for you. 

How you use neem oil is critical to reap the potential benefits. As stated above, this botanical ingredient is very potent, so you shouldn't use it on its own for full-face or full-scalp care. You can either buy a pre-formulated product (a few A+ options below) or make your own oil-serum solution at home. 

However, for scalp treatments, you may also consider a thicker oil, like coconut oil. 

Once you're prepped and ready, apply the DIY cocktail to your skin or scalp. Use it as you would any serum, placing just a few drops in your hands and patting it onto the skin, or giving the scalp a light mist. 

With any botanical product, it's always best to patch-test the ingredient. Choose a spot on your forearm and apply the product there rather than straight on the face. If that patch becomes red, itchy, or inflamed within 24 hours, then you might have a sensitivity to neem oil and thus shouldn't continue use.