Calendula officinalis (flower)

Calendula

Q: Does calendula work for radiotherapy skin reactions?

Evidence is inconsistent. One trial of 254 women found less severe dermatitis with calendula than with trolamine, but pooled analyses of natural agents found no significant effect for calendula. Always check with your radiotherapy team before putting anything on treated skin.

Q: Is calendula cream safe for nappy rash?

The small trials reported no adverse effects and calendula performed about as well as olive ointment and better than aloe, but worse than bentonite. The EU regulator says use under 6 years is not established because data are inadequate, so ask a pharmacist or health visitor first.

Q: Can I use calendula on cracked nipples while breastfeeding?

We found no trials of calendula for sore or cracked nipples, so we cannot say whether it works. The EU regulator says safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and does not recommend use, so ask a midwife or lactation consultant about alternatives.

Q: Who should not use calendula?

Anyone with a known allergy to plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae or Compositae), such as ragweed, chrysanthemum or daisies. The EU monograph lists this as a contraindication and notes that skin sensitisation has been reported, frequency unknown.

Calendula ointment is a traditional, generally well-tolerated treatment for minor skin inflammation and small wounds, but the trials are small and mixed, so it is not proven to work better than simple alternatives. The strongest single result, in radiotherapy skin reactions, was against another active cream and has not held up in pooled analyses. The main caution is that anyone allergic to daisy-family (Asteraceae) plants should not use it.

Written by

Healthy and Herbal editorial team

Reviewed by

Healthy and Herbal editors

Updated

10 October 2026

At a glance

Last reviewed 10 October 2026

Evidence

Limited

Best for

Minor skin inflammation

Typical form & use

Ointment or cream, 2–10% flower extract

Onset

About a week

Safety

Avoid if allergic to daisy-family plants. No interactions in our data.

Check with your medications →

What it's used for

Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.

Use	Evidence	What the research shows
Minor skin inflammation and woundsCompare remedies for skin →	Limited	The EU herbal regulator recognises calendula preparations for minor skin inflammation (such as sunburn) and as an aid in healing minor wounds, on the basis of long-standing use alone. A 2019 systematic review of 14 studies (7 animal, 7 clinical) found some benefit for acute wound healing, mixed results in venous ulcers, no benefit in one diabetic leg ulcer trial and one burns trial, and called for larger, better trials.^1,8
Nappy (diaper) rash	Limited	Small Iranian trials have compared calendula with other products, not with placebo. In 66 infants calendula ointment left significantly fewer rash sites than aloe cream (P = 0.001) after 10 days; in 73 children 1.5% calendula and olive ointments did not differ over 7 days; and in 100 infants bentonite cream healed rashes faster than calendula (86% v 52% completely improved in 3 days). No adverse effects were reported in the two trials that assessed them. The EU monograph does not recommend use under 6 years because data are inadequate.^5,6,7,8
Radiation dermatitis (breast radiotherapy)	Limited	One phase III trial of 254 women found grade 2 or worse dermatitis in 41% using calendula ointment against 63% using trolamine (P < 0.001), with less radiation-related pain. It had no placebo arm and the comparator's own benefit is uncertain. A 2023 meta-analysis of natural agents found calendula had no significant effect on preventing radiation dermatitis, and a 2024 meta-analysis judged the evidence for calendula insufficient. Ask your radiotherapy team before applying anything to treated skin.^4,2,3

Use

Evidence

What the research shows

Minor skin inflammation and woundsCompare remedies for skin →

Limited

The EU herbal regulator recognises calendula preparations for minor skin inflammation (such as sunburn) and as an aid in healing minor wounds, on the basis of long-standing use alone. A 2019 systematic review of 14 studies (7 animal, 7 clinical) found some benefit for acute wound healing, mixed results in venous ulcers, no benefit in one diabetic leg ulcer trial and one burns trial, and called for larger, better trials.^1,8

Nappy (diaper) rash

Limited

Small Iranian trials have compared calendula with other products, not with placebo. In 66 infants calendula ointment left significantly fewer rash sites than aloe cream (P = 0.001) after 10 days; in 73 children 1.5% calendula and olive ointments did not differ over 7 days; and in 100 infants bentonite cream healed rashes faster than calendula (86% v 52% completely improved in 3 days).

No adverse effects were reported in the two trials that assessed them. The EU monograph does not recommend use under 6 years because data are inadequate.^5,6,7,8

Radiation dermatitis (breast radiotherapy)

Limited

One phase III trial of 254 women found grade 2 or worse dermatitis in 41% using calendula ointment against 63% using trolamine (P < 0.001), with less radiation-related pain. It had no placebo arm and the comparator's own benefit is uncertain.

A 2023 meta-analysis of natural agents found calendula had no significant effect on preventing radiation dermatitis, and a 2024 meta-analysis judged the evidence for calendula insufficient. Ask your radiotherapy team before applying anything to treated skin.^4,2,3

How much

Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.

Semi-solid preparations

2–10% herbal substance⁸

The EU monograph gives ranges from 2–5% up to 4–20% depending on the extract type. Apply a thin layer to the affected area.

Frequency

2 to 4 times a day^8,5,6

Applies to both ointments and infusion-soaked dressings in the EU monograph. The nappy-rash trials applied ointment once to three times daily for 3 to 10 days.

Infusion dressing

1–2 g flower in 150 ml water⁸

Use the still-warm infusion to soak a dressing and remove it after 30 to 60 minutes.

Duration

Up to 1 week⁸

The EU monograph advises seeing a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms last longer than a week, or sooner if the skin looks infected or worsens.

Timing · The EU monograph says 2 to 4 applications a day. In the radiotherapy trial, product was applied to the irradiated field after each session.With food? · Not applicable; calendula in this entry is applied to the skin, not swallowed.How long to trial · The EU monograph advises seeing a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms persist beyond 1 week. Stop at once if the skin becomes redder, itchier or more inflamed.

How people take it

Ointment or cream2–10% herbal substance (EU monograph)The form used in the clinical trials; the radiotherapy trial used a commercial ointment and the nappy-rash trials used 1.5% and similar strengths.

Infusion-soaked dressing1–2 g flower in 150 ml waterA traditional preparation described in the EU monograph; not the form studied in the trials.

Oil or tincture-based preparationFollow the product labelThe EU monograph lists oil (1:10), tincture (1:5) and petroleum-jelly extracts, so strengths differ and labels are not interchangeable.

Safety

Who should avoid

Allergy to daisy-family (Asteraceae/Compositae) plants — EU monograph contraindication
Children under 6 — EU monograph says use is not established, too little data
Pregnancy and breastfeeding — EU regulator advises against, safety not established
Signs of skin infection or a wound that is worsening — see a clinician
Skin being treated with radiotherapy — check with your radiotherapy team first

Known interactions

No interactions in our data. Absence of a flag is not clearance.

Questions people ask

Does calendula work for radiotherapy skin reactions?

Evidence is inconsistent. One trial of 254 women found less severe dermatitis with calendula than with trolamine, but pooled analyses of natural agents found no significant effect for calendula. Always check with your radiotherapy team before putting anything on treated skin.

Is calendula cream safe for nappy rash?

The small trials reported no adverse effects and calendula performed about as well as olive ointment and better than aloe, but worse than bentonite. The EU regulator says use under 6 years is not established because data are inadequate, so ask a pharmacist or health visitor first.

Can I use calendula on cracked nipples while breastfeeding?

We found no trials of calendula for sore or cracked nipples, so we cannot say whether it works. The EU regulator says safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and does not recommend use, so ask a midwife or lactation consultant about alternatives.

Who should not use calendula?

Anyone with a known allergy to plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae or Compositae), such as ragweed, chrysanthemum or daisies. The EU monograph lists this as a contraindication and notes that skin sensitisation has been reported, frequency unknown.

Sources (8)

Reader notes

Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.

Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence

Calendula

At a glance

What it's used for

How much

How people take it

Safety

Who should avoid

Known interactions

Questions people ask

Does calendula work for radiotherapy skin reactions?

Is calendula cream safe for nappy rash?

Can I use calendula on cracked nipples while breastfeeding?

Who should not use calendula?

Sources (8)

Reader notes

Used it? Share how it went, or ask a question.