A marigold extract in balms and body care for soothing and minor skin damage. Radiotherapy trials conflict: one large trial favoured it, another found no difference.
Calendula flowers contain triterpenes, flavonoids and carotenoids with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects in lab and animal studies. It is a staple of baby balms, nappy creams and body lotions.
The most rigorous human tests come from breast cancer radiotherapy. A 254-patient trial found fewer moderate-to-severe skin reactions with a calendula ointment than with a standard trolamine cream (41% vs 63%); a later 420-patient blinded trial found a calendula cream no better than a simple aqueous cream.
Two randomized trials in radiotherapy disagree, and both used medicinal-strength preparations rather than the low levels in most body products. Other evidence is small wound and nappy-rash studies plus lab work.
254 women having breast radiotherapy were randomized to calendula ointment or trolamine cream; grade 2 or worse dermatitis occurred in 41% versus 63%, with less pain and fewer treatment interruptions on calendula.
Among 411 analysed breast cancer patients, a calendula cream was no better than a plain aqueous cream at preventing radiation skin reactions (23% vs 19%), and patient-reported symptoms did not differ.