Aveeno & Mayo Clinic: A Historic Partnership Reimagined for Skin Science

SUMMIT, NJ – March 10, 2026 – Aveeno®, the skincare brand long synonymous with the soothing power of oats, is celebrating its 80th anniversary by reinforcing its scientific foundations. Kenvue, the brand's parent company, today announced a significant three-year research collaboration with the globally respected Mayo Clinic. The partnership aims to advance skin health science through new preclinical and clinical research, professional education, and innovation, with a specific focus on treating compromised skin.

This move signals a deepened commitment to evidence-based skincare, uniting a consumer health giant with a premier medical institution to potentially redefine treatments for millions suffering from chronic skin conditions.

A Partnership Rooted in History

While the announcement marks a new chapter, the relationship between Aveeno® and Mayo Clinic is not a new development but rather a return to its origins. The brand's very inception in 1945 was the result of a collaboration between its founders, brothers Albert and Sidney Musher, and the Mayo Clinic. Their pioneering work explored the dermatological benefits of finely milled colloidal oatmeal, a discovery that would become the cornerstone of the Aveeno® brand.

This historical link was cemented in medical literature just a few years later. In a 1951 paper published in the A.M.A. Archives of Dermatology and Syphilology, physicians from the Mayo Clinic were the first to formally document the therapeutic benefits of colloidal oatmeal baths for treating a variety of skin conditions, known as dermatoses. This early validation from a leading medical authority provided the scientific credibility that helped launch Aveeno® from a niche remedy into a household name.

Over the subsequent decades, the brand has built upon this legacy, funding and publishing numerous studies. According to company data, Aveeno's research teams have conducted over 80 clinical studies since 2001, assessing the efficacy of its oat-based formulations on more than 2,500 patients with dry, itchy, and compromised skin. This new, formalized collaboration represents a significant escalation of that long-standing, if informal, relationship.

Kenvue's Strategic Science Play

The timing and nature of this collaboration are strategically significant for Kenvue, the consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson. The company's Skin Health & Beauty segment, which includes major brands like Aveeno® and Neutrogena®, has recently faced sales declines, prompting a broad strategic review that has included the possibility of selling or spinning off the division.

In this context, the partnership with Mayo Clinic can be seen as a powerful move to bolster the value and market position of the Aveeno® brand. By aligning with a world-class medical institution, Kenvue is reinforcing the brand’s scientific credentials and differentiating it in a fiercely competitive skincare market. This initiative fits within a wider industry trend where consumer brands seek validation from academic and medical centers to build trust and drive innovation. Similar high-profile partnerships, such as those between Olay and Harvard Medical School or Amorepacific and Johns Hopkins Dermatology, have proven effective at translating deep science into marketable product breakthroughs.

"We are constantly pushing for innovation, staying on the cutting edge of research and testing, especially within our skin health portfolio," stated Dr. Caroline Tillett, Chief Scientific Officer at Kenvue, in the official announcement. "Our goal is to deliver even greater solutions for ultimate skin health and wellness for both patients and consumers." This investment in fundamental research underscores a strategy to lean into the brand’s heritage of scientific efficacy, potentially revitalizing its growth trajectory or making it a more attractive asset.

Pushing the Frontiers of Oat Science

At the heart of the collaboration is a shared goal to deepen the scientific understanding of oats in dermatology. Colloidal oatmeal is already an ingredient with substantial scientific backing; in 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially classified it as a skin protectant. Its effectiveness stems from a complex composition of starches, proteins, lipids, and unique antioxidant compounds.

Key among these are avenanthramides, potent anti-inflammatory and anti-itch agents, and beta-glucans, which form a moisturizing and protective barrier on the skin's surface. Decades of research have confirmed these multi-functional benefits, establishing colloidal oatmeal as a go-to recommendation for managing conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and xerosis (abnormally dry skin).

The new research programs will focus specifically on Aveeno's proprietary Triple Oat® formulation and its effects on compromised skin. While existing knowledge is robust, the collaboration will likely explore more nuanced mechanisms of action. Modern dermatological research is increasingly focused on the skin's microbiome—the community of microorganisms living on its surface—and its role in health and disease. The new studies could investigate how oat-based ingredients influence this delicate ecosystem to promote a healthier skin barrier. Furthermore, the research may use advanced techniques to examine how oat compounds modulate gene expression related to inflammation, hydration, and cellular repair, offering a more precise understanding of how this ancient remedy works at a molecular level.

From the Lab to the Consumer's Shelf

For consumers, the ultimate promise of this partnership is the translation of high-level scientific discovery into more effective and accessible everyday skincare solutions. As the prevalence of sensitive skin and chronic dermatological conditions continues to rise, so does the demand for products that are both gentle and powerful, natural and scientifically proven.

By combining Mayo Clinic's clinical expertise with Kenvue's deep insights into consumer needs, the collaboration is poised to yield innovations that directly address the quality-of-life issues faced by those with compromised skin. This could manifest as new formulations with enhanced barrier-repair capabilities, products targeted at specific inflammatory triggers, or educational initiatives that empower patients to better manage their skin health.

In a market saturated with wellness trends and unsubstantiated claims, this partnership firmly anchors the Aveeno® brand in the realm of evidence-based care. It reinforces the idea that a simple, natural ingredient like the oat, when subjected to rigorous scientific inquiry, can provide profound benefits, bridging the gap between clinical dermatology and the products people use in their homes every day.