Plantago species, commonly known as plantain (including Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata), have a long history of traditional use in herbal medicine for treating skin conditions, including dermatitis. Ethnobotanical records from Europe, Asia, and North America document the topical application of plantain leaf poultices or extracts to soothe inflamed skin, promote wound healing, and reduce itching and irritation associated with various forms of dermatitis and minor skin injuries.

The traditional rationale centers around the mucilage content of Plantago leaves, which may provide a soothing, protective barrier on the skin, and the presence of bioactive compounds such as aucubin, allantoin, and flavonoids, which are purported to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, the scientific evidence supporting these effects is limited. A few in vitro and animal studies suggest anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, but robust clinical trials in humans specifically evaluating Plantago for dermatitis are lacking.

Therefore, while Plantago is widely used in traditional medicine for dermatitis, the scientific validation for its efficacy in this condition is minimal, and most support comes from anecdotal and historical use rather than strong clinical evidence.