Essential oils can be a wonderful ally for supporting mind-body balance in the summertime, but some you need to be cautious with. This is because specific oils can cause an unwanted skin reaction when exposed to sunlight. This doesn’t cancel out the amazing benefits of these various oils, but it does require one to be mindful of their safe application when venturing outdoors.
In my latest clinical tip on my YouTube channel, I focus on the topic of phototoxicity. Although it sounds like a super scary word, it is not fatal. Still, it is unsightly and can cause skin damage and emotional upheaval.
Phototoxicity is a reaction in which a chemical substance increases the sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light. In the case of essential oils, the constituents known as furanocoumarins (FCs) are responsible for causing a change in skin tone when hit by UV rays. To be specific, when FCs on the skin encounter UV light, they form covalent bonds with DNA in the skin. This causes crosslinks of the DNA in our skin cells. As a result, an inflammatory response occurs leading to redness, sunburn, and, in severe cases, blistering.
FCs are mostly found in expressed citrus oils, but other essential oils can contain them as well. Therefore, it’s important to have knowledge of which oils you can safely and fearlessly apply and head to the beach vs. ones in which you should wait 12-18 hours post topical application.
Watch my video to learn more including:
– important details about phototoxicity and photosensitivity
– which oils contain furanocoumarins (FCs)
– what factors lead to more severe phototoxicity
– precautions to consider when using essential oils containing FCs
– giving some love to the benefits of FCs
Access the link to the video, the transcript, and all the resources here.
Have you ever had an experience with being caught in the sun with photosensitive oils?
Share more below.
Links to Learn More About My Offerings and Education on Essential Oils:
- My Essential Oils Community Membership
- My Resource Page
- My CEU Course for Practitioners on the Clinical Use of Essential Oils
Disclaimer: This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.
