By Lindsey Murray, Good Housekeeping
Essential oils are known for their soothing effects, but one woman is taking to Facebook to warn others after her recent experience left her anything but calm.
In a now deleted post, Elise Nguyen claims she applied doTERRA essential oils, which are made for the skin, on her wrist and neck prior to a hot yoga class. After the class, she went to a tanning bed to prep for an upcoming vacation. When she noticed irritation the next day, she assumed it was a bad reaction to new laundry detergent, but then things took a turn for the worst.
[post_ads]Accompanying the post are horrifying photos of her skin within two weeks of the burns. She is now on day 22, but says she is still struggling with painful open areas.
While Nguyen recognizes that she missed doTERRA's warning to steer clear of UV rays, it's always important to recognize that essential oils can cause irritation on skin under any circumstance. "Products marketed as essential oils can contain high levels of a single or a mixture of plant oils that can be harsh on sensitive skin without a hot yoga class and a tanning bed appointment that can be irritating on their own," explained Birnur Aral, Ph.D, Director of the Health, Beauty and Environmental Sciences Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "We consumers tend to think that anything plant-derived is 'natural' and therefore innocuous, which may not always be the case."
Aral advises being wary of the combinations of products and practices used on the body, avoiding tanning beds at all costs and always using ample sun protection. Along with this, doTERRA has a warning on their website that their essential oils can result in photosensitivity AKA sun allergies:
"Photosensitization is the process in which ultraviolet (UV) radiation combines with a particular substance and causes chemical or biological changes. Some essential oils contain furocoumarins, a special class of constituent that can cause photosensitization of the skin. The most commonly found furocoumarins in essential oils are bergapten and oxypeucedanin. The chemical structure of these molecules (and their metabolites) allows them to form cross-links with skin cell DNA, in turn making the skin especially susceptible to UV radiation. During the process, free radicals and singlet oxygen are also formed and can inflict damage on cellular membranes, organelles, and proteins. If exposed to sunlight (which gives off UV radiation) after topical application of a photosensitive oil, the skin may become temporarily darkly pigmented, red, or irritated. Exposing photosensitive skin to sunlight can also increase risk for cancer. Photosensitivity and phototoxicity apply to topical use of essential oils only and do not pose the same risks when used internally. When using a photosensitive essential oil topically, avoidance of sunlight is recommended for up to 12 hours after use."[post_ads_2]
Nguyen has unfortunately learned a hard lesson, but is hoping that her message will help others avoid a terrible situation like hers. "I'm not blaming the company, it was my own damn fault. I just want everyone to be aware of this … I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else," she wrote.
GoodHousekeeping.com has reached out to doTERRA, but has not heard back. We will update this post as more information becomes available.
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