Oils and sun exposure — Aura Elixir

Some essential oils, mostly cold-pressed citrus oils, contain furanocoumarins. When skin carrying these compounds meets ultraviolet light (sunshine or a tanning bed), it can burn, blister or darken in the shape of the patch. This is called phototoxicity. It can happen to anyone and is not an allergy.

Oils to handle with care

Bergamot (the ordinary kind, not bergapten-free, "FCF")
Lemon, lime and bitter orange, when cold-pressed
Grapefruit, when cold-pressed
Angelica root and cumin seed

Steam-distilled citrus oils generally do not carry these compounds, and bergapten-free bergamot has them removed. The label should say which you have. When it does not say, assume the oil is phototoxic. Our labels name the plant by its Latin name; see how to read our label.

Two simple rules

Keep leave-on blends with cold-pressed citrus at 0.4% or less. That is about 2 drops per 30 ml of carrier. Published limits differ by oil (bergamot is the strictest at 0.4%; grapefruit and lemon allow more), and 0.4% is the one cautious number that works for all of them.
No sun or tanning bed on that skin for at least 12 hours after applying. Many sources advise longer, up to 24 hours, for the strongest oils, so when in doubt cover the area or wait a day.

What is fine

Diffusing citrus oils is not the same as putting them on your skin, and the sun rule is for skin contact.
Rinse-off products (a bath, a wash) carry a lower risk than leave-on ones, but the same caution applies to the first time you try one.

If skin reacts

Redness or a burn-like patch after sun on skin that had citrus oil: get out of the sun, cool the area with water, and see a health professional if there are blisters or the skin is painful.

Please note: this is general information, not medical advice.

Sources

More guides

Questions about an oil or a blend? aura.elixir@outlook.com

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