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Certain essential oils are more inclined to cause skin irritation and/or sensitization in normal individuals than other oils. For those with sensitive skins, a few oils should be used with care - click here to look at oils that should be used with care by those with sensitive skins.
If you have never used an essential oil, and think that your skin might be irritated by it, it is recommended that a skin patch test be done before use.
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Since people differ, it is difficult to predict if an oil will irritate or cause dermal sensitization, even when the individual has never shown allergies before.
Skin irritation is an inflammation caused by a reaction to a certain oil and the severity is normally dependant upon the exposure to the oil. It has been thought by some that it is the terpene content in oils that cause skin irritation, but tests have shown that it is more likely to be caused by a high phenol content in certain oils.
Should skin irritation occur, immediately cease using the particular essential oil or oil blend that you suspect is causing it.
Dermal or skin sensitization can happen when certain essential oils are applied to the skin, even when diluted, and the skin normally reacts in the form of a rash, blotches and itching, and in some cases blistering can occur.
Normal allergic reaction involves the interaction of the immune system causing formation of antibodies to render the antigen (the offending oil) harmless, yet research has shown that skin sensitization is an immune system response and not an antigen antibody reaction.
Although not all skin sensitizing agents are known, it is the cinnamic aldehyde in cinnamon and cassia oil that causes this reaction.
- Costus
- Elecampane
- Cinnamon bark
- Fennel (Bitter)
- Cassia
Other pages of interest 
| Underneath, please find a list and hyperlinks to essential oils, carrier base oils as well as specialized blends manufactured by us. | | Essential oils | Specialized blends | Carrier / base oils | Information on essential oils not sold by us | | Information on carrier oils not sold by us |
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