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Sun sensitivity (phototoxicity) and essential oils.
Sun sensitivity (phototoxicity) or otherwise also known as
photosensitization occurs when an agent, in our case certain essential oils, are used and they cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight (actually any ultra violet - UV - light) and one would therefore burn and damage more easily.
The oils as such do not cause skin sensitivity, but when applied and the skin is exposed to ultra violet (UV) light, sun sensitivity may occur. Should phototoxic oil be used in aromatherapy massage, one should not sun tan for at least 12 hours after the massage.
The main culprits causing phototoxicity are the oils from the citrus family, when they are extracted by direct expression and without distillation. There are however some oils, like lemon, which still remains phototoxic even after distillation.
The agent causing this sun sensitivity is the bergaptene contained in the oil.
Should oil contain a very small amount of bergaptene or 5 methoxypsolaren (5 MOP) - normally below 0.000075% the effect will not be pronounced such as sweet orange oil, which contains only 0.00005%.
Oils like bergamot, lime and bitter orange are severely phototoxic when used undiluted, but should they be used in very low dilutions the sun sensitizing effect is negated to a large degree.
People should not include any of these oils in sun tanning lotions or creams, because it WILL NOT make you tan easier or faster, but will only cause burning, and skin damage when exposed to the sun.
Essential oils that may cause sun sensitivity:
* Unless it is bergaptene-free oil - sold as Bergamot FCF.
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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