Essential oils can let you develop some allergies if applied directly. Simply put, they are chemicals and they need to be applied the right way. Our skin is sensitive and it can develop irritations and sensitization when chemicals come in direct contact. A solution that people do is to dilute these oils in so-called carrier oils. This will lower the strength of the essential oils so you can apply it on the skin safely. Now from here, you may be wondering if all these oils will cause this. While some people claim that there are ‘safe’ oils like lavender and tea tree oil, I still advise that you dilute them. There are some people who knew about this and thought that it would be safe for them and they just developed some sensitivity later on. With this, it is very important to dilute all oils that you plan to apply to your skin. Even diluted oils need to be checked. Some people are super sensitive that even diluted oils can cause some irritation. With this, a patch test is essential before you apply an essential oil all over your body. You can do this by simply applying the chemical on a small area of the skin. This can instantly show if you will develop a reaction. If you do, you should discontinue the use of the oil. Fortunately, conducting a skin patch test is easy. Here are some steps you should follow in doing an essential oils skin patch test.
Dilute The Oil
The first step involves diluting the oil. For you to do that, you need to have a carrier oil with you. Carrier oils can be almond oil or others. You need to mix a small amount of essential oil with this oil before you can apply it on your skin. This is true even if it is just a patch test.
Apply The Oil
You can apply the oil on a small patch of skin. The recommended area is in the inside of your elbow because it is not seen in case irritations occur. Go with just a couple of drops and do not apply it right away. If you think that some oils are not good for you, then just do not apply them.
Let It Sit
To know if the oil will really cause some irritation, you have to let it sit for awhile. Some people even apply a bandage to the area to make sure that the oil does not evaporate. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before observing.
Observe
After a few minutes, try to see if there are some negative reactions. Does your skin texture change? Do you feel itchy? Does your skin feel hot? If you feel some irritation, wash the oil with soap and water right away. Do not wait. So that’s how easy it is to conduct a patch test. Always take note of your allergies. If you are allergic to a plant, then you will also be allergic to its oil. Also, even if the oil is okay for you, you still need to conduct another patch test if you are going to apply it to other people. Essential oils can irritate your skin. It is a good thing that there is a patch test for essential oils that you can perform before you apply the oil to other parts of your body.
Leave a Reply