Lavender Essential Oil and Skin Care
by Lynda Sorenson
I thought I would start with Lavender Essential oil, as it is the most obvious and probably the most widely used Essential oil in skin care. There are several varieties and cultivars of Lavender, including several names for the same variety, with Lavandula angustifolia, L. vera, L. officinalis all referring to the same species. This is the most commonly used of the Lavender Essential oils in skin care .
While I will be among the first to acknowledge that Essential oils effect the emotions, and that our emotional states affects the health of the body - including the skin - this will not be a focus of mine at this time. So many others have written so thoroughly on this subject that there isn�t anything I can add here, and it is impossible for any of us to cover every single inter-related effect of the Essential oils on our minds and bodies.
Lavender has a million uses in skin care, for almost every skin type and condition. Be aware of some common sense precautions, however, as discussed last month. Never, ever use any Essential oil neat, except in certain emergency situations, as will be mentioned later. And understand that there are many skin conditions that are not treatable at home; and that any condition that persists after simpler treatments have been tried should be examined by a qualified medical professional.
You will commonly see suggestions by other authors that Lavender is safe to use neat on the skin. This might encourage you to blithely use it undiluted in daily life. And indeed, Lavender Essential oil is generally considered non-irritating and non-sensitizing at low doses. Remember our sensitization motto: Anyone can become sensitized to any substance at any time. Neat use of any oil is not worth the risk, and from a mercenary point of view, will end up costing you a lot more in Essential oils than you really need to spend to get the desired effect. This is especially important when using Essential oils on broken or damaged skin, and when using them on areas such as the face, where the skin is generally more sensitive than most other areas of the body. One should always perform a patch test before using new oils on the skin. Do this by applying a small amount of the properly diluted oil to the skin of the inside of the elbow or behind the ear, and covering it with clear cellophane tape. After 24 hours observe the skin for any adverse reactions such as redness, inflammation and sensitivity. One can also apply a small drop of the neat oil to the inside of the elbow and observe the area after five minutes to look for signs of these same reactions. If you are using Essential oils on others it is vitally important to get a thorough history from them before proceeding with any skin care.
THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS: Lavender Essential oil is generally used in skin care for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, cicatrisant and fungicidal properties. These actions indicate Lavender Essential oil for use in caring for occasional acne; itching and swelling due to insect bites or mild local infections, light rashes, burns and sunburns. It is said to be useful for balancing sebaceous secretions in oily skins. Many authors also suggest its use for eczema and psoriasis, though I would again caution that all but the most mild of cases should be seen by a medical professional. Studies also show that Lavender Essential oil enhances healing of the skin.
USING LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL IN SKIN CARE:
Burns: The only time I would suggest using Lavender - or any Essential oil, for that matter - neat on the skin would be for minor burns and scalds. For this purpose always keep a bottle of Lavender in the kitchen within easy reach of the oven, and dab on the burned area with a cotton swab.
Sunburns: To cool and soothe, reduce inflammation and relieve itching, as well as to speed the repair of damaged skin, add 4 gtt (drops) Lavender Essential oil and 3 gtt German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) Essential oil to either an ounce of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) gel, or to Lavender or Rose (Rosa damascena) hydrosols, and apply to the burned areas at least twice a day until the skin has healed. This same dilution can be used in cool compresses with a fifty-fifty solution of cider vinegar and purified water. These are even more soothing if you keep them in the fridge between uses. Cool baths are also helpful. Blend 3 gtt Lavender and 2 gtt German Chamomile into a cup of cider vinegar, and add to a tepid bath. Soak for ten minutes.
Insect Bites: Many authors also suggest that one can use neat Lavender Essential oil on insect bites. Take it from me: bad idea! This is how I became sensitized to Lavender during one long, mosquito ridden summer. What I would suggest instead is to make and keep on hand a small blend of a half ounce of witch hazel and 3-4 gtt of Lavender Essential oil. Shake well before using, and dab onto the bite with a cotton swab. Again, keeping the blend cool will enhance the soothing effects.