This Woman's Scary Reaction to Essential Oils Is Going Viral
By Sarah Kinonen. Photos: Getty Images, Courtesy of Twitter.
Essential oils are so much more than aromatic accessories found in the aisles of your favorite health store. They're the fragrance essences extracted from plants that are much more concentrated than regular oils, says dermatologist Rebecca Kazin. When used properly, essential oils have been known to soothe, calm, and even heal the body (and mind). But one woman's horrifying experience with the plant-based oils should act as a reminder that just because something is considered "natural" doesn't it's necessarily safer.
In a Facebook post gone viral, Elise Nguyen shared her experience with essential oils, and let's just say things didn't go as planned. According to Nguyen, before heading to a hot yoga class, she applied a few drops of doTERRA essential oils, a line of oils specifically formulated for topical treatment on the skin, to her neck and wrists. Following the sweat sesh, she jetted off to hit the tanning bed in preparation for an upcoming vacation. (Quick reminder: We do not condone the use of tanning beds in any way, shape, or form.) A day later, in the areas Nguyen applied essential oil, irritation and large red splotches began to form.
"Over the next couple of days, I developed nasty blisters due to a chemical burn," she wrote. "Turns out, there is a teeny tiny caution on the oil that states 'stay out of sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after application' or something like that. I developed second and third degree burns from the oils."
Read her full post here.
As it turns out, Nguyen didn't properly read the oils' label before application — even after visiting the tanning bed — which led to the formation of phytophotodermatitis, explains Elizabeth Tanzi, founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care{: rel=nofollow} and associate clinical professor, department of dermatology at the George Washington University Medical Center. "That means plant extracts plus ultraviolet light equals dermatitis, which is a bad rash that can blister."
So when Nguyen used the tanning bed while wearing the oils, she essentially caused the formation of blisters and burns. "It's a common cause of unusual-looking skin rashes in the summer, and since the tanning bed is a very potent dose of UVA, any [plant-based] fragrances or these essential oils should never be worn," warns Tanzi.
While we're saddened to see someone have to experience something so painful, we hope that Nguyen's experience with essential oils and tanning beds serves as a reminder to one, read the labels on your products before use, and two — in the words of John Oliver — "Tanning beds...Why are they still a thing?"
This story originally appeared on Allure.
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