Essential oils are highly concentrated oils made from plant extracts.
They are used in aromatherapy or diluted and applied to the skin.
While essential oils are oftenused to improve health, they can cause allergic reactions.
Jamie Grill/Getty Images
Eczema
Eczema is a rash that is scaly and itchy.
Genetic and environmental factors likely cause this chronic disease.
Exposure to certain things tends to trigger flare-ups.
These reactions can occur whether you’re usingessential oilsin a diffuser or on your skin.
Reactions can range from mild itchiness and sneezing to more severe reactions such as difficulty breathing.
If you use essential oils, you should tell your healthcare providers.
Remember, just because something is natural doesn’t mean it can’t have possible side effects.
Common Essential Oil Allergies
you could experience anallergic reactionto any essential oil.
Contact Poison Control at 800-222-1222 to get information about whether you should seek emergency care.
If youre allergic to essential oils, you might experience rashes, nasal symptoms, or even breathing difficulties.
Contact Dermatitis
The most commonly reported allergic reaction to essential oils iscontact dermatitis.
This skin rash usually happens when you apply pure oils or highly concentrated products to the skin.
Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction or sensitivity to something that comes in contact with your skin.
This reaction results in a rash that is usually red and itchy.
They can help narrow down whats causing the reaction.
Allergic Rhinitis
People with allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) should use caution when diffusing essential oils.
If you havepollen allergies, you should be especially careful.
That’s because strong odors from the oils can sometimes irritate the nasal passages.
Your healthcare provider can help you determine whether your symptoms are due to an allergy or irritation.
So, if you have asthma orweed-pollen allergies, use caution before using any essential oils in a diffuser.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxisis a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate emergency care.
While anaphylaxis is rare with essential oil allergies, it has been reported.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that comes on suddenly.
It affects breathing and heart rate and can be fatal.
Doctors treat it with epinephrine (a synthetic form of adrenaline).
Symptoms can start mild and progress to more severe problems quickly.
These symptoms include:
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency and can lead to cardiac arrest.
Seek emergency help if you or someone youre with has symptoms of anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction.
If you have asthma or pollen allergies, you may be more prone to react to essential oils.
They can evaluate your medical history to help determine your likelihood to react to certain oils.
In addition, they might recommend you conduct a patch test to determine if you have an allergy.
Leave it on for 48 to 72 hours.
Look for signs such as redness, itching, irritation, blisters, or a burning sensation.
Reactions to essential oils may include skin rashes, itchy and runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
These side effects are rare but can happen to anyone.
People who are pregnant, young children, and infants should avoid contact with peppermint oil in any form.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work?
de Groot A, Schmidt E.Essential oils, part IV.Dermatitis.
2019;12:169182. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193211
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Rhinitis (Nasal Allergies).
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Essential Oil Diffusers and Asthma.
Veraldi S, Mascagni P, Tosi D, Brena M.Allergic contact dermatitis resulting from argan oil.Dermatitis.
2016;27(6):391. doi:10.1097/der.0000000000000228
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
Moy RL, Levenson C.Sandalwood Album Oil as a Botanical Therapeutic in Dermatology.
J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.
2017;10(10):34-39.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Peppermint Oil.
Cheng J, Zug K.Fragrance allergic contact dermatitis.Dermatitis.
2014;25(5):232-245. doi:10.1097/der.0000000000000067
