Essential oils can be beneficial for many different types of skin conditions. Many essential oils have skin-enhancing properties that make them ideal for use in homemade cosmetics or for direct use on the skin when mixed in a carrier oil such as canola or almond oil. Some essential oils can be used to treat skin infections, wounds or insect bites. An additional bonus of using essential oils is that the aroma is inhaled, providing a mental benefit, while the skin absorbs the oil.
Toxin Removal
Certain essential oils can remove toxins from the body. Essential oils are absorbed into the skin, making these essential oils valuable in the cleansing process. According to Susan E. Worwood and Valerie Ann Worwood in their book "Essential Aromatherapy," toxins may attach themselves to the essential oils that the skin absorbs and are then excreted from the body in other ways. They refer to essential oils as "rubbish collectors" that can help to remove free radicals, bacteria, fungi and other debris. Essential oils can be absorbed into the skin when used in a bath, a foot bath, body lotion, massage oils and creams or massaged directly into the skin.
Antiseptic
Essential oils such as clove or rose oil are natural antiseptics. These oils have the ability to fight bacteria and infections, such as those occurring in minor skin wounds or cuts and insect bites. When used in fungal infections of the feet, massaging these oils into the feet can help alleviate certain conditions, such as athlete's foot. In her book "Natural Beauty at Home" Janice Cox suggests using 1/2 teaspoon of clove oil in 1/2 cup light sesame oil as a natural, antiseptic foot massage oil. Other oils are also antiseptic and can be applied directly to wounds or cuts to help heal and fight infection, such as bitter orange or thyme.
Moisturizing
Essential oils can be added to homemade facial and body moisturizers or applied directly to the skin. According to Valerie Ann Worwood in "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy," essential oils such as chamomile, lavender, sandalwood, and geranium have moisturizing properties that make them ideal for use on normal to dry skin. Certain oils can be blended with a carrier oil such as grapeseed or almond oil, and used in the same way that a night cream or a day moisturizer is used.
References
- "Essential Aromatherapy: A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy"; Susan E. Worwood and Valerie Ann Worwood; 2003
- "Natural Beauty at Home"; Janice Cox; 2002
- "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy"; Valerie Ann Worwood; 1991
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