Lavender Oil and Skin

The word "lavender" comes from the Latin “lavare,” meaning “to wash.” An ingredient in soaps and shampoos, lavender has a long history of use in bathing. People believe it can cleanse both the body and the spirit. Research suggests the smell of lavender also produces a small but notable soothing, calming, sedative effect, the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) reports.

Source

Lavender oil comes from fresh flowers of the lavender plant, which grows in Australia, southern Europe and the United States. Lavender plants are shrubs that grow to about 24 inches in height and have woody branches with rod-like green leafy shoots and narrow gray-green leaves. Fragrant lavender flowers appear in spirals of 6 to 10 small violet blossoms spiking above the plant’s foliage.

Uses

Herbalists use lavender oil for treating a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, acne, small cuts or abrasions and fungal infections such as candidiasis. For eczema, therapeutic touch may be just as effective as lavender oil for reducing dry skin lesions, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). The study found that parents who massaged children with eczema noted equal improvement of the symptoms whether or not they used lavender oil during the massage.

Application

If this is your first time using lavender oil, dilute a small amount of the essential oil in an equal amount of water. Place a small dab of this mixture on the inside of your elbow and cover the area with a bandage. Wait 24 hours to see if you develop any sort of reaction. If you do, then stop here because you're allergic to it. Lavender oil is not for you. If you observe no reaction, then you may proceed with application.

Dilute one to four drops of lavender oil in a base oil such as almond or olive oil. Apply on the affected skin and gently massage it in.

Warnings

Consult your health care provider before you begin using lavender oil to treat a skin condition, just as is recommended for any herbal remedy. Do not use lavender on an open wound.

Never use lavender oil or any other essential oil without diluting it. Though some sources claim lavender oil is safe to apply undiluted, it may cause a severe reaction in some individuals. Allergic reactions to lavender oil could include symptoms such as headache, vomiting, nausea or chills.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use lavender oil.

Considerations

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study published in 2007 confirmed an apparent correlation between enlarged breasts in prepubescent teen boys and repeated topical use of lavender oil. Clinical trials found that lavender appears to be an endocrine disruptor, which means it can cause an imbalance in estrogen and androgen signals. Researchers have made no claims that lavender oil will have the same effect on girls or women, though.