Folliculitis, an inflammation of your hair follicles, can be caused by skin trauma, chemical irritation or infection. Your skin is normally colonized by a variety of microorganisms, including several different kinds of bacteria. Most of these microbes inhabit your skin without causing any harm. However, a disruption of your skin's normal immune barriers can allow bacterial invasion and subsequent infection. Lavender oil could be helpful for some forms of folliculitis, but check with your doctor before using home remedies for any infection.
Staph a Common Cause
According to a July 2002 "American Family Physician" review, folliculitis can involve several layers of your skin, and deeper infections may require oral antibiotic therapy. Superficial infections usually resolve on their own, although topical agents, such as antibiotic creams, may speed healing. Several different kinds of bacteria -- Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Proteus species -- can cause folliculitis, but Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacterial agent. Lavender oil exhibits antibacterial activity against some of these organisms.
Activity
Several species of lavender are used to manufacture lavender oil. Lavandula angustifolia and L. latifolia are among the most common varieties incorporated into commercial products. A study published in the March 2009 issue of "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" demonstrated that oils from L. angustifolia, L. latifolia, L. stoechas and L. luisieri all inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, or MRSA. Interestingly, combinations of these oils exhibited better antibacterial activity than single-variety oils.
Side Effects
Lavender oil is usually well tolerated. When applied topically, the most common side effect is mild local irritation. However, more severe allergic reactions can occur, and such reactions may develop following repeated or prolonged use. In the January 2008 issue of "Contact Dermatitis," researchers reported that the main ingredients in lavender oil -- linalool and linalyl acetate -- undergo oxidation when exposed to air, and the byproducts of this process are potent skin sensitizers that are frequently implicated in cases of contact dermatitis.
Considerations
Folliculitis can occur as the result of bacterial invasion, minor skin trauma or exposure to chemicals or other toxins. Lavender oil exhibits antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, the most common bacterial cause of folliculitis. Topical applications of lavender oil may prove useful for many cases of folliculitis, but such use is not without risk; contact dermatitis and allergic reactions have been reported with the use of lavender products. If you have persistent, recurrent or severe folliculitis, ask your doctor if lavender oil is appropriate for you.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Common Bacterial Skin Infections; D.L. Stulberg, et al; July 2002
- "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; The Antibacterial Activity of High-Necrodane and Other Lavender Oils on Methicillin-Sensitive and -Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA and MRSA); S. Roller, et al; March 2009
- "Contact Dermatitis"; Autoxidation of Linalyl Acetate, the Main Component of Lavender Oil, Creates Potent Contact Allergens; M. Sköld, et al; January 2008
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