Bergamot ** Photosensitizing EO

[Guest guest]

Hey Kathleen, Cheryl, other good folks ..

 

>>I had a question posed to me the other day about

>>how long to stay out of the direct sun or off a

>>tanning table if photosensitizing oils were used

>>in a massage.

>>

>>Is there an answer to such a question?

>

> Hey Cheryl,

>

> In my class we were taught to stay out of direct light for a minimum of 12

> hours up to 24. Now remember, they were teaching " Super Safe " and " Super

> cautious " .

 

That's the answer .. they don't know. But they are wrong about the

DIRECT SUNLIGHT .. problems can and do occur from exposure to daylight

or indirect sunlight .. basically, UV radiation .. and we can get that

while sitting in our living room. That's why Dracula always kept the

drapes closed when he was required to be up and around in the daytime.

 

Expressed (cold pressed) Bergamot is an oil with safe uses at extremes

of the spectrum. Its been tested safe at levels of 30% dilution as far

as IRRITATION is concerned .. and we can throw that one aside for now.

 

But the I.F.R.A in 1992 recommended that expressed Bergamot not exceed

4% and that the bergaptene not exceed 75 ppm in ANY products to be used

on skin that would be exposed to sunlight .. they did not give any time

limits. Understand that the I.F.R.A. is covering butts of commercial

manufacturers so they ALWAYS overstate any caution they report on .. as

should be the case because of legal ramifications.

 

As for photo-sensitization .. its not ethical to test humans for this so

any data obtained will be from observation of non-controlled incidents

and/or reports .. true or false reports. These reports go back to the

turn of the century and there's a fairly wide range of opinions in them.

Most of them have to do with incidents/problems resulting from colognes

and such .. and accidental exposure.

 

This " photosensitization " has been given a medical handle .. its called

" berlocke " dermatitis. It manifests itself as a form of dermatitis

ranging from blotchy pigmentation .. to severe and long lasting dermal

pigmentary changes and skin burns. Some folks experience it moreso than

others and in different manners .. examples .. the former (above) is

more severe in natural blondes and the latter in brunettes. Not sure

about bald folks but I still don't use it and go out in the sun. ;-)

 

> I can't answer about the other question, don't remember if I even HAVE that

> in my book from Martin (as it's not a course book, prolly not).

>

> Hope that helps a little.

> K

 

My opinion is .. why risk it? There are many, many beneficial uses for

Bergamot .. but I wouldn't personally use it in any skin product.

 

Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com