Aromatherapy 101: How To Do A Skin Patch Test

Most, but not all, essential oils require a skin patch test before using to make sure it’s safe for you personally. Do this when in good health and not in need of medicine. Put 2-3 days between each skin patch testing.

The following is an excerpt from Aromatherapy and The Body Systems by American College of Healthcare Sciences:

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How To Do A Skin Patch Test

Skin patch testing is highly recommended prior to the use of new essential oils to rule out the possibility of allergic reactions.

To conduct a skin patch test for sensitization, test twice in 48 hours.

1. Use the proposed concentration (usually 0.5-2% in a carrier oil), place in the crook of the arm, and cover with a band-aid or something similar.

2. After 24 hours, check for irritation, remove, and then patch test again.

3. Usually, any sensitization reaction will show itself within 48 hours.

Potential sensitizers include, but are not limited to:

• cinnamon C. zeylanicum - the aldehyde content

• cassia Cinnamomum cassia - the aldehyde content

• the lactones in costus Saussurea costus and elecampane Inula helenium

• oxidized monoterpenes in citrus

• tea tree Australia Melaleuca alternifolia

• pine P. sylvestris

• lemon verbena Lippia citriodora

• benzoin resinoid Styrax tonkinensis

• Peru balsam Myroxylon pereirae

• Ylang ylang Cananga odorata var. genuina

In the event of a sensitization response:

1. Remove the offending material with carrier oil or whole milk.

2. A homeopathic antihistamine or Urtica urens may assist to calm the immune response.

3. Once the immune response has abated, try an alternative essential oil. Turmeric Curcuma longa essential oil has been shown to have a more powerful effect than cortisone and may assist for sensitization responses. The significant anti-inflammatory effect of turmeric C. longa essential oil was attributed to its histaminic and prostaglandin inhibitory activity.