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Photosensitizing: Should Italian Helichrysum Essential Oil be Avoided in the Sun?

Photosensitizing: Should Italian Helichrysum Essential Oil be Avoided in the Sun?

Some essential oils should only be used in the evening and require the application of sun protection in the following days. These botanical extracts are referred to as photosensitizing. What do we mean by this term? What about Italian helichrysum essential oil? Continue reading to learn more.

Summary
Published on August 6, 2024, updated on October 4, 2024, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 3 min of reading
Themes:
Essential Oil of Immortelle
UV Light

Can we expose ourselves to the sun after using Italian Helichrysum essential oil?

Some essential oils (lemon, grapefruit, bergamot...) are known to be photosensitizing. Most of them contain furocoumarins, molecules that absorb sunlight before reacting through fluorescence and re-emitting the absorbed energy. When applied to the skin, this energy is directly transmitted to the oxygen atoms present in the epidermis, which then become free radicals capable of damaging cellular components and leading to detrimental biological effects on the skin (redness, hives, itching...). Generally, a photosensitizing agent reacts under the influence of sunlight to transform into a molecule that deteriorates skin structures and weakens the epidermal barrier, making the skin more sensitive.

Obtained through the hydrodistillation of Italian helichrysum flowers, the Italian helichrysum essential oil, or immortelle essential oil, is one of the most commonly used essential oils in aromatherapy. Besides its pleasant fragrance, often described as "exotic" and "spicy", it stands out for its interesting cosmetic properties, both for the skin and hair. Indeed, theimmortelle essential oil is known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and protective actions. Another advantage of theItalian helichrysum essential oil : it does not contain furocoumarins and can be used morning and evening.

The essential oil of immortelle is not considered to be photosensitizing.

Contrarily, a recent study conducted by LARATTA and his team demonstrated that the essential oil of Italian helichrysum possesses a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 6.91. This indicates that it can, to some extent, block UVB rays and has some photoprotective action. However, this is insufficient for the essential oil of helichrysum to be considered as a sunscreen. Indeed, generally, a sunscreen is considered effective when its SPF is 15 or higher. Furthermore, the essential oil of Italian helichrysum is not officially recognized and listed as a sunscreen by European regulations.

Note : The use of immortelle essential oil in case of sun exposure is not pointless. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it can protect the skin from oxidative stress and help it fight against premature skin aging caused by free radicals.

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Sources

  • APPENDINO G. & al. Helichrysum italicum: The dormant titan of Mediterranean herbal medicine. Herbalgram (2015).

  • THOMAS A. & et al. Photosensitization Reactions of Biomolecules: Definition, Targets, and Mechanisms. Photochemistry and Photobiology (2021).

  • LARATTA B. & al. Determination of Antioxidant Activity and Sun Protection Factor of Commercial Essential Oils. Biology and Life Sciences Forum (2021).

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