Facing Eczema at Four Months Old
Jaylin Anderson, from Mason City, Iowa, shares her experience of trying to get her daughter’s eczema diagnosed and treated when she was an infant.
Published On: Oct 7, 2024
Last Updated On: Oct 7, 2024
Lavender has been a popular ingredient for thousands of years — the ancient Romans used it in their baths.1 But can it help heal eczema?
While scrolling for eczema treatments online, you may have come across claims that lavender can soothe a flare. There is some evidence that lavender may heal wounds,2 reduce inflammation3 and alleviate anxiety,4 which would all be useful for eczema.
However, dermatologists tell patients with eczema to avoid fragrances, including lavender. Is lavender an exception to the rule? Here, we will explore how the ingredient lavender impacts people with eczema.
Lavender is a bushy plant with purple flowers and is a member of the mint family.1 It has long been used in perfumes, medicines, foods and beverages.1
When people recommend using lavender to treat skin conditions, they are usually referring to an essential oil distilled from the plant. This is done by boiling or steaming lavender, then collecting the resulting oil.5
Lavender essential oil can be purchased in many grocery and drug stores. It is also commonly used as an ingredient in lotions, soaps and even household cleaning products.
Two chemicals found in lavender called linalyl acetate and linalool are also widely used. They can both be found in perfumes, cleaning products, laundry detergents, soaps, deodorants, sunscreens and pet care items.6-7 Linalool is more widespread and can also be found in makeup, children’s finger paints, facial wipes, nail polish, lotion, toothpaste, chewing gum, soda, meat and baked goods.6,8
In short, lavender is not recommended for people with eczema. “The risk of allergic reactions and irritancy outweighs the purported calming and soothing effects [of lavender],” said Dr. JiaDe (Jeff) Yu, a board-certified dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Lavender fragrance is known to trigger eczema flares. Dr. Yu explained that it and other fragrances should be avoided by people with any type of eczema including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and dyshidrotic eczema.
According to Dr. Yu, lavender exposure could cause “itchy rash, redness, scaling — all the symptoms that you would expect in an eczema flare.”
How common are these reactions? One study of 2,178 people in an Australian clinic found that 2.2% of people patch tested with lavender showed a reaction to it.9 Most of the people in this study were exposed to lavender through an essential oil, perfume, skincare or washing product.9
Linalool can also be problematic. “Linalool when oxidized (comes in contact with air) becomes hydroperoxides of linalool, which is now reported to be one of the top 10 allergens in adults and children,” said Dr. Yu. “It’s a very common allergen I see in my clinic.” He noted that linalool can additionally be found in plants such as bergamot, rosewood and jasmine.
Research on oxidized linalyl acetate suggests it can also cause allergic reactions at a rate similar to lavender (2.8%).10
Since lavender and its chemical relatives can be found in so many products, it’s difficult to avoid them. But knowing what to look for can be a huge advantage.
If you have eczema, read the labels carefully on all your personal care, cosmetic and household items to weed out any with lavender, linalyl acetate and linalool. Since manufacturers are not required to list all the ingredients used in fragrances,11 it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid “fragrance” or “parfum” too.
If you have a diagnosed allergy to any of these ingredients, check in with your allergist to find out whether you should avoid them in foods as well.
If you’re looking for fragrance-free skincare or household products that have been reviewed by a panel of eczema experts, check out the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance™ Product Directory.
References:
Jaylin Anderson, from Mason City, Iowa, shares her experience of trying to get her daughter’s eczema diagnosed and treated when she was an infant.
Colloidal oatmeal baths can be a good natural remedy for reducing itch caused by eczema. Learn about how to make colloidal oatmeal at home and the science about how it reduces itch.
Researchers at the National Eczema Association publish a new letter Journal of Investigative Dermatology evaluating the prevalence of different forms of eczema.
Dulce Marilyn Morán shares how she overcame fear of judgment over her skin and built a greater sense of self-confidence.
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