Bergamot Safety

A bergamot tree produces greenish citrus fruit. Bergamot oil is cold pressed from the rind of the bitter orange and is used in aromatherapy, as medicine, and in tea and cosmetics. You should always follow safety precautions when using bergamot oil.

Potentcy

• Cold pressed citrus oil

  Test a small area on the inside or your arm before using bergamot fully. Do not use it around your eyes or inside your ears.

Children's skin

• Diluted blends of body oil

  Check with an aromatherapy practitioner before using bergamot on a child's skin, or on adults who are pregnant or nursing. Do not use on children under 6 years old. Use diluted bergamot oil in small amounts on children over 6 years of age.

Sensitivity

• Creamy mixture of moisturizer

  Using bergamot repeatedly may cause you to develop skin sensitivity and an allergic reaction.

Increases Melanin

• Skin care massage

  Sunburn and melanin production is enhanced due to psoralen extracted from bergamot oil, so be sure to protect yourself from the sun when using any such product. Psoralen is held as a photo-carcinogenic responsible for malignant melanoma and deaths.

Photoxicity

• Massage skin treatment

  Ultraviolet sun rays will cause a reaction that will destroy skin cells. Stay out of the sun for a minimum of 12 four hours after applying bergamot oil.

Drug interaction

• Tea made with bergamot

  Check with your health care provider if you take medications of any kind. Bergamot may prevent proper absorption of certain medications, or block potassium resulting in cramps.