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Aromatherapists

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Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology

Abstract

Aromatherapy is defined as the therapeutic use of essential oils for physical and psychological well-being. Topical application of essential oils is most common in aromatherapy, while systemic exposure is mainly through inhalation, less common by ingestion. More than 80 essential oils are known contact allergens, and several of these are among the most used in aromatherapy, both in a professional setting and used for self-treatment of symptoms. Only few essential oils are specifically not recommended for use in aromatherapy due to the risk of sensitization. Most aromatherapists are trained within other professions as well and are often exposed to common irritants such as wet work, detergents, and disinfectants. Hand eczema is the most common clinical presentation in aromatherapists suffering from allergic contact dermatitis. Patch testing in aromatherapists should be done with standard screening markers for fragrance allergy as well as all essential oils handled by the individual in appropriate dilutions (1–5%). Additional patch testing can include suspected individual fragrance chemicals in a fragrance series.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Allergy Research Centre, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev-Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark

    Niels H. Bennike & Jeanne Duus Johansen

Authors
  1. Niels H. Bennike
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  2. Jeanne Duus Johansen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Niels H. Bennike .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Swen Malte John

  2. Department of Dermato-allergology, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark

    Jeanne Duus Johansen

  3. Dept. of Dermatology and Allergology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Thomas Rustemeyer

  4. Dept. of Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Thüringen, Germany

    Peter Elsner

  5. Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Bennike, N.H., Johansen, J.D. (2018). Aromatherapists. In: John, S., Johansen, J., Rustemeyer, T., Elsner, P., Maibach, H. (eds) Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5_118-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5_118-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40221-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40221-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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