正如我在上一個博客中提到，心理皮膚病學能更有效地解決與壓力有關的皮膚問題，我們認為精油便是其中之一，因為她們既可作用於皮膚，也可以作用於情緒問題上。
對於情緒問題，精油能減輕精神緊張，壓力，焦慮，抑鬱和悲傷等。這要歸功於她們與神經系統相互作用的一些成分，例如，大部份柑橘精油屬單萜烯類，能刺激和提振；酯類和倍半萜類，如快樂鼠尾草、薰衣草、岩蘭草，具放鬆及鎮靜作用。
在皮膚問題上，一些精油具有防腐、抗菌、抗病毒和抗真菌功效；一些精油更有助於皮膚再生，調理膚色，淡化疤痕，減輕皮疹和過敏等。例如，玫瑰精油在嫩膚中很有名，而茶樹精油則可有效治療暗瘡。
更重要的是，精油可以同時處理心理和皮膚問題，例如玫瑰，玫瑰草，薰衣草，天竺葵，檀香，橙花和苦橙葉等。值得注意的是，一些研究已證實薰衣草，玫瑰，檀香和古巴香脂可幫助處理與壓力相關的皮膚問題，包括對於處理心理壓力，皮質醇產生，炎症，角質形成細胞過度增生或異常分化，以及皮膚屏障功能障礙等。
As I mentioned in our last blog that psychodermatorology could be more efficient and effective in addressing stress-related skin problems, we believe essential oils (EOs) is one of them as they work on both skin and emotion.
For psychological issue, EOs are well-known in addressing issues related to mental strain, stress, anxiety, nervous tension, depression and sadness, etc. Thanks to some of their constituents which interact with the nervous system. For example, most citrus essential oil are high in monoterpenes, which are stimulating and uplifting; ester and sesquiterpenes are calming and sedative, such as Clary Sage, Lavender and Vetiver.
For skin problem, some EOs are antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Some also helps in skin regeneration, complexion toning, scar lightening, skin rashes and allergy, etc. For example, rose oil is famous in skin rejuvenation, while tea tree oil is good in treating acnes problem.
More importantly, some EOs can deal with both psychological and skin issues at the same time. This includes rose, palmarosa, lavender, geranium, sandalwood, neroli and petitgrain, etc. It is interesting to note that there are in-vitro and in-vivo studies on lavender, rose, sandalwood and copaiba in helping stress-related skin problem through addressing psychological stress, cortisol production and inflammation, hyper-proliferation or abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes, or skin barrier dysfunction.
Reference:
Relaxing effect of rose oil on humans https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19370942/
Sandalwood oil downregulates skin inflammation through 11β-HSD1 activation in keratinocytes. Journal of Dermatological Science, 84(1), e134.
Effect of “rose essential oil” inhalation on stress- induced skin-barrier disruption in rats and humans. http:// doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjr108
GC-MS profiling of the phytochemical constituents of the oleoresin from Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. and a preliminary in vivo evaluation of its antipsoriatic effect. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.08.021