In the past, bergamot oil was included in suntanning products because one of its constituents, the psoralen bergapten, is phototoxic: Skin that has had contact with bergapten may become very photosensitive, rapidly developing dark coloration when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Itching and redness may also develop. The use of psoralens for cosmetic tanning is now understood to be unsafe. Use of bergapten prior to UV exposure can even result in skin-cancer-causing mutations. The use of bergamot oil and bergapten in tanning products was banned in 1995.[1]
Can bergamot oil be used to develop a suntan?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Bergamot oil was historically used in suntanning products due to its phototoxic constituent, bergapten, which can cause skin to become highly sensitive to UV light and develop dark coloration. However, its use for tanning is now considered unsafe, and it was banned in 1995 due to the risk of skin irritation and potential cancer-causing mutations.