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]
References
- ^Navarra M, Mannucci C, Delbò M, Calapai GCitrus bergamia essential oil: from basic research to clinical application.Front Pharmacol.(2015)