Whether used in a massage or inhaled through steam or an essential oil diffuser, aromatherapy provides many benefits, such as improved sleep quality and reduced anxiety.
But did you know, aromatherapy comes with its own set of risks that need to be taken seriously?
As a beauty pro or massage specialist, the chances are likely that you already know the common risks.
But with this blog, we want to help you be aware and clear-headed about the assumed liability that can pile on when you provide aromatherapy services – and further, let it be a gentle nudge to remind you that aromatherapy liability insurance is a must for professionals like you.
Key Takeaways
Understanding the risks of aromatherapy is essential for every beauty professional offering these services. By staying educated, using proper dilution and application techniques, and carrying the right liability insurance, you can confidently offer aromatherapy while protecting both your clients and your business.
The Inside Scoop: What are Aromatherapy Oils?
Popular in the wellness and beauty industry, aromatherapy oils, otherwise known as essential oils, are a favorite thanks to the fact that they are extracts from natural plants. And they smell great, too.
Despite being a natural product, these oils can be complex and can cause complications you may not expect or even be aware of. Plus, aromatherapy oils are not always FDA approved.
That means that you need to make sure, as a beauty professional, that you not only know the risks, but are also prepared with your aromatherapy liability insurance.
The Risks of Aromatherapy: Are The Oils Soothing or Not?
While aromatherapy can be used to help ease symptoms of headaches, anxiety, and even allergies, it’s totally possible that they can actually cause them too.
Allergies can take many forms, from mild to life-threatening, so it's important to watch out for reactions. Though this isn’t an exhaustive list, these reactions can include:
- Eye irritation: Redness, burning or stinging
- Sore throat and nasal irritation: Runny noses, sneezing, and coughing
- Hives and contact dermatitis
Dermatitis: A Deeper Dive Into What to Know
That last point about contact dermatitis? That’s a big note to lean in and listen to.
Not only can it be incredibly uncomfortable, but contact dermatitis can be a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, sometimes not showing up until 72 hours after contact.
The main symptoms can be a simple red, itchy rash, a stinging or burning sensation, dry and cracked skin, and even oozing blisters and bumps. This is often common if the oils are not diluted correctly before being used for a massage, therefore creating irritation on contact.
Respiratory Health Could be a Factor
One factor worth considering when working with a new client is to check that they don’t have any lung sensitivities. Although aromatherapy can provide complementary support for some respiratory health issues - such as eucalyptus oil for COPD - it can also trigger asthma attacks and coughing fits when not used correctly.
How Toxic is Too Toxic?
While the aromatherapy risks we’ve already discussed should be taken seriously, some other risks and reactions to aromatherapy oils can be much more problematic than contact dermatitis or a sore throat.
Phototoxic Reactions
Some aromatherapy oils, such as citrus oils, can cause phototoxic reactions, or in other words, they can react to UV light exposure after application.
And these reactions are about as fun as they sound - from skin redness and discoloration to burning, itching, and blistering. It is important that if you use a photosensitive oil, you remind your client not to expose their skin to the sun without protection for up to 12 hours after.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are another type of reaction to aromatherapy you need to watch out for - from accidental ingestion or accidental contact with sensitive areas such as the eyes, ears, and nose, which are also sensitive to phototoxic reactions.
And as we are sure you can imagine, chemical burns are not something you want your clients to experience.
Now, while you might feel confident in the knowledge of where to apply your oils, you’d be surprised that some aren’t. Accidental eye contact can come from simply applying oils too close to the eyes.
And if these oils are ingested, then you can expect reactions such as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Always ensure bottles are properly labelled and always opt for child-safe caps where you can.
Extra Aromatherapy Risks: Pregnant Clients & Children
Aromatherapy can be a useful tool, but it needs to be used with caution and with a clear understanding of proper use and the risks involved, especially for pregnant clients or children.
The Aromatherapy Risks for Pregnant Clients
A really special time in life, pregnant women often appreciate a prenatal massage or facial to ease the aches and pains and make the nine months go by a little more relaxed.
But not all essential oils can be safe during this time.
For example, did you know that clary sage has the potential to cause pre-term labor in pregnant women? Overall, it's best to completely avoid essential oils throughout the first trimester of pregnancy if possible, do your research, and then proceed with caution.
The Aromatherapy Risks for Children
When it comes to children, you need to ensure that the oils are diluted more than they would be for an adult. It's also not advisable to ever use them with a child under three months, and best to only use oils with children over three years old.
The good news? It's not all scary! Lavender, mandarin, and chamomile are all generally considered safe with the correct dilution for the right relevant age. If in doubt, however, avoid aromatherapy if children are in the treatment space.
How to Protect Yourself From the Risks of Aromatherapy
One of the best ways to protect yourself from risks is to make sure you are up to date on the training, have your aromatherapy certifications, have taken courses on any aromatherapy treatments you provide, and have the confidence and expertise to use these oils safely and appropriately.
More than that, though, you’ll need to make sure you’re properly protected.
Understanding the risks of aromatherapy is part of being a responsible professional, but protecting yourself from those risks is what allows you to keep doing the work you love.
With coverage designed specifically for beauty pros and massage specialists, Beauty Insurance Plus makes it simple to protect your business from real-world scenarios like allergic reactions, burns, or delayed skin sensitivities.
With over 500 services covered, occurrence-based protection, and policies that follow you wherever you work, it’s built for the way your career actually looks – not a one-size-fits-all version of it.
Because when something goes wrong, it’s not just about the client’s experience, it’s about your livelihood, too.
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