St. John’s Wort oil, extracted from the plant Hypericum perforatum, is one of the oldest natural remedies for skin care. Known since ancient times for its ability to soothe, repair, and protect, it currently holds a prominent place in dermotherapeutic cosmetics, especially in treatments for sensitive, damaged, or reactive skin.
St. John’s Wort has been used since the times of Hippocrates as a healing plant for wounds, burns, and inflammatory skin conditions. Its power lies in its richness in bioactive compounds, among them:
- Hypericin and hyperforin, responsible for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and healing properties.
- Flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin, with high antioxidant power.
- Tannins and essential oils, which help disinfect and soothe the skin.
These substances act synergistically to accelerate skin regeneration, reduce redness, and soothe discomfort caused by burns, irritations, eczema, or aggressive procedures.
Benefits of St. John’s Wort oil
St. John’s Wort oil is especially effective in:
- Mild and sunburns: soothes burning, reduces inflammation, and accelerates skin recovery.
- Irritations and redness in sensitive or atopic-prone skin.
- Post-treatment care: after peelings, laser, radiofrequency, microdermabrasion, etc.
- Dermatitis or cracked skin, thanks to its repairing and soothing action.
- Anti-inflammatory or relaxing massages, combining physical and bioactive effects.
In clinical studies, the topical use of St. John’s Wort oil has shown efficacy comparable to some conventional creams in the treatment of wounds and mild burns, with the advantage of being a natural and well-tolerated product.
One of the most well-known aspects of St. John’s Wort oil is its slight photosensitivity. This means that, when applied in high concentrations and exposed to the sun, it can cause spots or skin reactions. Therefore, it is recommended to apply it at night or in professional treatments without subsequent sun exposure, especially if used on large areas or with electroporation.
Application with electroporation
In our professional protocols, we use St. John’s Wort oil to soothe, regenerate, and protect the skin after intensive treatments, applying it through transdermal electroporation. This technique allows the active ingredients of St. John’s Wort to penetrate deeply, acting directly on inflamed or sensitized areas.
This approach allows:
- To immediately soothe the skin after intensive treatments.
- To reduce redness and burning in reactive skin.
- To stimulate cellular regeneration, accelerating skin recovery.
- To reinforce the skin’s natural defense barrier.
When combined with other actives such as hyaluronic acid, allantoin, or panthenol, St. John’s Wort oil enhances its soothing and repairing effect.
Commitment to quality
This text about St. John’s Wort oil has been prepared by professional writers. In addition, we have relied on experts in medicine, engineering and aesthetics as a source of information, as well as specific studies to maintain the quality of what we publish.
At Sisneo Bioscience we are committed to publish truthful and contrasted information. And to update or correct it as soon as new knowledge becomes available.
Among others, we have used the following sources:
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- Grafakou ME, Barda C, Karikas GA, Skaltsa H. Hypericum Essential Oils-Composition and Bioactivities: An Update (2012-2022). Molecules. 2022 Aug 17;27(16):5246. doi: 10.3390/molecules27165246. PMID: 36014484; PMCID: PMC9413127.
- Final report on the safety assessment of Hypericum perforatum extract and Hypericum perforatum oil. Int J Toxicol. 2001;20 Suppl 2:31-9. doi: 10.1080/10915810160233749. PMID: 11558639.
- Crockett SL. Essential oil and volatile components of the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae). Nat Prod Commun. 2010 Sep;5(9):1493-506. PMID: 20923012; PMCID: PMC2975376.