Tea Tree Oil For Acne: The Optimal Natural Remedy

Introduction

Facts About Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a rich essential oil derived from an Australian plant called Melaleuca Alternifolia.

It’s of interest as a medicinal remedy due to its potent antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in the healing of various conditions.

Some of the tea tree oil benefits include helping to heal wounds, acne, and other dermatological conditions, fungal infections, and chronic gingivitis.

In addition, tea tree oil can be effective in healing skin cancer (1). A study published in Cell Death Discovery^[1] concluded that tea tree oil was an effective anti-tumor agent in the management of cutaneous melanoma.

Treating Acne With Tea Tree Oil

You can use tea tree oil for acne as a home remedy, as it has powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling and kill harmful microbes.

It also activates the white blood cells in the body that assist further in healing the condition. A study in the Indian Journal of Dermatology^[2] concluded that 5% topical tea tree oil effectively improved acne.

You must know how to apply tea tree oil for acne. You should not put tea tree oil on your skin directly, as it can lead to irritation and make the acne worse.

You have to mix it with a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil to minimize these negative effects. The recommendation is to use 1 ounce of carrier oil for every 12 drops of tea tree essential oil.

However, some people have very sensitive skin and will react to carrier oils as well. In that case, you should consider using tea tree for acne with a hyaluronic acid moisturizing cream.

You can add the cream to your entire face pre-treatment or mix the two products and apply the solution to the areas that you want to heal using a cotton ball.

If you prefer, you can buy a product on the market that already has tea tree oil for skin to save you time. There are several brands, such as facial masks, acne serums, and other remedies that include this ingredient, and many are effective brands with rich skin benefits.

Advantages Of Using Tea Tree Oil For Acne

Consider some of the numerous tea tree oil benefits for acne:

1. Decreasing Acne Scars

This essential oil may decrease hypertrophic acne scars. It may impact deeper scars under the skin, although research is still in its infancy. In addition, its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce any associated swelling and redness.

2. Reducing Inflammation

Given that it has such powerful anti-inflammatory agents, tea tree oil for acne can lessen swelling and irritation on the skin, healing acne and even helping to heal conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Mix a drop of tea tree oil with a carrier oil and apply it to the area several times per day.

3. Killing Bacteria
It has antimicrobial properties that can successfully kill bacteria and fungi on the skin. This can help with cleansing the pores of harmful microbes. The ideal remedy is a drop of the oil mixed with a topical wound treatment cream applied several times daily.

4. Moisturizing the Skin

Tea tree oil for acne could moisturize the skin, so it doesn’t lead to added irritation and redness for your acne. You can make your serum daily by mixing a drop of tea tree with a carrier oil and applying it as part of your skin routine.

5. Healing Acne Blemishes

Tea tree oil can treat all types of acne, from blackheads and whiteheads to large red pimples. Tea tree oil for acne removes dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from the pores. It can decrease the overall severity of the condition by killing damaging microbes and reducing swelling.

6. Reducing Oily Skin

Tea tree oil benefits the complexion by preventing the sebum that is produced in your sebaceous glands from building up on your skin and clogging your pores. This leaves your skin much less oily, possibly preventing acne before it even starts to develop.

7. Healing Skin Damage

This rich essential oil contains powerful antioxidants that work to destroy free radicals on the skin and decrease the amount of oxidative stress. This promotes the healing of skin barrier damage, which can improve acne breakouts considerably and reduce their severity.

8. Promoting New Skin Cells

While tea tree oil removes dead skin cells from deep inside your pores, it also works hard to regenerate new, healthy ones to replace them. For users with acne, that means the old, damaged skin is replaced with a rejuvenated, blemish-free complexion.

9. Decreasing Lesions

Lesions are a common symptom of acne and can involve cysts, bumps, nodules, papules, or other similar issues. Tea tree oil for acne decreases acne lesions and prevents them from worsening. This is due to its anti-inflammatory benefits that reduce swelling and the antioxidants which heal.

10. Reducing Overall Amount of Severity of Acne

With the great benefits tea tree oil has to offer for this condition, there’s evidence it can decrease not only the level of acne you experience but the seriousness of the condition. A study in Australas Journal of Dermatology^[3] found that this oil led to a significant improvement in mild to moderate acne.

Removing Acne Scars With Tea Tree Oil

Image Credit: infographicplaza.com

One of the great tea tree oil uses is for acne scar removal. There are a couple of possible methods you can use.

For spot treatment, mix 2 or 3 drops of tea tree oil with some of the carrier oil and then apply it to the areas you want to heal.

You can leave it on your face at night and wash it off when you get up in the morning.

If you mix 2 or 3 drops of tea tree oil with yogurt, you can use it as a facial mask to remove your scars.

Cover the scarred areas on your face with the mixture, and then leave it on for about 20 minutes before you wash.

Before you try these methods, you must carry out a patch test to make sure this oil is suitable for your skin.

Carrying Out A Patch Test

It’s a good idea to do a patch test before using tea tree oil for skin to make sure you’re not going to react. Some people do have an allergy to essential oils or just sensitive skin. To do the test, just follow these steps:

• Take a small amount of the oil and rub it on the inside of your elbow.
• Wash the product off of your skin carefully.
• Wait for 24 hours to see if there’s any redness or irritation.
• If the skin is clear, you can proceed to use the tea tree oil safely.

Other Tea Tree Oil Uses

Beyond healing acne, there are several other great tea tree oil uses:

1. Remedying Athletes’ Foot

Due to its antiviral and antifungal properties, tea tree oil may remedy athlete’s foot. In addition, its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce swelling and itchy, burning skin that may be associated with the condition. Mix about 25% tea tree oil with a carrier oil like olive or coconut and apply twice a day.

2. Healing Wounds

According to an article in Clinical Microbiology Reviews, you can use tea tree oil for skin to heal wounds and cuts. Its high antioxidant count kills damaging free radicals and promotes repair, and the anti-inflammatory benefits reduce swelling and redness and help wounds heal. In addition, tea tree oil can speed up healing by increasing your white blood cell count.

3. Eliminating Dandruff

The anti-inflammatory and antifungal tea tree oil benefits may help eliminate dandruff on the scalp, particularly if it’s caused by the growth of a fungus similar to a yeast called Malassezia. It can also decrease the redness and itchiness that sometimes accompanies this condition. Look for a shampoo that contains tea tree oil as an ingredient.

4. Insect Repellant

One of the tea tree oil uses is to deter insects from the skin, so you can use it as a repellent. A study in Parasitology Research found that this essential oil was more potent than the ingredients typically found in an insect repellent. You can also use it as an insecticide on plants but test it out on one leaf first to make sure it doesn’t cause harm.

5. Natural Deodorant

Tea tree oil can destroy harmful and odor-provoking microbes and bacteria under your arms with its antimicrobial and antibacterial benefits. This can eliminate the unpleasant scent that can arise when you sweat. In addition, it has a strong, pleasant scent that can cover up any lingering odor.

The Final Word

Naturally, there is a wide range of acne remedies on the market, some of which are more effective than others. Consider tea tree oil for skin as one of the stronger methods in this selection, as it provides numerous relevant benefits to your complexion, such as helping you get rid of oily skin, decreasing inflammation, cleansing the pores, boosting white cell count to help with healing, and killing harmful bacteria on the skin.

Although the research in this area is still somewhat in its infancy, there is evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of this essential oil in treating acne, scarring, and other skin conditions.