Tea tree oil's antimicrobial properties make the essential oil a popular ingredient in traditional home remedies for bacterial and fungal problems. But there has been little scientific research to confirm tea tree oil's benefits as a topical treatment. Tea tree oil is usually safe when it's applied topically, though some people experience allergic reactions, but ingesting tea tree oil can have toxic effects. As with any complementary therapy, it's wise to check with your health care provider before including tea tree oil in your health care regimen.
Acne Remedy
Dabbing a little bit of tea tree oil onto blemishes may help them heal faster, according to the Mayo Clinic. Tea tree oil soothes inflammation and kills bacteria, making acne fade faster. Anitra C. Carr, PhD, a research associate at Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, says on the Linus Pauling Institute website that a solution with five percent tea tree oil was just as effective at clearing up acne lesions as a solution with five percent benzoyl peroxide--though the tea tree oil acted more slowly, it also produced fewer side effects.
Head Lice Remedy
Adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo may help treat head lice, according to the Mayo Clinic. Combined with other lice treatments, including combining and medication, tea tree oil may help head lice outbreaks clear up more quickly, but not enough research exists to conclusively recommend tea tree oil as a treatment for head lice.
Athlete's Foot Remedy
Tea tree oil may help treat the symptoms of athlete's foot, though it won't completely cure the condition, according to the University of Michigan Health System Healthwise Knowledgebase. People who used a cream with 10 percent tea tree oil saw an improvement in symptoms similar to the improvement seen by people who used medication for athlete's foot.
Skin Irritation Remedy
Applying tea tree oil to bites, scrapes and cuts can disinfect them and help them heal faster, according to the American Cancer Society's website. Tea tree oil can vanquish even especially stubborn germs that don't respond to other treatments. Because there's a risk for skin irritation, do a test patch on a small area of skin to check your reaction before applying tea tree oil to the affected area.
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