Tee Tree Oil & Pregnancy

Tea tree oil's antiseptic properties make it a popular ingredient in many beauty products, as well as a commonly used treatment for acne, skin infections and fungal infections like athlete's foot. While products containing essential oils make a tempting "natural" alternative to synthetic chemical-laden products, pregnant women need to use caution when considering the use of any essential oil during pregnancy. Tea tree oil carries potential side effects that make it unsuitable for use by pregnant women.

Significance

Since pregnancy hormones might cause an increase in hair and skin oiliness and doctors advise against acne medications containing Retin-A and benzoyl peroxide during pregnancy, pregnant women might consider taming oily skin and hair with tea tree oil products. Unlike perfumes or light fragrances, essential oils can cross the placental barrier and impact the health of your fetus. Due to a lack of data on the safety and efficacy of essential oils during pregnancy, the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), recommends against using any essential oil during pregnancy.

Effects

While the NAHA suggests that many years of anecdotal evidence about some essential oils, such as lavender and chamomile, fail to find any serious issues with their use, tea tree oil has some potentially serious side effects. Medline Plus cautions that tea tree oil might decrease the strength of labor contractions, potentially lengthening the labor process and endangering moms and babies. They recommend completely avoiding its use while pregnant or breastfeeding, either diluted or as an ingredient in skin care products or shampoos.

Considerations

Commercial mouthwashes and dental products often contain tea tree oil to fight bad breath and gingivitis. Ingesting tea tree oil potentially causes a host of complications, according to Medline Plus, including rashes, diarrhea, dizziness, lethargy, confusion or even coma. Many tea tree oil mouthwashes also include alcohol, which can also negatively impact your baby. Never place a product containing tea tree oil in your mouth during pregnancy even if you dilute it first or don't plan to swallow it.

Misconceptions

Many people confuse fragrance oils with essential oils leading them to discount their strength and toxicity. Unlike artificially created fragrance oils found in perfumes and body sprays, essential oils contain the distilled essence of plants. The American Pregnancy Association recommends sticking to perfumes and body sprays and avoiding the use of any essential oils without the approval of your primary health care provider.

Warning

Ingestion of as little as 5 ml of tea tree oil might prove fatal to a small child, according to Salisbury University's "A Nurse's Guide to Herbal Remedies." While essential oil toxicity in adults is rare, no research pinpoints the amount that can harm a fetus. Medline Plus further cautions breastfeeding women against using it on their nipples since the baby might ingest the oil.