Tea Tree Oil To Treat Acne

People suffering from acne vulgaris have likely tried many of the traditional treatments, which include prescription antibiotics, retinoids and over-the-counter creams containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. However, people are increasingly investigating more natural alternatives, giving nature’s own remedies a chance to prove their worth. One of these remedies for acne is tea tree oil, though the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated any health claims for tea tree oil as an acne treatment.

Understanding Acne

Acne is caused when hormones signal an overproduction of sebum, or the oil naturally produced by the skin. When the glands overproduce, the pores get clogged with excess oil. This causes bacteria to get trapped inside them, which then causes inflammation. While the root of the problem may be hormonal, acne treatments, including tea tree oil, can help keep the pores clean and reduce the number of bacteria on the skin.

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil is one of hundreds of plant-derived oils known as essential oils. These highly concentrated oils are extracted from plant leaves, stems, flowers and other parts, usually by steam distillation methods. Tea tree oil is derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia shrub, which is native to Australia. The oil is often found as an ingredient in home cleaning products and personal care products and in some antifungal creams. However, it can also be purchased on its own as a concentrated essential oil or as a diluted blend with a carrier oil--a vegetable oil in which the essential oil has been dissolved.

The Science Behind the Claims

The main component of tea tree oil is a chemical called terpinen-4-ol, which has been shown to suppress inflammation. In 2007, a study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology showed that a 5 percent tea tree oil gel applied topically was an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Prior to this, a 1990 study conducted by the Department of Dermatology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in New South Wales compared a 5 percent tea tree oil gel with a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide lotion. The results showed that while both treatments “had a significant effect on ameliorating the patients’ acne,” the tea tree oil had fewer side effects.

Application

Herbalists say tea tree oil is one of the few essential oils that can be applied neat, or undiluted, to the skin. It can also be diluted in a carrier oil in a ratio of three drops essential oil to 12 drops carrier oil. If a cream is preferred, add five drops of essential oil to 1 tsp. of the base cream. Apply up to twice a day. There are also many products available online and in health food stores that use tea tree oil as the active ingredient.

Considerations

Tea tree oil has been used safely for the past 80 years, and anecdotal evidence over this time suggests that the oil is generally well-tolerated. However, people with sensitive skin or a history of allergies should apply a very small skin patch test with only diluted tea tree oil. In addition, the oil should never be ingested and should be kept safely away from children.