Many people battle daily with acne and search for a safe and effective way to treat it. The answer may be as simple as changing the soap you use on your face says MayoClinic.com. Tea tree oil is known for its abilities to treat a number of skin conditions, and it may help combat acne too. More research needs to be done before tea tree oil can be recommended as a medicinal treatment. Before you begin to use tea tree oil soap to treat your acne, ask the advice of your health care provider.
Acne Explained
MayoClinic.com describes acne as a result of three necessary conditions of the skin. First, the skin sheds cells that irritate the hair follicles. Second, the skin produces more oil than it should. And third, bacteria build up on the skin. These three conditions combine to cause acne. It can appear in several ways: by swelling and turning red to become a pimple, or by becoming a blackhead or whitehead. One of the most effective natural treatments for acne, according to the site, is the use of products containing tea tree oil.
Tea Tree Oil Uses
The website for the U.S. National Library of Medicine, or USNLM, says that tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne; bad breath; athlete's foot; allergic skin reactions; fungal nail infections; genital herpes; dandruff; methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection; thrush; and to get rid of lice. Tea tree is also used to treat wounds, mucositis, insect bites and stings, inflammation, eczema, cold sores and minor burns, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC, website. More clinical research needs to take place to prove the effectiveness of tea tree oil for these purposes.
Research
A research study published on the PubMed.gov website describes studies to determine which herbal treatments are the most effective in treating skin conditions. Tea tree oil was found to be one of the herbs that were effective in treating acne.
Possible Side Effects
Tea tree oil may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction in some people, according to the MSKCC. Ingesting tea tree oil has toxic potential, so when treating your acne with it, apply it to the skin only. Breast-feeding women are cautioned not to apply tea tree oil to the nipple, due to possible toxic effects on the baby. Pregnant women are discouraged from using tea tree oil.
Potential Interactions
Tea tree oil is available in soaps, creams, lotions and many other skin care products. Using tea tree oil products may worsen dry skin caused by benzoyl peroxide, Retin-A, Accutane or salicylic acid treatments, says the USNLM. Discuss the use of tea tree oil with your pharmacist or health care provider to ensure that it won't have harmful interactions for you.
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