Tea Tree Oil For Cracked Skin

Skin cracks, also called fissures, can result from psoriasis and eczema, and usually affect hands and feet. Not only are skin cracks painful, but they can open the way for bacteria. "These cracks are like little portholes for infection," states William Van Pelt, D.P.M., a podiatrist in Houston, Texas. Skin cracks may be treated with wet dressings and hydrocortisone cream. Herbalists and naturopaths recommend tea tree oil for skin cracks; its antibacterial effects may help prevent infection, while its anti-inflammatory properties could help reduce pain and swelling. Consult your doctor or dermatologist before trying tea tree oil.

History

Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the tea tree, botanically known as Melaleuca alternifolia. An evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves, the tree is native to Australian coastal areas but is cultivated in Asia as well. Although tea tree oil is enjoying a recent surge in popularity in skin care products due to its antibacterial and wound-healing qualities, its use is not new. Tea tree oil was employed in surgery and dentistry in the mid-1920s and was used during World War II for skin injuries on munitions factory workers.

Constituents

Tea tree oil contains an estimated 100 compounds; scientists have identified 80 of them. Most of tea tree oil's constituents are terpenes. The most abundant of them, terpinen-4-ol, comprises 40 percent and is a potent fungicide. Alpha-terpineol and alpha-pinene also contribute to tea tree oil's antimicrobial properties. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center endorses tea tree oil for wound healing, noting that it is effective against a variety of pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus. Tree oil can topically suppress skin infections, and it may have the ability to combat methicillin-resistant S. aureus, or MRSA.

Research

There is some scientific research supporting tea tree oil's reputation as a potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. In a clinical study conducted by Haekyun Park and colleagues and published in the November 1, 2007 issue of In Vivo, researchers found that tea tree oil demonstrated the ability to suppress the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, or MRSA, on tympanostomy tubes -- silicon grommets inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle ear aerated -- in vitro. In a review of tea tree oil's medicinal properties conducted by C.F.Carson and colleagues and published in the January 2006 issue of Clinical Microbiology Reviews, the authors noted that tea tree oil can inhibit release of inflammation-causing prostaglandins, while terpinen-4-ol modulates vasodilation associated with histamine-induced inflammation,

Application

Tea tree oil can be applied directly to skin cracks. The oil may cause allergic dermatitis in some cases; if your skin is sensitive, try tea tree oil on a small area first, or dilute it with olive oil.

Safety Considerations and Contraindications

Tea tree oil should be used as a topical treatment only, never ingested. It should not be used inside the ears. Regular use of tea tree oil may cause gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts, in prepubertal boys. Consult your doctor or dermatologist before using tea tree oil. If you are pregnant or breast feeding, don't use tea tree oil at all.