A skin blemish can be anything from acne pimples, blackheads, scars, sun damage, birthmarks, wrinkles, warts or spider veins, among others. Their causes can be genetic, environmental or related to lifestyle choices. Evidence of the potential of tea tree oil as a treatment to blemishes focuses mainly on those caused by acne but GrannyMed.com also notes its potential to treat warts.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is distilled from a tree called the Melaleuca alternifolia, found in Australia. MayoClinic.com notes that its terpinen-4-ol compound is said to have antimicrobial properties which can kill bacteria and reduce inflammations. It is easy, therefore, to see how a topical application of tea tree oil may be considered effective for acne blemishes. Tea tree oil can be found in many skin care cosmetics on the market and also in shampoos and soaps.
Warts
According to GrannyMed.com, tea tree oil is effective at treating warts due to its terpinen-4-ol compound which kills viruses like human papillomavirus, which is responsible for causing warts to grow via overproduction of cells on the skin. Applying a 2 percent solution of tea tree to the wart three or four times a day for several weeks should lead to an improvement in the condition.
Evidence
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports a study involving tea tree oil for acne. They study involved a total of 119 people and compared tea tree oil against a well-known effective treatment for acne, benzoyl peroxide. The results showed five percent tea tree oil successfully treated the acne as well as benzoyl peroxide and had fewer side effects,as benzoyl peroxide can be overly drying to the skin.
Considerations
Although the results of the study reported by UMMC are promising, MayoClinic.com admits that there is little real evidence from human studies to confirm tea tree oil's effectiveness in clearing acne blemishes.
GrannyMed.com warns that tea tree oil should never be taken internally as it is toxic and could induce a coma or death if ingested. For topical use it should be diluted. Consult your doctor if you are thinking of self-treating with tea tree oil.
Alternatives
MedlinePlus notes that the compound benzoyl peroxide, from the peroxide family, is an effective home treatment for mild acne blemishes. It can be purchased in both over-the-counter and prescription strength and works by cleansing the pores of dead skin cells, bacteria and sebum, thus reducing inflammation and preventing further blemishes. It can cause irritation and drying of the skin when used daily and so it should be used in conjunction with a moisturizer.
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