Tea tree oil may be used for the treatment of different forms of acne. The most common form of acne is acne vulgaris. Severe acne vulgaris involves the formation of nodules and cysts. Nodules are lesions with hard bumps beneath the skin's surface. Cysts are also lesions, except they are filled with pus. Cystic acne causes inflammation and is also likely to leave scars. Consult your doctor about the best way to treat your acne.
History
Traditional medicine uses medicinal plants to treat medical conditions. In fact, one-third of traditional medicine is used to treat skin disorders and wounds according to an article in the June 2001 issue of "Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicological Review," as opposed to 1 to 3 percent of modern medicine. Tea tree oil is derived from tea trees grown in Australia. Its oil has been applied to the skin for centuries to treat cuts, burns, bites and insect stings, because it fights infections. It has also been used to treat acne since it is an antiseptic as well as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of tea tree oil for the treatment of acne vulgaris was demonstrated in a study that appeared in the 2007 January/February issue of "Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venerology and Leprology." Specifically, the application of a gel that consisted of 5 percent of tea tree oil significantly reduced the number of acne lesions and the severity of the acne over a 45 day period. It should be noted, however, that participants in this study had mild to moderate cases of acne vulgaris and the specific type of lesions it had an effect on was not mentioned.
Comparison
Benzoyl peroxide is often used to treat acne and is an ingredient in many over-the-counter facial cremes, lotions and washes produced for the treatment of acne. The effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide and tea tree oil in the treatment of acne was the focus of a study published in the October 1990 issue of "The Medical Journal of Australia." Although this study found that gels containing 5 percent of either substance effectively reduced the number of lesions in participants with mild to moderate acne, the benzoyl peroxide produced results faster. However, tea tree oil yielded less side effects.
Side Effects
Side effects from applying tea tree oil are rare but it can irritate the skin and cause swelling. When used as a treatment for acne, there are additional side effects such as skin dryness, redness, itchiness and burning, In addition, tea tree oil is toxic and should not be ingested. Ingestion of tea tree oil can be fatal. Although there are no known interactions with medications or herbs, according to the MedlinePlus website, it should be used with caution and at the direction of your doctor.
References
- MedlinePlus: Tea Tree Oil
- "Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology"; The efficacy of 5% topical tea tree oil gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study; S. Enshaieh, et al.; 2007
- "The Medical Journal of Austrailia"; A Comparative Study of Tea-tree Oil versus Benzoyl Peroxide in the Treatment of Acne; I.B. Bassett, et al.; 1990
- Acne.org: Types of Acne
- "Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicological Review"; Adverse and beneficial effects of plant extracts on skin and skin disorders; D. Mantle et al.; 2001
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