Acne is the most common skin disease in the U.S., and the search for a remedy has frustrated many a pimply teen. It's not only adolescents who are affected by acne. Pimple outbreaks can occur long past your teen years, though the condition generally vanishes by the time you reach your 30s. Tea tree oil has been suggested as a possible remedy for acne.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is distilled from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, a shrub native to Australia. For the past century, Australians have made use of the oil of Melaleuca alternifolia as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ointment. Today, tea tree oil is a common ingredient in many products, such as cleansers, toothpaste and cosmetics.
What are Pimples?
Pimples occur when glands in your skin overproduce the oils necessary to lubricate skin and hair. Follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin cells. They swell and fill with pus as infection and inflammation occur. The overproduction of oil is related to hormonal changes prevalent during adolescence. Genetic factors, the use of oily cosmetics, and certain medications may increase your likelihood of experiencing outbreaks of pimples.
Studies
The evidence to support the use of tea tree oil over more conventional acne treatments is scarce. According to "Clinical Microbiology Reviews," a comparison of tea tree oil to benzoyl peroxide found that benzoyl peroxide was significantly more effective than tea tree oil in reducing inflamed acne lesions. Those who used tea tree oil experienced fewer side effects such as itchiness and flaking of the skin. MayoClinic.com states that tea tree oil may decrease the number of acne lesions, but cautions that not enough human studies have been performed to demonstrate that tea tree oil is effective for this purpose.
Recommendations
If you've decided to try tea tree oil as a way of treating pimples, you should be aware that it might cause adverse reactions in some people. The journal "Contact Dermatitis" notes that variations in the chemical composition of different brands of tea tree oil account for some of these reactions, and attributes brands high in eucalyptol with causing allergic reactions. Nevertheless, tea tree oil shows potential as a topical antimicrobial agent, but more study regarding its safety and effectiveness are needed.
References
- American Society for Microbiology; Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties; C.F. Carson, et al.; January 2006
- Mayo Clinic; Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia [Maiden & Betche] Cheel); December 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Acne; Steven D. Ehrlich; December 2008
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