Tea Tree Oil for Clear Skin - Does It Work?
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The Melaleuca Alternifolia plant produces a chemical called terpinen-4-ol which is the main ingredient that gives tea tree oil it’s antimicrobial benefits. It has been used for thousands of year as an antiseptic. Leaves and twigs of the paper-bark tree are steamed in large stills to produce the essential oil. It is used in many products for skin care and acne problems. Many reviews on the Internet recommend this oil for mild to moderate acne.
Tea tree oil has been shown that it can hinder and destroy microbes.It is speculated that because it can kill bacteria, it may help reduce acne by destroying Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria that is associated with acne. This bacteria is very common and is usually not a problem. It’s when the pores of the skin get plugged up with excess oils,that P.acnes can inflame the skin causing acne to form.
There are some over-the-counter products that contain 5% benzoyl peroxide with tea tree oil combined. I have talked to a few acne sufferers that have been using a alpha hydroxy lotion in the morning and a combined tea tree/benzoyl peroxide gel in the evening with great results. The alpha hydroxy lotion is used to help shed dead skin cells.
Not every product that contains tea tree oil smell bad but one thing is for sure, it is very distinct. It reminds me of camphor or turpentine. If you use this product at night it is a good idea to change your pillow case everyday. Besides, the reside that builds up probably is not going to help your acne condition.
Pure tea tree oil is very potent stuff. It should not be applied full strength for keeping acne under control. It can cause severe skin irritation if used improperly. I use a small disposable 3 oz paper cup of water to add one teaspoon of pure tea tree oil. This gives it a diluted strength of amount 5%.I use this as my daily acne wash.The problem you can run into is using it too much. If your acne is under control don’t use it everyday. The P.acne can become resistant to treatment and that makes it very difficult to treat.
A visit to the dermatologist is not a bad idea before using tea tree oil or any other topical treatment for that matter. The problem that many people are running into is that most topical treatments do nothing to stop over-production of sebum. They only help to control the bacteria that thrive in the blocked hair follicles.In-fact I believe everyone suffering from acne should see a medical doctor before trying any of these treatments. Using the wrong treatment could easily make the problem much worse. Topical treatments can cause the bacteria to become resistant and very difficult to get rid of.
