Tea Tree Oil for Acne

Acne is one of the most ubiquitous of all skin problems. There are a great number of treatments on the market, from cheap generic sorts with iffy results to more proven (but often expensive) and chemical based solutions.

In the recent years more and more people have turned to natural remedies and one of the most successful so far has been found in tea tree oil for acne.

Tea tree oil (TTO), also known as melaleuca oil, is an extract (steam distilled) from the leaves from Melaleuca alternifolia (commonly referred to as the narrow leaved tea tree) trees unique to Australia and native to Northern New South Wales.

Are the Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for Acne Backed by Science?

Does tea tree oil help with acne problems? Scientific study of tea tree oil is a fairly recent development, but the research clearly shows that tea tree oil is definitely an effective treatment for acne.

In 1990 a randomised clinical study carried out by the scientists at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia, compared the effectiveness of a 5 percent tea tree oil daily treatment with a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide solution. Both treatments resulted in reducing the patients’ acne, but it was concluded that although the tea tree oil worked more slowly than the benzoyl peroxide, it produced fewer side effects.

In 2002 the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Flinders University School of Medicine in Adelaide, Australia did a study which found that the oil's water soluble nature lent itself well to anti-inflammatory medicinal use, which of course goes hand in hand with treating acne. From there, the use of tea tree oil for acne removal has grown dramatically. The study was published in The British Journal of Dermatology that confirmed tea tree oil's anti-inflammatory effects.

More recently (in 2007), a small randomised study that involved 60 patients with mild to moderate cases of acne and treated with a gel containing 5 percent tea tree oil or placebo for 45 days, found that tea tree oil worked substantially better than placebo in reducing the number and severity of acne lesions.

The way tea tree oil actually reacts with the skin is similar to topical antibacterial treatments and creams. It kills bacteria and germs and cleans pores. It is even able to fight off MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a powerful bacteria strain that has proven highly resistant against many of the more common antibiotics out there.

Given the commonality of acne, it is only natural that information on any effective method of treatment will be of interest to many, and in turn becomes more popular.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne, Spots and Cysts

Once you have found a brand of tea tree oil you feel is right for you, you will also need to find which method of application is best suited for treating your skin.

The best brands will contain 100% pure essential tea tree oil; beware of ones that are already diluted and contain other ingredients.

Tea tree oil can be applied in a myriad of ways: you can simply place a drop or two on a dry or moistened cotton bud and apply directly to the acne, mix a few drops into your favourite facial cleanser, dilute it with water and use it as a toner, or you can add a few drops to some plain yogurt for a home-made mask.

If you buy pure tea tree oil, it usually says on the label to never use it undiluted. The caution is because tea tree oil is a strong oil and can irritate the skin in some people.

It is very important to learn how to use tea tree oil for acne properly, so it is effective but you won't burn your skin. If you have never used tea tree oil on your skin, first put a drop of on your wrist, spread around and leave it for a few hours to see if you are allergic to it.

Everyone has different tolerances for essential oils, and depending on your skin type, less may be more. It is also important to remember things such as the t-zone and sensitive parts of your face. Most people can put pure tea tree oil all over the forehead and nose without a problem, but if it is applied near eyes or cheeks there is possibly going to be some dryness encountered the next day.

What is the Best Tea Tree Oil for Stubborn Acne and Blemishes?

So now you know how to use tea tree oil for acne, but what brand should you buy? At present time there are numerous different brands of tea tree oil available. If you search for it online, you might find hundreds of different results. Fortunately, tea tree oil is fairly inexpensive and it can be purchased for only a few dollars.

There are also numerous products out there that take advantage of the healing properties of tea tree and contain tea tree oil as one of the ingredients. You can buy pre-packaged products that incorporate tea tree oil into the likes of soap, gels, moisturisers, lotions, shampoos, and even toothpaste.

You may find some merit in several of these products, but for acne you will likely get the best results from coming up with your own use from one of the pure liquid varieties. 100% pure Australian essential tea tree oil is the best one to start with.

For example, there are lots of plants known as “tea trees” including plants in the Melaleuca and Leptospermum genera. However, tea tree oil can only be produced from a very small number of plants, mainly Melaleuca alternifolia grown in Australia. These other oils may have some medicinal properties such as antimicrobial activity, but few have been scientifically investigated as much as tea tree oil made out of Melaleuca alternifolia, so their effectiveness is unknown.

The following are some top brands of tea tree oil available in Australia:

• All Thursday Plantation contains only pure Australian TTO and is the one I use.
• Aromae Tea Tree Essential Oil is another excellent choice that contains only pure Australian TTO.

I recommend that you select this one  because I have seen several poor quality TTOs, made from all sort of less effective/ineffective plant sources, sold on Amazon. Majestic tea tree oil is truly the best tea tree oil you ca buy and is the best tea tree oil for acne, blemishes and pimples.

And, as already discussed in this article, keep in mind that usage of this oil should be kept to only a few drops per day at most, and you can even get away with only using it every other day or so. Even water diluted tea tree oil has proven effective (in 5% solution), so you may want to consider doing that before use. Finally, please remember that tea tree oil is toxic when ingested so keep it out of reach of children.

Users of tea tree oil as a topical remedy for acne have reported relatively quick results. It is common for the skin to be clear of most of its redness the day after one application. If you are the sort that has struggled with a particularly bad case of acne like cystic acne (particularly deep, painful breakouts), some of the scarring that may have been caused might remain, but the root of the problem will still be dealt with quite effectively.

How to Dilute Tea Tree Oil for Use as an Effective Acne Treatment?

Tea tree oil is really one of the most versatile essential oils that exists and its health benefits for the skin are simply amazing. A lot of people want to start using tea tree oil for acne, but they have no idea how to dilute tea tree oil.

So here are some options for you. The best way is to start with a small area or test it on one pimple. For more ideas, view the video on the bottom of this post.

• Apply a small amount of tea tree oil on a q-tip or on a piece of cotton wool directly to the blemish or problem areas. If there is no irritation after 24 hours, continue with this method. If irritation or redness occurs, dilute 1 part tea tree oil to 1 parts distilled water or jojoba oil. If your skin is very sensitive, dilute even more.
• For treating larger areas, I would recommend that you add between 5-15 drops of essential oil to 40-50 mL of jojoba or almond oil. Mix it well and to apply to the affected areas on your face or back. Jojoba oil is particularly good for this purpose as it penetrates the skin without clogging pores.
• Another good way to use it, is to mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil into a few teaspoons of aloe vera gel and apply directly onto the area you want to treat.
• You can also use it in a face mask. A few drops of tea tree oil can be added to any face mask to kill bacteria and dry out pimples.
• Lower concentration of tea tree oil (just a few drops added to water) can be used for maintenance to prevent future outbreaks of acne.

Is Tea Tree Oil Effective in Reducing Acne Scars?

Acne lesions, particularly cystic acne, can lead to scarring because of the substantial, collagen-damaging skin inflammation with which they are associated.

Many if not most acne scars will disappear over time. Just be patient because cystic acne injure the skin and fat and it can take up to a year for the scars to fade. As your skin is healing, new blood vessels will supply nourishment to the scared area of the skin. Also, collagen (a fibrous protein that connects and supports body tissues and is essential building block of the skin) will start filling in the injured part of skin, making it more even and looking healthy again.

In order to promote healing of scars, keep applying jojoba oil with tea tree oil added to it. Jojoba oil is particularly good for skin care. It can be used on all skin types. It contains vitamin E and antioxidants which are great for fighting the skin and reducing signs of aging. In addition it is also antibacterial making it great for treating acne breakouts. Jojoba oil can also help lighten scars.

Jojoba oil works in two ways. First it moisturises your skin and it also makes it smooth. So with regular application, acne scars and other skin conditions can be lessened and in many cases healed completely.

It is always important to use a good skin care products that are packed with healing and moisturising natural ingredients so your skin's appearance and health is constantly maintained and improved.

One skin care line that stands out is USANA Celavive skin care line that is gentle, self-preserving range of products and contains exclusive antioxidant complexes proven to revitalise skin cells, leaving skin looking younger and more radiant.