Tea Tree Oil: The Secret To Healthier Skin

Tea tree oil is an essential oil, it has been used for many centuries as a natural remedy for various skin ailments. It’s considered to provide countless benefits to not only the skin but also general health. You’ll find the name pop up often in herbal remedy guides and when looking for alternate solutions to your skin care problems. Just because it’s herbal doesn’t mean it’s any less effective however. Tea tree oil is an excellent antiseptic making it an essential for your beauty regime.

What is Tea Tree Oil? 

Tea tree oil, also referred to as Melaleuca oil, is extracted from tea tree leaves and is an essential oil. The tree itself can be found in both New South Wales and south east Queensland, Australia.  

The name tea tree oil dates back to the 1920s when an Australian chemist, named Arthur Penfold, began to research the antiseptic properties it may contain.

Benefits of using Tea Tree Oil

Treating Acne Prone Skin

Tea tree oil’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties have made it a popular treatment in tackling acne. Tea tree oil paired with witch hazel make a fantastic ointment which can tackle irritation and inflammation of the skin. Several scientific studies have conducted the effectiveness of tea tree oil as a remedy for acne, and found good results for mild to moderate acne conditions.

Treating Itchy Skin

Tea tree oil’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a good tool for combating itchy skin. It calms the skin, alleviating the unsettling feeling whilst the anti-microbial properties work to prevent any infections from occuring.

Treating Dry and Eczema Prone Skin

As tea tree oil reduces irritation and itching it soothes the skin and provides relief for those suffering with eczema and even psoriasis. The antiseptic properties of tea tree oil are excellent around blistered or cracked skin, as it also prevents bacterial infections from occurring in these areas.

Treating Oily Skin

A few small-scale scientific studies have shown that tea tree oil can help minimise skin oiliness. This may be down to it’s antiseptic properties.

Other Benefits 

Antifungal

As tea tree oil possesses anti-fungal properties, it can help with fungal infections such as ringworm as well as nail fungus and athlete’s foot.

Anti-Dandruff 

Tea tree oil has also been found to be effective in hair care, primarily in treating dandruff (a condition of the scalp which causes flakes of the skin to appear). It leaves the scalp moisturised and reduces the irritation and need for itching commonly associated with dandruff. 

Aids with wound healing

Broken skin as a result of a skin condition or injury is a problem as it can lead to an infection. Topical application of tea tree oil is excellent to promote wound healing, as well as kill any bacteria that can potentially cause infection in an open wound.

How to use tea tree oil

1. Purchase high-quality tea tree oil. You’ll want to purchase high-quality tea tree oil for maximum effectiveness so make sure you get it from a reputable vendor.
2. Mix the tea tree oil with a carrier oil. You shouldn’t use pure tea tree oil as this can be harsh on the skin. There are many carrier oils available, ensure you use one that won’t block the pores (such as Jojoba oil).
3. Cleanse your face. Cleanse with a gentle non-comedogenic cleanser, pat dry with at towel.
4. Apply the tea tree ointment. Apply the ointment you made in step #2 to the face. You can use it on the whole face and neck, or just the problem areas you want to focus on.
5. Follow up with a light moisturiser. Make sure the moisturiser isn’t dense as you’ll already have applied a layer of oil to the skin. Creating a thick layer of skin care products on your faces opens up the risk of breaking out and clogging pores.

To Sum It Up

Tea tree oil has been used as a natural remedy for many centuries and it has countless benefits for the skin. It can help those suffering from acne, psoriasis, oily skin and dandruff to name a few. Tea tree oil when mixed with a carrier oil is a perfectly safe and natural skin care solution that can be applied twice a day after cleansing.