Introduction
“Tea tree oil is an essential oil derived mainly from a plant native to Australia known as Melaleuca alternifolia,” says Chang. Like so many other natural and plant-based ingredients, it has a looong history. There are almost 100 components in the oil, one of the major ones being a compound known as Terpinene-4-ol. Without getting too complicated, the takeaway here is that this compound has all the good stuff. Tea tree oil for acne is good choice.
Namely strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects point out Chang.Tea Tree Essential Oil works wonderful for the skin.
And it’s those properties that are precisely what make tea tree oil such a good pick for acne-prone skin.1 (Not to mention that, unlike many other essential oils, it’s non-comedogenic and won’t clog pores, adds Nazarian.) As if all of that weren’t enough, tea tree oil also offers some antioxidant properties, too.
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- Kills bacteria: True acne is caused in part due to the presence of p.acnes bacteria on the skin. Tea tree oil has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, notes Chang, including being effective against even staphylococcus aureus (AKA staph), and, yep, p.acnes, too. This was even scientifically-proven in a study publish in 2020 in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences.2 “Terpinene-4-ol is the active ingredient in the tea tree oil that destabilizes the cell of the bacteria, essentially killing it,” explains Carqueville.
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- Anti-inflammatory: At the same time, it decreases the inflammatory cascades that stimulate inflammation and redness, a major benefit for acne-plagued skin. The science is there to back all of this up as well;
- It treats a wide range of acne: Here’s the other nice thing: It can work on both comedonal acne (blackheads, whiteheads, smaller blemishes) and inflammatory acne (big, red, angry pimples). So much so, that it’s even been compar head-to-head with another antibacterial acne-fighter, benzoyl peroxide. A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at the direct effects of a five percent concentration of tea tree oil versus five percent benzoyl peroxide.4 The results? Both treatments effectively addressed comedonal and inflammatory acne.
Precaution
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- Tea tree oil was a bit slower to work, but, it did win out when it came to having less irksome. Side effects associate with it, says Nazarian. Why, you ask? “Tea tree oil is moisturizing, which differentiates it from topical benzoyl peroxide and retinoids, which are usually drying. In this comparative study. Those patients using the tea tree oil had significantly fewer side effects of dryness and irritation,” Carqueville explains.
- It’s anti-viral and anti-fungal: Tea tree oil is not only effective against bacteria, but also helps decrease funguses and viruses on the surface of the skin, adds Nazarian. This makes it a strong contender as a weapon against Athlete’s Foot (fungal) and cold sores (viral).5
- Reduces dandruff: “Given its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal potential, it’s been suggeste for use in dealing with dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis,” explains Chang.
- Heals minor cuts and scrapes: Accord to a 2006 study, tea tree oil helps kill S. aureus, a type of bacteria that can cause infection in open wounds.6 It also increases white blood cell activity, helping to reduce healing time.7
How to Apply Tea Tree Oil
You can pick up one of those products (keep reading for some of the derm’s favorites).”Tea tree oil can be use with other topical and oral acne medications for increased efficacy. Given the increased rate of antimicrobial resistance in p. acnes, there’s been a push to use non-antibiotic products, like tea tree oil, as well as a combination of acne-fighting products together,” says Chang.
Safety
It’s also worth pointing out that tea tree oil shouldn’t be reserve solely for your skincare routine; it can be beneficial for your scalp and hair, too. “Given its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal potential, it’s been suggest for use in dealing with dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis,” explains Chang.
