Treating Acne with Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil and Acne.

Tea Tree Oil is one of the most popular herbal extracts used to treat and eliminate acne, and for good reason… it has helped thousands of acne sufferers.

Tea tree oil is extracted and concentrated by steaming the leaves of a melaleuca tree and then collecting the oil the leaves give off into a concentrate.

Out of over 100 species, the Melaleuca alternifolia the one prized for its oil. This tea tree plant is native to Australia. It has been used for centuries by the Aborigines of Australia to fight infections, gum disease, viral and fungi infections, as well as bacteria.

Tea tree oil has seen a large revival over the past 20 years, in part because it is more effective in killing certain bacteria than popular antibiotics (including penicillin). Studies have been done with Staph bacterial infections on the skin, and found that tea tree oil was more effective in killing the infection than methicillin and vancomycin.

One study in particular was conducted to compare the acne bacteria fighting properties of a tree oil in comparison with benzoyl peroxide cream. The tea tree oil was comparable in effectiveness to the benzoyl peroxide, but without the side effects of dry skin and redness*.

All it takes is a drop of Melaleuca Alternifolia tea tree oil 2-3 times a day on the acne inflammation, and it will start working to kill the bacteria.

So, for those of you who like what benzoyl peroxide does to acne but don’t like the side effects, tea tree oil may be the right alternative for you*.

This article has been provided by the editor of http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com

Resources:

Chan, C.H., et al. "Activity of tea tree oil on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus," Journal of Hospital Infection 39(3):244-245, 1998.

Concha, J.M., et al. "Antifungal activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil against various pathogenic organisms," Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 88(10):489-492, 1998.

Gustafson, J.E., et al. "Effects of tea tree oil on Escherichia coli," Letters In Applied Microbiology 26(3):194-198, 1998.

Inouye, S, et al. "Antisporulating and respiration-inhibitory effects of essential oils on filamentous fungi," Mycoses 41(9-10):403-410, 1998

I.B. Bassett et al. A comparative Study of Tea Tree Oil versus Bezoyl Peroxide in the Treatment of Acne. Med J Aust 153:455-8, 1990.

*Tea tree oil has not been evaluated by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease or disorder.. This article is for informational purposes only. Consultation with a doctor is recommended before using tea tree oil to treat any disease or disorder.