Tea Tree Oil Antibacterial Properties for Acne
Tea tree oil has been touted by many as a wonder essential oil full of healing properties for the hair, skin and nails. Scientists have recently made more progress in proving tea tree oil’s effectiveness in a research environment.
Tea tree oil has a natural antibacterial property that makes it a useful sanitizer and healing agent which is particularly useful in topical acne cleansers. Recent evidence has also shown that tea tree oil’s natural antibacterial properties will also effectively aid in the treatment of acne.
The essential oil of the tea tree plant is derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia that is a plant native to Australia. An essential oil is a concentrate containing the aromatic essence of a particular plant.
Tea tree oil is gathered through distillation of the plant’s leaves to collect a concentrate form of the antibacterial oil. While essential oils are excellent for use in aroma therapy and other fragrance applications, one should never use pure essential tea tree oil on the skin as this will usually cause severe irritation.
Many skin care shops will sell tea tree oil at a five percent dilution which is safe for application to normal skin sensitivity. This diluted form of tea tree oil can aid in clearing acne.
There are products that incorporate tea tree oil to take advantage of its restorative properties, but recently many products directly targeting the treatment of acne have entered the market.
The common chemical used to treat acne is benzoyl peroxide, but scientists have investigated to see if five percent tea tree oil could serve as a reasonable natural alternative to the standard acne treatment chemical.
In comparison studies study, tea tree oil was discovered to have the same effectiveness in ameliorating acne as benzoyl peroxide, as is found in many over the counter acne products. The successful outcomes of tea tree oil were recorded to have taken a longer time period to accomplish the same results but with less side effects than benzoyl peroxide.
This natural essential oil option has been proven to be just as effective as popular chemically engineered alternatives but the organic properties tend to make it less likely to cause adverse effects.
Tea tree oil is unfortunately not suitable for use by every person. Allergies to the essential oil can prevent it from offering benefits, so it is important to discontinue use and consult a dermatologist if symptoms of allergic reaction arise. Tea tree oil is also not recommended for sensitive skin or those living with eczema.
September 28, 2011 at 5:10 pm Comments (0)

