Tea Tree Oil for Acne: 5 Natural & Effective Methods

This is the setting – you suffer from acne, and you are definitely not a fan of the skin care products available today in the market, especially because of the harsh chemicals present in them. Do you often wonder if there is a natural remedy for acne?

Then, tea tree oil is what you should start using right away. This wonderful oil has amazing healing properties, and it helps treat your acne. It can even prevent their occurrence in the long run.

Before going into detail about the methods in which you can use tea tree oil to cure acne, let’s quickly look at what acne is, and what are the main causes of acne.

Acne And Its Causes

Acne is a skin ailment that is very common and is usually curable. It is a condition where the skin follicles that connect the pores and oil glands get clogged due to the excessive production of sebum (natural oil produced by skin), thus producing pimples.

Normally, dead skin cells rise to the surface of the pores, and then, the body sheds them. When the body starts to produce excess sebum, the dead skin cells begin to stick together inside the pores. Instead of rising to the surface, they get trapped inside along with the bacteria present on the skin surface. There, these bacteria multiply, cause pore inflammation, and thereby, produce bumps on the skin which are called as pimples or acne. As these bacteria multiply rapidly, they quickly spread to the surrounding areas, producing more acne.

Acne can arise due to hormonal imbalance, stress, and/or unhealthy lifestyle. It can be treated, and is so common that it is not considered much of a “disease”.

Tea Tree Oil – An Overview

Tea tree oil is an essential oil. Also called Melaleuca oil, it is a pale yellow to nearly colorless oil, derived from the leaves of the plant Melaleuca alternifolia. It is native to Australia and is believed to have unique healing abilities with an odor similar to fresh camphor. It is regarded as a topical antiseptic agent in Australia. There is evidence for its role in the treatment of skin ailments, making it a key ingredient in many creams, ointments, and face washes. Various aboriginal tribal communities have been making use of tea tree leaves as an antiseptic for curing skin conditions and for various medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

Tea Tree Oil And Benefits For Skin

Tea tree essential oil has antifungal and antimicrobial properties, and can be used in many ways to treat various skin problems. Keep reading to find out more uses of tea tree oil for skin (1).

1. Tea tree oil is an excellent home remedy for athlete’s foot, an infection that is found on the skin of the feet and causes itching, blisters, or inflammation of the infected part. Tea tree oil soothes the itching. It is also believed that mixing olive oil with tea tree oil and applying on the infected areas can be very helpful.
2. It has been proved that tea tree oil has antiseptic properties and can be used in the treatment of cuts, burns, and other skin disorders. This essential oil works as an antiseptic when applied on cuts, burns, rashes, etc. Applying this oil on minor burns calms the burns. Due to its antimicrobial properties, it helps in reducing itching.
3. Applying one or two drops of tea tree oil on the affected areas can reduce corn and warts. But if you have sensitive skin, it is recommended to use a diluted version of the oil.
4. Insect bites can cause itching or pain and tea tree oil can be used to get instant relief from it.
5. Adding two to three drops of tea tree oil to the water while bathing would help you get rid of all the skin related allergies. It kills the bacteria and fungus responsible for the allergies.

It also gives you relief from acne. Keep reading to know how tea tree oil gives relief from acne.

Tea Tree Oil And Its Effects On Acne

1. Tea tree oil provides excellent skin treatment, especially for oily and acne-prone skin. You must have seen that various skin creams, face washes, shampoos, etc. contain tea tree extracts. It is a natural alternative for curing acne. Various studies have shown that tea tree oil is as effective as benzoyl peroxide to reduce acne (2).
2. Tea tree oil consists of antibacterial and antimicrobial compounds that act effectively against the bacteria that cause acne breakouts.
3. This essential oil can penetrate deep into the skin and helps to unblock the sebaceous glands. This unclogs the pores, thus disinfecting them and reducing acne.
4. It also works as a solvent as it removes dust and grease easily and protects the skin.
5. Adding a drop or two of tea tree oil to the water for bathing helps to get rid of acne on your chest or other parts of the body.

In short, tea tree oil has the following properties:

• Antibacterial
• Antifungal
• Antiviral
• Antiseptic
• Cuts through grease and dust with ease

Methods To Cure Acne Using Tea Tree Oil

Now that you know why tea tree oil is one of the best ways to cure acne, here are a few methods to use it:

Method 1

What You Need

• ½ cup of water
• 3-4 drops of tea tree essential oil

How To Use

1. Add drops of the oil to the water and mix well.
2. Take a cotton pad and apply it to the problematic area or the whole face, whichever suits your ailment.
3. Leave it on for 20-25 minutes, and once it dries, apply your moisturizer. There is no need to wash this off.

Tips

Apply to freshly cleaned face. Pat your skin dry very gently.

If you feel a little stinging sensation, do not worry. It’s normal.

Also, you can alter the drops of oil you use depending on your skin type.

– If you have sensitive skin, keep the ratio 95% water and 5% oil.
– For normal skin, use 90% water and 10% oil.

This can be done twice a day for quick, effective results.

Method 2

What You Need

• 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil

How To Use

• Add drops of tea tree oil on a cotton bud and gently press it against the acne, pimples, or spots.
• Leave it on for a couple of hours or overnight to reduce the redness and swelling.

Method 3

This is one of the most common ways to use this oil.

What You Need

• 1-1 1/2 teaspoons fresh aloe vera gel
• 2-3 drops of tea tree oil

How To Use

1. Mix the aloe vera gel with the oil.
2. Using a cotton swab, apply this mixture on the acne affected area.
3. Wait for it to dry and soak in. Once dried, wash it off with lukewarm water.
4. Apply a good moisturizer afterwards.

Tips

• This mask can also be left on overnight.
• If your skin is sensitive, or if it becomes dry upon the application of undiluted tea tree oil, mixing it with aloe vera is the best option.
• Repeat the procedure every day to get relief from acne.

Method 4

What You Need

• 1-2 tablespoons green clay powder
• Few drops of tea tree oil
• Water

How To Use

1. Add 2-4 drops of the essential oil to the green clay powder.
2. Add enough water to make a paste. Apply it evenly on your face, focusing more on the acne-prone area.
3. Once it dries, wash off with lukewarm water and apply a moisturizer.

Tips

• If you wish to do a spot treatment with this mixture, decrease the quantity of powder and also the oil.
• A little tingly sensation is normal as tea tree oil is very strong.
• Green clay will soak up all the impurities from your pores and clean them.

Method 5

What You Need

• 2-3 drops of tea tree oil
• 1-2 teaspoons of raw honey

How To Use

1. Mix the oil with the honey.
2. Apply this directly on the infected part and leave it on for a few hours.
3. Wash with lukewarm water and apply a moisturizer.

Tips

• This mixture can also be left on overnight.
• Repeat the process for a few days to get relief from acne.

Side Effects Of Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is generally safe for most people, but can cause skin irritation and swelling in some. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it as it is found to reduce contraction strength.
The oil has also been found to cause allergic reactions. So, for people with known allergy or sensitivity to tea tree oil, it is advisable to avoid using it. If you have sensitive skin, it is always better to use diluted tea tree oil. Otherwise, there are chances of irritation or redness.

Tea tree oil has healing properties, but it also contains certain toxins that are harmful when taken internally. Be careful to not ingest the oil, as doing so might affect the nervous system. It should be used only for external application.

Tea tree oil, although effective, takes time to show results depending on your skin type and structure. So don’t be disheartened if you don’t see results in the first few weeks. It may take time, but it will definitely work.

Try this out and enjoy acne-free beautiful skin. How has this post helped you? Do let us know by commenting in the box below.