Tea tree oil is a natural, non-toxic product that has many uses. It’s found in Australia and is known by its botanical name, melaleuca alternifolia. The leaves of the tree are medicinal in nature, and tea tree oil can be extracted from the leaves to be used to treat skin conditions and other health problems.
Because the oil is so potent, it is important to use it in the right amounts and use a diluted form of the oil. Not only is tea tree oil safe when used this way, but it also works as an antimicrobial agent and antifungal agent. As such, it’s a great option to treat many skin conditions. Here are the ways that it treats these conditions naturally.
Acne
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States. It affects 40+ million people, and there are several ways to treat it. Tea tree oil can be used as an all-natural treatment option when people want to know how to treat cystic acne. Additionally, there are creams, lotions, and dietary changes that can all help alleviate cystic acne. Tea tree oil is great because it’s anti-inflammatory and reduces swelling and redness that comes along with acne.
Minor Burns and Sunburn
If you have a sunburn, minor burn or cut, scrape, or abrasion that needs some TLC, tea tree oil is one of the best natural remedies to give it. Tea tree oil can help heal these types of wounds quickly and effectively. It can also help soothe the discomfort caused by insect bites on your skin.
Dandruff and Dry Scalp
Some people deal with dry skin more than others and the same can be said about dandruff and dry skin. Dandruff is usually treated with shampoos containing tea tree oil as well as other antifungal ingredients such as piroctone olamine or zinc pyrithione. Since it’s an antifungal agent, tea tree oil also helps treat other conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and eczema on the scalp along with dandruff.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition that causes redness and inflammation on the face, with symptoms ranging from flushing to pimples and bumps. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent that can help reduce the appearance of rosacea. Be sure to dilute just a drop or two in a carrier oil such as jojoba oil and apply a dab or two over the affected areas.
Eczema
Eczema is a long-term, chronic skin condition. It causes the skin to become red and scaly, with cracked and dry patches. Eczema symptoms include redness on the face, arms, chest, legs or hands. You even experience flaking skin and itching. Tea tree oil in a lotion is a great remedy to alleviate a lot of the irritation that comes with eczema.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that thrives in warm, moist areas of your body. These conditions are found on the feet, so athlete’s foot is most common among athletes and people who spend a lot of time in close contact with those who have it.
Toenail Fungus and Ringworm
Tea tree oil can help with toenail fungus, ringworm and jock itch. Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat these skin conditions because it has antifungal properties that are effective against both fungi and bacteria, which are the causes of these skin conditions.
Oily Skin
The signs of oily skin can be subtle, but they’re still noticeable. Your face may feel greasy and shiny after washing, even if you don’t use any other moisturizer or makeup products. Tea tree oil can help treat oily skin because it has antiseptic properties that help prevent acne breakouts by reducing the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands in your pores.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a skin inflammation that can occur for many reasons, such as allergies, chemicals, and contact with irritants. If you have dermatitis, your skin will become itchy and red in the affected area. Tea tree oil can help by alleviating the redness and itchiness that comes with dermatitis.
Psoriasis and Itchy Skin
Tea tree oil is a great treatment for psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder that causes skin cells to grow too rapidly. It reduces swelling and helps treat bacteria that can get trapped more easily.
How Tea Tree Oil Can Treat These 14 Skin Conditions Naturally
Tea tree oil can be used to treat warts and skin tags. Since warts are viral in nature and tea tree oil helps to treat viruses, it’s effective at getting to the source of the problem. To treat warts, dab a few drops of tea tree oil directly onto the affected area, then leave it on for several hours before washing it off with warm water.
Staph Infections
Staph infections are caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. They can affect the skin, the nose, or both. The bacteria usually enter the body through open wounds or sores. Staph bacteria can also spread from one person to another when their hands are not washed after touching infected areas of their bodies. Tea tree helps to kill the staph bacteria on the skin. Use it diluted to ensure you don’t accidentally damage any skin tissue.
Cold Sores
Tea tree oil can be used to treat cold sores when you first feel them coming on and even after they’ve emerged. Herpes is the cause of cold sores, which makes tea tree oil an excellent remedy because of its antiviral and anti-microbial properties.
Head Lice
Want to treat head lice without the harsh chemicals found in most retail stores? Try tea tree oil mixed with your regular shampoo. This treatment works best when applied topically to the scalp or skin as part of shampoo or lotion.
Conclusion
Tea tree oil is a great natural solution for skin conditions. It can help with everything from acne, dandruff, and athlete’s foot to cold sores and head lice. It can even be used on kids when diluted properly. The best part about it is that the ingredients are all-natural so there are no harmful chemicals involved in any of these treatments.