Essential oils have such a wide variety of benefits, and the list of uses for them keeps on growing!
Just one of the many beneficial oils is tea tree oil! It has been a popular treatment for acne, but there are actually many more ways that you can benefit from adding it into your daily regimen.
Overall, tea tree oil is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. In this article, we’ll let you in on all the wonders tea tree oil can do for skin, hair, and nails, and we will also give you tips on incorporating it into your skincare and haircare routine!
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Background/Overview
Tea tree is also known as melaleuca alternifolia oil, which is made from steaming leaves of a native Australian tree. The indigenous people used the leaves to make a tea that smelled like nutmeg. Captain Cook saw this traditional practice, and coined the name “Tea Tree”. But one must note that this tree is not the same as the tea plant that is commonly used to make black tea.
An essential oil that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by the aboriginals of Australia, Tea Tree Oil is naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal. In addition to its many uses for skin health, tea tree oil is also used as an insect repellant.
You can assume the versatility of melaleuca oil simply by the variety of products it is found in. So many soaps, shampoos, lotions, and facial cleansers contain tea tree. The oil has a strong astringent smell that is somewhat similar to the fragrance of eucalyptus.
11 Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for Skin and More
1. Acne Treatment-
Tea tree oil is widely used to treat acne. It helps to remove dirt and impurities from clogged pores and the strong antibacterial properties help reduce acne-causing bacteria.
The main causes of acne are bacteria, hormonal issues, sebum production, and inflammation. Tea tree oil combats two of these problems (bacteria and inflammation), which is why it’s so productive for acne!
“Possibly Effective for Acne . Applying a tea tree oil 5% gel appears to work as well as benzoyl peroxide treating acne . Tea tree oil might work more slowly than benzoyl peroxide, but seems to be less irritating to the face. When applied twice daily for 45 days, tea tree oil can reduce acne severity.”
Read here for more acne tips- Best Serums for Hormonal Acne
2. Hair Growth-
Tea tree can help promote hair growth! When applied to the scalp, it promotes blood flow which stimulates the hair follicles. It’s a great natural treatment when dealing with hair loss or trying to grow some long, flowing locks! Look for a tea tree oil shampoo to stimulate those hair follicles to promote some growth!
3. Skin Tag Dissolver-
One way you can benefit from the antibacterial properties of tea tree is you can use it to get rid of skin tags! When you apply a few drops of the oil (diluted) it eventually causes the skin tag to melt away.
4. Best Friend for Oily Skin-
Tea tree has antiseptic properties, which makes it a great product for those with an oily skin type. It removes excess oil on the surface of the skin, but doesn’t penetrate deep enough to dry it out too much. Those who have oily skin often believe that they need to dry their skin out as much as they can and not moisturize, but no matter what skin type you have, it’s important to still have a moisturized barrier so that your skin doesn’t start producing excess oil!
5. Helps Achieve Even Skin Tone-
Just another reason so many people can benefit from tea tree oil is that it can reduce the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Tea tree oil can speed up the healing process, which can help get rid of scarring or any other discoloration that you may have.
6. Nail Fungus Killer-
Nail fungus is actually a common problem that many people deal with. It can be a pesky, tricky thing to get rid of, but using something that is antifungal can definitely help with the issue. Tea tree can kill common nail fungi such as onychomycosis and tinea pedis (athlete’s foot). It’s recommended to mix the oil with another type like coconut or olive oil in order to dilute it, and then apply it to your affected nails!
7. Calms Inflammation-
Tea tree is a multi-purpose superstar. Another issue it can help with is inflammation! If you are dealing with swelling, redness, or irritation, adding it into your skincare routine can help you out!
There are lots of great products out there with tea tree already in them, but you can also just mix a couple of drops into a non-comedogenic oil such as squalene and use that as a daily moisturizer!
8. Dandruff Relief-
Part of the reason that tea tree oil is extremely versatile is that it combats excess oiliness, but it’s moisturizing at the same time! The moisturizing benefit of tea tree oil can be used to treat dry scalp/dandruff. As always, just make sure you dilute it with a carrier oil before applying it to your scalp. This can also be used on dry skin that you may have anywhere else on your body!
You can apply a couple of drops to your shampoo or you can find one that’s already made with it on the shelves!
“Five percent tea tree oil appears to effective and well tolerated in the treatment of dandruff. “
ScienceDirect
9. Natural Deodorant-
When you start to sweat, the bacteria on your skin mixes with it. This is what can cause body odor, but you can use tea tree oil to fight the smell! Tea tree is bacteria-fighting, so you can use it to prevent your underarms from smelling bad.
You can make a natural deodorant using tea tree with a few other ingredients; shea butter, arrowroot powder/cornstarch, coconut oil, and baking soda.
10. Eczema Treatment-
Many people who suffer from eczema can benefit from tea tree oil. Eczema (or atopic dermatitis) is diagnosed as patches of red and itchy dry skin, and it can affect any area of the body. There is no cure for this uncomfortable skin condition, but by applying the oil, many people claim that it calms the itchiness and dryness.
11. Natural Antiseptic-
You can use this excellent oil as a hand sanitizer or wound disinfectant! Tea tree has the ability to kill S. aureus and an array of other bacteria that has the potential to cause infections.
You can make a hand sanitizer by mixing around 30 drops of tea tree oil with two tablespoons of vinegar and a cup of water!
Tips for Using Tea Tree Oil Safely:
- NEVER apply 100% tea tree oil directly onto the skin. It is very potent and can cause irritation/burns if you don’t dilute it. Simply mix tea tree with a carrier oil that you like (coconut, squalene, rosehip, argan, etc.) to dilute it properly.
- As a general rule, for every 2 drops of tea tree, add 12 drops of carrier oil.
- If you are purchasing a product that already contains tea tree, look for something that contains a percentage of 5-50%. Start with a lower concentration if you have never used this oil before to ensure you are not allergic.
- Avoid applying tea trees near the eyes. It will most likely cause redness and burning if it gets near/inside your eyeball.
- The benefits of this oil come when applied topically. Tea tree should not be ingested.
- If you have never used tea tree before, it’s best to do a patch test to make sure you are not allergic or have any kind of bad reaction. Dilute the oil, and apply it to a small area of skin such as the inside of your wrist.
- Those who are pregnant or dealing with other hormonal issues should avoid using tea tree oil, especially without talking to your doctor beforehand.
Overall, tea tree is a great inexpensive and natural alternative to skin, hair, nail, and other health issues that many people are dealing with daily. It is generally safe when it is diluted correctly and you have no allergies to it. A small percentage of the population cannot tolerate it, but if you test it out prior to daily use you can reap all the benefits we talked about!
