Tea Tree Oil Skin Care
For starters, Tea Tree Oil, or Melaleuca Alternifolia, is an essential oil, which can be gotten through the process of steam distillation. Indigenous people have used this plant, which is native to the continent of Australia, in the past. Initially, people simply drank the liquid derived from boiling the leaves as a form of energy supplement after a hard day’s work. Furthermore, indigenous Australian tribes have been using the leaves as anti-septic through sprinkling the crushed leaves on wounds. Lastly, inhaling the oils after crushing the leaves has been the common treatment to common coughs and colds.
Along with the medicinal properties accounted by the natives who have traditionally used it, different studies have proven the amazing potentialities of the tea tree leaves. In a series of scientific papers during the 1920s-1930s, Arthur Penfold published the different antimicrobial properties of the Tea Tree.
The commercialization of the tea tree oil boomed during the World War II when the plant material, after being hand cut, was distilled in makeshift, wood-fired and mobile bush stills. The demand for the product increased because of the demand for effective natural antibiotics for soldiers fighting the war. After a number of studies by different governments, it was shown that oil from this tree contained antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal abilities.
One of the most common uses of tea tree oil is by people who have acne prone skin use the product as a form of natural treatment. When Australia’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Department of Dermatology did a single, blind, and randomized trial, they were able to compare the effectiveness of tea tree based products versus benzoyl peroxide. While both groups had significant reduction both in inflamed as well as non-inflamed lesions over a three-month trial, people who were treated with the oil portrayed more stable smooth recovery and transition process. The study found that there are people whose skin would initially respond nicely to chemical based products but develop complications later on, as compared to this natural anti-acne product, which tends to show fewer side effects in more people.
Additionally, the oil is commonly used for the treatment of athlete’s foot and other fungal infections especially in the area of the toenails. After using tea tree solutions diluted in water twice a day for 4 weeks, 64% of the people in the group got rid of the nasty smell, while majority of the rest had significantly better conditions. Secondly, in a controlled trial, which the Journal of Family Practice published, the daily application of the tea-based solution was proven to be more effective than 1% topical medication for fungal infections such as clotrimazole solution.
After a 6-month trial, the tea solution was proven to be as, if not more effective than chemical based solutions. The result was based on different variables such as allergic reactions, clinical trial assessment, and finally, toenail cultures. The institution also launched a controlled trial using creams containing 5% tea tree solutions infused with approximately 2-3% of butenafine hydrochloride. This was applied to more than 60 people, and after less than 20 weeks, the solution provided significant improvements and very little to no side effects as compared to a pure chemical based solution.
Shampoos based on the amazing product are also currently available in the market. The infusion of the solution has been proven to be effective in curing mild-moderate kinds of dandruff problems. After 4 weeks of using tea tree oil products, dandruff problems were significantly reduced. Finally, different studies show the effectiveness of using the product in treating eczema, yeast infections, cuts and scrapes, canker sores, and lice treatment. For more information on the uses of Tea Tree Oil click here.
Current Tea Tree products are no longer limited to 100% oil solutions, as it is now used as a complementary ingredient in soaps, creams, deodorants, shampoos, facial wash, and even perfumes. A classic example of this is The Body Shop, which is considered to be one of most socially responsible companies in the world. In their last collection, the solution was infused in body butters, sanitizers, and make up. For more information on tea tree oil products click here. Alternatively, conglomeration of businesses such as the Australian Tea Tree Industry Association (ATTIA) has pushed for more studies about the unexplored properties of the tree.For more information on Tea Tree Oil products click here
As with any skin care product some people may develop an allergic reaction to Tea Tree Oil or products derived from it. Women who are pregnant are also medically advised to avoid the product. Be extra careful if you plan to take it internally and then consume it only in very small quantities. Ingested Tea Tree Oil can potentially result to impaired function of the immune systems as well as diarrhea, central nervous system depression, drowsiness, and sleepiness. For more information on health effects we encourage you check out this Mayo Clinic tea tree oil page. If used topically and in moderation, for most people, the benefits of Tea Tree Oil outweigh the risks.
