Tea Tree Oil For Acne
There is a hoard of products in the market specially suited for the acne prone skin. There are a lot of products, which either do not work at all or can cause severe irritations to the skin. Hence it becomes more important to choose the right product for you wisely. One of the recent Tea Tree Oil has been gaining momentum for a while now. The oil does not have any side effects and shows good result in a short span.
Tea tree oil is an essential oil, which is obtained by the Malaleuca alternifolia, a tree found in Austarlia. The oil is obtained from the steam distillation of leaves. There are a number of commercial products which use the tea tree oil in the shampoos, lotions, creams, gels, toothpaste and mouthwashes.
The oil is known for its anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. It is not only beneficial in treating acne but is an excellent treatment for bad breath, athlete’s foot, cold sores and body odour. It is probable one of the oldest treatment used for curing acnes but it is now that it is being readily available.
One of the prime reasons that the tea tree oil is being so popular is that the oil has very minimal side effects. The most popular over the counter product next to the tea tree oil is the benzoyl peroxide, which can have side effects at times. There are times when benzoyl peroxide can cause dryness, itching, burning and dryness on the skin.
Tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties which help to cure acne. This property comes from the terpinen-4-ol that is present the leaf. Propionibacterium is mostly responsible for causing acne in the skin and tea tree oil when applied to the lesions help in killing that bacterium.
We mentioned earlier also that there are now a number of products available it the market, which uses the tea tree oil. Here are some examples; there is a new tropical tea tree oil gel, which contains not only tea tree oil but other natural ingredients like hazel and other by Kiss My Face.
Sephora also has a benzoyl peroxide and tea tree oil gel for acne. You can always get these products and others as well on the shelves in the department store. These are also available at the cosmetics store.
Tea tree oil though when applied directly in an undiluted form can cause allergic reaction these include skin irritation, redness, blisters and over drying of the skin. One has to always remember to choose a product, which has a concentration of 5 per cent tea tree oil because stronger concentration can cause reactions. If you have the essential oil then you can mix five millilitres of tea tree oil with 95 millilitres of water and apply it on the affected area.
Though there is a specialised regime for every skin type. If you have a sensitive skin then mix one part of tea tree oil with nine parts of Aloe Vera gel. This will not only kill the bacteria but soothe the skin also. If you have normal to oil skin or a combination skin then use one part of tea tree oil with nine parts of water to get rid of acne.
If you think that the acne is not improving in few months also and there is no adverse effect of the tea tree oil on your skin then you can apply a stronger mixture to the affected area.
Tea tree oil can be helpful in preventing the reoccurrence as well. You can make a mask by mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with natural green clay. Add some water to make a thick pate. This paste can be applied on the skin once or twice a week. Apply the paste on the affected area and wash it in half an hour. If you have to treat pimples then you can apply this on the spot and leave it overnight.
To keep you skin acne free wash your face with a cleanser suited for your skin type, and then pat dry it. Take a few drop of tea tree oil on a cotton ball and apply it on the skin. Repeat it twice a day. This will help the skin to be acne free.
One thing has to be kept in mind while using the tea tree oil, do not go in the sun directly after applying this. It can cause dryness and further skin irritations.
