The tea tree oil, originally from Australia, has been a valuable beauty all-rounder for years. The oil obtained from the leaves of the tea tree is said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. We explain below what benefits tea tree oil has for the skin and how it should be used.
Where does tea tree oil come from, and how does it work?
Australian residents have known tea tree oil for centuries. After all, it is obtained from the evergreen Australian tea tree, which grows up to seven meters high. Originally, indigenous people used tea tree oil to treat infectious wounds, inflammations or insect bites naturally. As a result of the colonial era, the Europeans discovered and imported medicinal plants.
Today the essential oil is considered a kind of natural antibiotic that helps with many ailments and diseases. Thanks to the secondary plant compound terpene, the oil is said to have an antibacterial effect. In contrast, the monoterpenes are responsible for the healing effect. Also, eucalyptol is to ease the cold symptoms, and is contained in tea tree oil. How exactly and with what intensity the oil works depends on its dosage and degree of purity. Used correctly, the rich oil can contribute to daily skincare.
Use the valuable oil on foot and nail fungus
As scientific publications show, tea tree oil can fight fungal diseases. For example, anyone who suffers from nail fungus can dilute the product and apply it to the affected nail twice a day. Ultimately, however, therapy with tea tree oil for fungal infections does not replace a visit to the doctor. Therefore, the essential product should be used as a support for drug treatment.
Tea tree oil helps with inflammatory skin problems
Various studies suggest that products containing tea tree oil help with inflammatory skin conditions. Scientists were able to prove in two clinical studies that tea tree oil products can alleviate inflammatory acne. To do this, they tested the products on a total of 184 participants who applied a gel with tea tree solution twice a day. Australian Bodycare to mix the tea tree oil with witch hazel (Hamamelis). This mixture can be applied regularly to the affected areas of the skin. If the whole body is affected, a few drops of tea tree oil can alternatively be added to the bathwater.
Also in psoriasis or skin growths Tea tree oil can help relieve the symptoms. To make psoriasis weaker, mix two spoons of melted coconut oil with tea tree oil. It is then advisable to massage the mixture gently into the skin in the morning and evening. In turn, diluted tea tree oil may help peel off small skin growths. The best way to do this is to dab the diluted oil on the affected area with a cotton swab.
Use tea tree oil on blemished skin
Thanks to its sebum-regulating properties, the tea tree oil unfolds its effect even on blemished skin. Just a few drops of oil on a cotton swab can prevent pimples and blackheads. The oil should ideally act overnight so that the blemished areas of skin recede. It is important to dilute the oil and only apply it selectively to the affected parts of the body. If inflammatory pimples are already visible, the tea tree oil could irritate the skin too much. It therefore makes sense only to use the diluted oil as a preventative measure before pimples and blackheads are “visible” on the skin.
Tea tree oil relieves discomfort caused by insect bites
Insect bites irritate the skin and sometimes cause infections. Oftentimes, the symptoms get worse when the affected person scratches the itchy areas. Diluted essential oils – including tea tree oil – are suitable for external use so that the symptoms recede quickly. To do this, the heavily diluted oil can be applied to the affected area of the skin. Tea tree oil also has a practical preventative benefit for repelling insects: the natural oil, with its intense smell, keeps mosquitoes as well as wasps and ticks at a distance.