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Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of
the Melaleuca Alternifolia plant, which is
native to Australia. It has long been used
for treating skin conditions, soothing pain
and eliminating cold sores. Tea tree oil is
also a powerful disinfectant, useful for
applying to surface wounds so as to prevent
infection (it should not, however, be
applied to deep wounds). It has potent
antibacterial properties and promotes
exfoliation, making it an effective topical
acne treatment.
When used as a spot treatment, tea tree oil
can give results similar to benzoyl
peroxide. It is absorbed into the surface of
the skin and kills underlying bacteria,
often eliminating even small cysts within a
few days. If you're an acne sufferer who
finds BP or salicylic acid too irritating
for your skin, I would recommend giving tea
tree oil a shot, as many find it to be less
abrasive. I keep a bottle on-hand myself and
have used it in the past for clearing up
those last few stubborn spots when I was
first starting on vitamin B5.
That said, tea tree oil is strong stuff.
It may be less harsh than the leading
chemicals, but it can still dry out your
skin if used excessively. Moreover, some
people may be sensitive or allergic to it,
so if your skin is easily irritated, I would
recommend starting out with a light
application just to be safe.
There are some who recommend other uses of
tea tree oil, including using it as part of
an acne facial mask, steaming your face with
it, or diluting it slightly and using it as
a full facial cleanser. My advice is just to
use caution if applying tea tree oil in any
big way. As said, it can be drying, and too
much of it may cause redness and
peeling.
Putting tea tree oil to use
You can find tea tree oil at many department
stores or purchase it online. It's not super
cheap, but just a small bottle will usually
last you a very long time. And unlike BP,
you don't have to worry about it bleaching
your clothes or pillow case. But be warned,
it does have a fairly strong, grassy scent.
Personally, I don't mind it (I've actually
grown quite fond of it), but some people may
find it unpleasant.
The scent won't linger for long, because
this stuff evaporates fast. Many
people don't like to apply oils on their
skin because, well, they're oily. Tea tree
oil isn't like that. In fact, it's not
oily at all, but rather is a thin,
quick-drying liquid that is guaranteed not
to clog your pores. Just keep it away from
your eyes! Even just the vapor can dry out your eyes and sting
painfully, so be careful when applying it.
Tea tree oil is occasionally sold in
different concentrations, but for use as an
acne spot treatment, I definitely recommend
sticking to 100% pure tea tree oil.
This will give you the best results, and you
can always dilute it if your skin is
extremely sensitive.
Tea tree oil tends to work great so long as
it isn't applied too frequently. I recommend
using it before bed (this way you also don't
have to worry about the smell), or twice per
day at most. Dab a small amount directly
onto an acne blemish and let dry. No need to
rinse it off. Like all spot treatments, tea
tree oil is effective at getting rid of
current acne, but will not prevent future
breakouts. You'll still need a regimen that
combats acne from the inside to cover that.
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