How to Treat Skin Conditions with Tea Tree Oil

Using Tea Tree Oil Safely

Talk to your doctor to identify your underlying skin condition first. Before you slab the tea tree oil all over your skin, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor. There are several skin conditions that may get worse with tea tree oil and there’s no evidence that it can treat a variety of conditions that require medical direction. Let your doctor take a look before skipping right to tea tree oil. This is especially important if you have other symptoms associated with your skin condition, since you may have something more serious going on. There’s no need to be alarmed, but it’s better to get a checkup first before doing anything else.

Purchase organic products that contain 5% tea tree oil if possible. When it comes to your skin, it’s best to be safe by picking up regulated products. Choose a moisturizer or lotion with tea tree oil if you’re treating skin that isn’t damaged. Otherwise, you can pick up a 2-5% solution of tea tree oil designed for treating skin issues and minor wounds.Tip: Buy tea tree oil products from reputable sources that are monitored by whatever government agency regulates skincare products in your country. In most cases, you can look up whether the products have been federally-approved on a company’s website.

Wash your skin immediately if the tea tree oil irritates you. If you apply tea tree oil to your skin and you feel burning, stinging, or your skin condition gets worse, wash your skin off immediately. If the skin isn’t punctured, use soap to wash the oil off. It is possible to be allergic to tea tree oil and it may irritate your skin depending on your skin condition. If it turns out that you do have an allergy to tea tree oil, do not use products with tea tree oil listed in the ingredients and explore other options.

Do not ingest or drink tea tree oil to avoid harming your body. While diluted tea tree oil is generally safe for your skin, it can harm you internally if you drink it or add it to food. Regardless of what you’re planning on treating, do not swallow it. It can be toxic to humans in high doses, so you’re better off only using it for aromatherapy or skin. If you’re using it as a mouthwash or to treat something around your mouth, just be careful. A really small amount probably won’t do anything, but it can be dangerous in large amounts.

Treating Common Conditions

Use a carrier oil to create a 2-5% solution yourself. You can create your own skin treatment by mixing tea tree oil with another non-reactive oil to make it safe for your skin. Coconut, avocado, olive, and jojoba oil are great options that won’t have any negative side effects. Combine enough essential oil with a carrier oil so that your new product is roughly 2-5% tea tree oil. Never put an undiluted essential oil on your skin. It can trigger a serious reaction or damage your skin further. If you’re treating a burn or painful scrape where the skin isn’t broken, you can use aloe vera instead if you prefer. Each drop from a dropper bottle is roughly 0.25–0.1 millilitres (0.051–0.020 tsp). To make a 2% solution, fill a small bottle with 30 millilitres (6.1 tsp) of your carrier oil and add 18 drops of tea tree oil. Mix the solution thoroughly before using it.

Apply the tea tree oil to your skin to treat mild cases of acne. Tea tree oil fights inflammation which makes it a great choice for treating acne. Take your tea tree oil product and pour a few drops on to a cotton ball. Rub the cotton ball gently against the acne and around the surrounding skin. Do this every day for at least 6 weeks to reduce the size and tenderness of your pimples. Tea tree oil isn’t going to be effective for cystic or nodule acne, which is acne that turns bright red or gets so inflamed that it’s painful. You’ll have to see a dermatologist to find treatment for this type of acne. Keep the oil out of your eyes if you’re doing this.

Apply a small dollop to treat cold sores on the rim of your mouth. While it doesn’t treat any other viruses, tea tree oil does fight herpes simplex, the viral strand responsible for cold sores. Dip a cotton swab into your tea tree oil and gently blot the cold sore with your tea tree oil. Do this daily for a few days until the cold sore starts healing naturally.Warning: Do not put tea tree oil on your genitals if you have herpes. It wouldn’t help anyway, since it’s a different strand of the herpes virus that causes genital herpes.

Use tea tree oil to treat sore muscles or light inflammation. If you strain a muscle or push yourself a little too hard in the gym, pour a small dollop of your tea tree oil into your hand. Then, rub the sore muscles with your hand by using smooth, circular motions. Keep working the tea tree oil into your skin until there’s no more oil on the surface. Do this as needed until the inflammation goes down and your muscles start feeling better. Take a few days off from your workout routine if you have a strained or pulled muscle. Wash your hands with soap and water after doing this.

Apply a thin layer of tea tree oil to minor wounds to promote healing. If you have a cut thinner than ⁄4 in (0.64 cm) and shorter than 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm), you can use tea tree oil to help the wound heal. Place a dollop of the oil over your wound and place an adhesive bandage on top. It won’t be as effective as other antibiotic ointments, but it will have a positive impact on your wound so long as it is able to heal on its own. Do not use a moisturizer or lotion to treat open wounds. You have to use a tea tree product mixed with a carrier oil that won’t burn or harm your skin. If your wound won’t stop bleeding after 2-3 minutes of applied pressure or it develops an odd odor, see a doctor immediately. The wound may be at risk of getting infected. Change your bandage out and inspect the wound for infections every 12-24 hours.

Try using tea tree oil to treat moderate fungal infections. Scoop up 1–2 teaspoons (4.9–9.9 mL) of tea tree oil product in your hand and gently slather the product over the infected area. Let the skin air dry and repeat this process every 1-2 days. Tea tree oil can kill the microbes that help fungal infections grow, which makes it ideal for fighting minor fungal issues like athlete’s foot and ringworm. Tea tree oil can also combat onychomycosis, tinea pedis, and oral candidiasis. There are several fungal infections that cannot be treated with tea tree oil though, so see a doctor after a few days if the infection doesn’t clear up or it continues to spread. If you’re itchy, it’s probably a sign that tea tree oil can’t treat the fungal infections. Most fungi that trigger scratching won’t be treatable with tea tree oil since the oil won’t help the underlying condition that’s causing the itchiness. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after applying the tea tree oil with your hands.

Use a tea tree oil-based shampoo to minimize dandruff. Use a shampoo that lists tea tree oil in its ingredients to wash your hair if you have dandruff. Dandruff is a common form of dermatitis which causes your skin to dry out. Since tea tree oil reduces inflammation and restores skin, it will help minimize dandruff. Work the shampoo into your hair the same way you normally do. Continue using the shampoo until your symptoms subside. Don’t use a carrier oil-based solution in your hair. It’ll introduce too much oil in your hair and may damage it. You can usually add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to a scoop of standard shampoo if you’d like. It may not be nearly as efficient as a shampoo that is produced with tea tree oil, though.

Add a drop of tea tree oil to water to wash your mouth out. Fill a cup with 30 millilitres (6.1 tsp) of lukewarm water and add 6-9 drops of tea tree oil. Mix the ingredients together and take it into your mouth. Swish the mixture around your mouth for 3-5 minutes before spitting it out. The tea tree oil will minimize the amount of bacteria in your mouth. When you’re done, brush your teeth with toothpaste and floss to completely clean your mouth out. Tea tree oil will not work as a replacement for toothpaste or standard dental hygiene. It will also not treat plaque if this your main concern. Do not swallow the tea tree oil. It can be poisonous in high doses. While you probably wouldn’t swallow enough to cause any serious harm, it’s best if you simply don’t ingest it.

When to Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have any symptoms of a virus. If you have a fever, chills, sore throat, or fatigue, contact your primary care doctor to schedule an appointment. Outside of cold sores, there are no viruses that can be treated by tea tree oil. While tea tree oil is great for many skin conditions, it isn’t the best choice for treating a virus that causes symptoms on your skin. This also means that tea tree oil makes a poor hand sanitizer.

Check with your doctor before using tea tree oil. While tea tree oil is generally safe, it isn’t right for everyone. It may aggravate certain skin conditions, and it could interfere with your other treatments. Talk to your doctor to make sure tea tree oil is safe for you to use. Tell them about any other treatments you’re using, as well as any allergies you have.

Confirm your diagnosis before you start treating a skin condition. Some skin conditions share similar symptoms, so it’s important to get a diagnosis from your doctor. Tell your doctor about all of your symptoms, and let them examine your skin. They may recommend doing diagnostic tests to help them confirm your diagnosis. Then, you and your doctor can create a treatment plan that works for you. You can still treat your condition naturally. Going to a doctor doesn’t mean you have to take medication. It’s important to have all possible information before choosing your treatment.

Get immediate care if you experience serious side effects. While it’s not common, you may experience side effects when you’re using tea tree oil. These usually aren’t serious, but they can cause a lot of discomfort. If you notice side effects, it’s best to see your doctor immediately to make sure you don’t need additional treatment. See your doctor if you experience the following side effects: Skin irritation Redness Dry skin Rash Itching Stinging Burning Scaling