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Tea tree oil has been used for hundreds of years for all sorts of ailments, including acne. Oily and acne-prone skinned people often use products that include tea tree oil in an attempt to combat the problem areas, but does it work? Express.co.uk reveals the reason to STOP using tea tree oil on spots.
Does tea tree oil help with acne?
Tea tree oil is a natural ingredient that is believed to help balance out acne-prone skin.
According to the skincare experts at Paula’s Choice, tea tree oil does have some benefits for acne-prone skin.
However, you’d need to use the right concentration or percentage of the product for it to work.
Pure tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree and has a strong herbal smell.
Tea tree oil straight from the leaves of the tree is made up of over 100 compounds, and some of them are supposed to calm down acne.
The team at Paula’s Choice explained: “Research has shown that application of a five percent concentration of tea tree oil can reduce the number of papules and pustules – both types of breakouts that people with acne-prone skin usually experience.”
While five percent doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s far more than the percentage in most skincare products.
The Paula’s Choice site says: “The concentration is the sticking point: the highest concentration of tea tree oil we’ve seen in a cosmetic product is less than 0.5 percent, far below what research has shown is needed for skin to benefit.
“You may find higher concentrations of tea tree oil in health food stores.
“These tea tree oil products can contain up to 100 percent tea tree oil, although some products contain tea tree oil that has been diluted with a carrier oil.”
If you’re going to try out tea tree oil, you should check the label to see what percentage of tea tree oil the product contains.
However, even if you can find a strong enough concentration of tea tree oil, it will probably be too strong.
If you apply a form of tea tree oil that is too strong and undiluted, it could trigger a sensitised reaction because of the fragrance ingredients in tea tree oil, such as limonene, linalool, and eucalyptol.
The reason to STOP using tea tree oil on spots
Research has not shown tea tree oil to be any better for acne-prone skin than other skincare products.
As mentioned, if you find a tea tree product strong enough to be effective it will probably be too strong and cause a reaction.
The Paula’s Choice team recommend using over-the-counter or prescription products for acne-prone skin to help your skin with greater certainty, such as a leave-on exfoliant with two percent salicylic acid.
If you absolutely must try tea tree oil, there’s a way to do it safely.
The Paula’s Choice experts recommend washing your face first with a gentle cleanser for your skin type.
Then, apply a leave-on exfoliant with salicylic acid before popping a few drops of tea tree oil onto a damp cotton bud and dotting it onto breakouts.
Alternatively, you can mix five to six drops of tea tree oil into a lightweight facial moisturiser and apply it to your entire face.
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