5 Really Easy Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil For Acne
Tea tree oil is an age-old remedy to a number of things. It can treat fungal infections, scabies, lice and even foot odor.
It can even treat acne.
But, for someone who has tried tons of things to cure skin breakouts, there’s one question you probably have in mind.
Does tea tree oil work for acne?
Frankly, yes. It works in three ways to combat annoying zits.
For one, tea tree oil has antibacterial and antimicrobial agents. It’s found to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide in reducing acne.
It’s also able to penetrate the skin’s deeper layers so that it can unclog your pores. In addition to that, tea tree oil can also remove oil and dirt from the surface of your skin.
It can even protect your skin against oxidative damage.
For something so natural, its list of benefits is really amazing. Now, if you are wondering how to use tea tree oil for acne, below are 5 simple methods.
1. Direct application
Tea tree oil is a bit strong in nature. If you have extremely sensitive skin, don’t apply it on your skin straight away.
For your skin’s safety, consider doing a sensitivity test first. To do that, you’ll need a piece of cotton ball and soak it with tea tree oil.
Apply in on your forearm and wait for a couple of minutes to an hour. If you don’t see any reactions, you can apply tea tree oil directly on your acne and leave it on for a few hours.
If you do experience negative reactions, like itching and redness, dilute the oil. Mix one part tea tree oil with ten parts of water.
Use a piece of cotton ball to apply the diluted tea tree oil on your skin.
2. As an astringent rinse
An astringent is a product that is meant to help constrict or shrink the skin. It also works well in reducing excess oil which, by the way, is a common adult acne culprit.
Tea tree oil astringent rinse can kill bacteria, too. You won’t have to worry about future breakouts if you use it regularly.
To create a tea tree oil astringent rinse, you only need to dilute 4 drops of tea tree oil in a cup of water. Use it to wash the affected part of your face once a day.
3. As a body wash
If you are suffering from nasty breakouts on your body, adding tea tree oil to your shower routine can greatly help.
You see, body acne is a lot more difficult to treat than face acne because of the location and the structure of the skin on your body. You’ll need something that can penetrate the skin easily.
You can buy a tea tree oil soap and body wash from your local beauty store or you can just create your own.
To add tea tree oil to your body wash is easy peasy. Just add a few drops of the oil in your bath water and you’re good to go.
4. As a face mask
For days you feel like your skin needs more help, pamper it with a face mask for acne-prone skin. And this tea tree oil face mask is a good treat because of its list of ingredients.
For the mask, you’ll need the following:
- Water
- 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of yogurt
- A small bowl
Simply mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Once you get everything mixed up, apply the mask on your face and allow to dry for around 15 to 20 minutes.
After that, you can rinse it with warm water and make sure to follow up with a good moisturizer for your skin type.
This face mask offers a handful of benefits for your acne-prone skin. Its honey, for example, has antifungal and antibacterial properties to fight off the bad microbes on your skin.
It also has an anti-inflammatory effect to calm any irritated and inflamed bumps on your skin.
Yogurt, meanwhile, contains lactic acid which can do two things.
First, it can dissolve dead skin cells to ensure your pores won’t get clogged. Second, it canprovide gentle exfoliation which means it can lessen post breakout marks.
Use it a couple of times a week and you probably won’t have to worry about how to get rid of acne scars.
5. As an exfoliant
Tea tree oil, on its own, can’t provide the friction you’ll need to exfoliate your dead skin cells. To use it as a scrub, you’ll need the following:
- 10 to 12 drops of tea tree oil
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 medium sized bowl
Similar to how you created the mask, you only need to mix all the ingredients in the bowl. Once you’re done with combining the ingredients, apply the mixture to the areas of your face or body that’s affected by acne.
Using gentle circular motions, continue massaging the areas for around 5 minutes.
Be sure not to use too much pressure as that can leave minute tears on your skin. These minute tears can make your skin vulnerable to bacteria and infections.
After such time, you can rinse off the scrub with lukewarm water and then pat your skin dry.
Tea Tree Oil For Acne: Important Things To Remember
Tea tree oil is, without a doubt, one of the best natural remedies for acne. However, although beneficial, you should still be picky if you are thinking of using tea tree oil for acne.
Make sure you are using 100% tea tree oil as any preservative can lessen its efficacy. Always do a sensitivity test first to see how your skin will react.
Tea tree oil shouldn’t be consumed orally. Ingesting it can cause severe side effects, like inflammation of the mouth, toxicity and fluid buildup.
If you are pregnant and you’re struggling with breakouts, skip tea tree oil for the mean time. Avoid using it if you’re breastfeeding, too.
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