Acne and tea tree oil – an effective treatment
What exactly is acne?
Acne is caused by an overproduction of cells in your skin’s pores – it’s quite a common skin infection particularly in teenagers. Changes in the sebaceous glands (often at puberty) result in extra production of oil. This along with dead skin cells blocking hair follicles cause a build-up, resulting in skin bacteria growing rapidly, causing the acne infection – an unsightly red and swollen mess.
Acne will usually occur on the face, chest, upper arms and back. Because hormone levels are much higher during puberty, acne is far more common during the teenage years. As a person reaches adulthood acne typically occurs less, although some adults are unlucky and continue to battle acne.
What causes acne?
Here are some of the most common causes of acne:-
- overactive sebaceous glands
- hormonal changes (i.e. puberty)
- build-up of bacteria in skin’s pores
- not cleaning skin properly (dead skin cells)
- stress
Acne and tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a natural essential oil that has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, making it a great alternative treatment to chemical-based lotions, creams, and ointments. A lot of people concerned about the effect acne has on their appearance will use tea tree oil with positive results.
Acne and tea tree oil – does it work?
Yes! Tea tree oil really does work. It may take longer than your typical over-the-counter store-bought treatments, but tea tree oil is a great way of reducing acne outbreaks on your face and body. The oil’s natural antiseptic and healing properties will help clear up existing acne and keep your skin’s pores clear, preventing further pimply outbreaks.
Benefits of treating acne with tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is 100% natural, so if you’re concerned about putting harsh chemicals on your face or body to treat acne, then tea tree oil could be the perfect solution. If applied topically, the oil will help reduce bacteria on the skin’s surface and it will also reduce any inflammation and clear up the symptoms. The main benefit of using tea tree oil for acne is of course clear skin – the risk of infection is also greatly reduced by using the oil.
Facewash recipe for treating acne with tea tree oil
Here’s how to make your own tea tree oil facewash to use in the fight against acne:-
1. Add 6-8 drops of pure tea tree oil to warm water.
2. Rinse the affected area and dry thoroughly.
Wash your face with this solution up to three times per day. After a couple of weeks you should see a noticeable improvement.
You can also dab 100% essential tea tree oil to existing blemishes using a cotton tip. If you skin is super sensitive, you may need to dilute the oil using a 50/50 mix with water.
You could also try adding tea tree oil to an existing natural treatment for acne such as apple cider vinegar or evening primrose oil.
