-What is tea tree oil?
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree.
When tea tree oil is applied to the skin, it is believed to be antibacterial. This oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus, and insect bites.
Tea tree oil is available in both oil and over-the-counter skin products. However, it is not safe to take orally. If it is swallowed, it can cause serious symptoms.
-Can you put tea tree oil directly on your face?
Normally you need to dilute any essential oil before using it directly to your skin. But in order to treat acne, you can simply get a cotton swab soaked in tea tree oil and just put it on the acne. This is an exception to the rule where you don't have to dilute the oil if you are using it directly on your skin.
However, it is highly recommended not to apply tea tree essential oil straight to your skin when using it. Essential oils are quite powerful and may cause skin burns in some cases. You don’t need to risk this. Therefore, always use tea tree essential oil to your skin after combining a few drops with a preferred carrier oil.
Tea tree oil is my personal favorite, When I travelled to study in Lithuania for a while the weather was extremely cold for me, and I started to have acne all over my face. This is something I wasn’t used to, so I didn’t know what to do. Many people advised me to use tea tree oil, at first, I didn’t know how to use it, So I started buying products that includes tea tree oil, and I was just amazed by quick results.
What is tea tree oil used for?
Most people use tea tree oil to help treat infections and fungus. Here are 5 ways to use tea tree oil.
1-Acne
As I mentioned before, tea tree is just magical when it comes to acne.
-How to use tea tree oil to treat acne at home?
To treat acne, you can use a cotton swab soaked in tea tree oil. This is an exception to the rule where you don't have to dilute the oil if you are using it on your skin.
-How to use tea tree oil to make a mask for acne?
Even though it's the simplest face mask, it offers remarkable acne-healing abilities. Honey offers amazing skin-healing and moisturizing qualities that will help your skin look soft and radiant. Tea tree oil's anti-inflammatory and antibacterial characteristics can be added to create a face pack that is quite helpful at treating acne.
All you are going to need in this mask is 1 tablespoon of honey and two drops of tea tree oil. Combine the two ingredients in a bowl, then apply the mixture to your face and neck. After leaving it on for approximately 15 minutes, wash it off with a mild cleanser. To lock the advantages of the face mask into your skin, use a small amount of moisturizer. For amazing results, do this every other day.
-Tea tree oil and coconut oil face mask
This tea tree oil and coconut face pack is another healthy face mask you should try. This face mask is ideal for those with skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis because it calms itchy, inflamed skin and properly conditions and moisturizes it.
You will require: Coconut oil extra virgin, 2 tablespoons and two to three drops of tea tree oil
Combine the two components, then apply it to the area that is affected. Leave it on overnight, then remove it with lukewarm water in the morning.
-Tea tree oil, clay and yogurt mask for oily skin
This tea tree oil and bentonite clay mask is perfect for you if you have oily skin. Bentonite clay draws out impurities from deep within the skin, unclogs pores, and aids in the removal of excess oil. Additionally, it aids in progressively controlling sebum production to maintain face matte and avoid acne. Yogurt stops your skin from drying out too much, keeping it smooth and radiant.
You will need: Bentonite clay, 2 teaspoons, 2 tablespoons of yogurt and 2,3 drops of tea tree oil.
To make a thick, lump-free paste, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and thoroughly stir them together. Spread this face pack all over your face and neck area while it is still slightly damp after washing your face to remove any surface pollutants. After letting it rest for roughly 20 minutes or until it has dried fully, wipe it off with water and a mild cleaner. Don't forget to moisturize afterwards.
2-Healthy scalp and reduce dandruff
Some research suggest that tea tree oil may help improve symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis, a common skin condition that causes patches of scaly skin on the scalp and dandruff. It may also help alleviate contact dermatitis symptoms.
- How to use tea tree oil to reduce dandruff and have a healthy scalp?
Simply dilute tea tree oil and use it at your scalp to get rid of any build up of chemicals and dead skin. This keeps your hair healthy and hydrated, which helps encourage regular hair growth and reduce hair loss. A buildup of dry, scaly skin on your scalp leads to dandruff. The accumulation of dead skin cells may eventually prevent hair growth if left unchecked. Tea tree oil can have both antifungal and antibacterial effects in shampoos. This indicates that it will remove the root of the scalp's dead skin.
-Conditions when using tea tree oil won’t be effective for hair loss
Tea tree oil probably won't assist with your hair loss if you have an autoimmune disorder, are through chemotherapy, have a genetic propensity to losing hair, or experience hair loss brought on by aging.
- Does tea tree oil grow hair?
As we mentioned, tea tree oil helps get rid of dandruff, keeping your scalp healthy and that will lead to having a healthy hair. But research hasn’t proven that tea tree oil has a direct effect on growing hair.
-How to make homemade tea tree oil?
Aloe vera gel, coconut milk, various extracts, and a few drops of tea tree essential oil can be used to create a DIY tea tree oil shampoo.
3-Eliminates Viral, Fungus, and Bacterial Infections: Athlete’s foot and ringworms
Now back to the rule of diluting the essential oil before using it. Data demonstrates the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities of tea tree oil, which give it a broad-spectrum activity.
This suggests that tea tree oil may, in theory, be used to treat a range of infections, including MRSA and athlete's foot. These tea tree advantages have been demonstrated in certain human investigations, laboratory tests, and anecdotal reports, however researchers are currently studying them. The growth of germs such Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae can be reduced by tea tree oil, according to laboratory studies. Serious illnesses caused by these bacteria include: pneumonia, infections of the urinary tract respiratory disease, bloodstream illnesses, sinus infections, impetigo, and strep throat.
Tea tree oil may be able to treat or prevent fungal infections due to its antifungal characteristics.
Tea tree oil also can be a great ingredient to make a hand sanitizer.
-How to use tea tree oil to reduce fungus and yeast infection in athlete’s foot and ringworms?
Dilute it with a carrier oil (a base or vegetable oil like coconut or jojoba oil that helps dilute essential oils) and put the blend on the affected skin.
4-Aids in treating head lice
Let’s start first by explaining what are head lice?
Head lice are tiny, parasitic insects that feed on human blood, and tea tree oil contains insecticidal properties and can be used to get rid of them. The effectiveness of tea tree oil against lice and their eggs was examined in an Italian laboratory investigation.
Over the course of a six-month period, tea tree was tested at various ratios against 69 head lice and 187 eggs both alone and in conjunction with nerolidol. It was discovered that tea tree oil alone was more successful than other treatments for head lice, causing 100% death within 30 minutes of exposure.
-How to use tea tree oil to get rid of head lice?
Add 3 teaspoon of coconut oil to 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil then apply the mixture to your scalp and massage. Next, run a fine-tooth comb through the hair before covering the head with a shower cap and letting it sit for two hours. Re-comb the hair, then rinse the oils away. The next step is to mix two cups of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water, then spray the solution on the hair until it is completely soaked. After rinsing the hair, give it another go with the comb.
The final step is to lightly apply coconut oil and let it sit. For a few weeks, you must repeat this procedure every five to ten days to guarantee that all lice and their eggs are killed. Using a fine-tooth comb, go over your hair once more while leaving the oil in to act as a leave-in conditioner.
5-Household cleaning:
Cleaning your home with tea tree oil is a wonderful additional use for it. Tea tree oil has potent antibacterial properties that help eliminate harmful microorganisms from your home.
-How to use tea tree oil to make a homemade cleaner?
Combine water, vinegar, and five to ten drops of lemon essential oil to create a DIY tea tree oil cleaner. Then apply it to your sinks, shower, toilet, and kitchen appliances.
You can also use the natural cleaning ingredients I've combined in my recipe for homemade bathroom cleanser, such as liquid castile soap, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda.
It is highly recommended not to diffuse tea tree oil if you have young children or animals in your house because it has the potential to be neurotoxic.
6-Improves Bad Breath
Bacteria in your mouth, particularly in the tonsils, throat, and back of your tongue, is what causes bad breath. Tea tree oil functions as a natural treatment for bad breath since it has antibacterial characteristics that can destroy these bacteria.
Tea tree oil also exhibits antiseptic properties against oral infections such Candida albicans, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, according to an in vitro study. This effect of tea tree oil can be very beneficial following oral surgery, such as a root canal, which raises your chance of getting a bacterial or fungal infection.
Remember that tea tree oil should not be consumed internally, so spit it out after using it as a mouthwash to eliminate oral bacteria.