By Viktoriya Beliy

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March 29, 2018

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Tea tree oil has been widely researched and shown great efficacy for the treatment of acne.

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by many different factors.  Those include excessive sebum production, abnormal shedding of the outer layer of skin, inflammation and the presence of bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) (1).

Research has shown that diet is very effective for the treatment of acne.  One of the most helpful dietary therapies is a low-glycemic diet (2). This type of diet decreases the inflammation throughout the body which plays a major role in acne. Studies have shown that people following a Mediterranean diet, which has a low glycemic index, have much less cases of acne than people eating a western diet (2).

While diet is very effective, it could take some time to take effect.  For this reason many people turn to over the counter facial products to help with their symptoms.  The most popular topical treatment is 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (3). However, there is a more natural alternative.

Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has been widely researched and shown great efficacy for the treatment of acne, as well as oral candidiasis, tinea, onychomycosis and molluscum contagiosum (4). The power of tea tree oil is its antimicrobial activity by non-specific cell membrane damage. Tea tree oil has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory actions (5).

There are many products currently on the market that utilize tea tree oil.  Research has found that the active ingredients in tea tree oil do not penetrate to the deepest layers of the skin and most evaporates (6).  The best formulation is microemulsion (6), while the worst is a clay formulation. Another option that shows great efficacy is gel products containing 5% tea tree oil.

***Never apply tea tree essential oil topically without a carrier oil as that may burn the skin. If you want to target a specific area with tea tree oil, mix it with jojoba or argan oil to dilute it and avoid burns.

References

1. Williams H., Dellavalle R., Garner S. Acne vulgaris. Lancet. (2012):379: 361–72
2. Bronsnick T., Murzaku E.C., Rao B.K. Diet in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. (2014):71: 1039.e1-12
3. Armstrong A.W., Cheeney S., Wu J., Harskamp C.T., Schupp C.W. Harnessing the power of crowds: crowdsourcing as a novel research method for evaluation of acne treatments. Am J Clin Dermatol. (2012):13: 405–16
4. Hammer K.A. Treatment of acne with tea tree oil (melaleuca) products: A review of efficacy, tolerablility and potential modes of action. International J Antimicrobial Agents. (2015):45: 106-110
5. Carson C.F., Mee B.J., Riley T.V. Mechanism of action of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil on Staphylococcus aureus determined by time–kill, lysis, leakage, and salt tolerance assays and electron microscopy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. (2002):46: 1914–20
6. Cross S.E., Russell M., Southwell I., Roberts M.S. Human skin penetration of the major components of Australian tea tree oil applied in its pure form and as a 20% solution in vitro. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. (2008):69: 214–22.

About the Author:

Viktoriya Beliy is a licensed naturopathic physician who completed her education and a year-long residency at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. During her time at NUNM she also earned her Master’s in Nutrition concurrently with her doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She has additional training in classical homeopathy through the New England School of Homeopathy with Dr. Paul Herscu and Dr. Amy Rothenberg. She enjoys treating all conditions, especially focusing on dermatology, women’s and men’s health, endocrinology, and autoimmune conditions.