Acne Treatment and Acne Prevention: The Truth About Tea Tree Oil

By Agnes Scott

Can tea tree oil really get rid of acne? The answer seems to be "Yes" in both theory and practice. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and antifungal agent which works well for many people. It is in the role of antiseptic that tea tree oil helps in acne prevention and treatment. When you apply this natural oil on your blackheads and whiteheads, it prevents the bacterial infection from setting in and creating pimples. Applied on your pimples, it helps to kill the bacteria and promotes healing.

The trick is that not all tea tree oil is the same. First, we have to talk about the concentration. It is natural to think that using undiluted tea tree oil is good, because you can kill more bacteria faster. Unfortunately, Italian doctors have found that 6% of these patients suffer from skin irritation. Compared to this, only 1 in 725 patients using the 1% solution had allergic reactions.

A study published in the Oxford Journals showed that tea tree oil below 4% concentration will not kill bacteria effectively, so this is something you need to think about. The authors noted that hospitals which use the 4% to 5% concentrations as general antiseptics found tea tree oil to be very effective.

How does tea tree oil stack up against laboratory-created chemicals for acne treatment? Doctors in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia compared 5% tea tree oil against 5% benzoyl peroxide. They concluded that both of them work - the difference being that benzoyl peroxide works faster, but 79% of their patients suffered side effects like itching, stinging, burning, and dryness. The patients using tea tree oil reported fewer complaints.

The next important point is the composition of your tea tree oil. Most companies extract their tea tree oil from Melaleuca alternifolia, but there are at least two other species of the tea tree plant - Melaleuca dissitiflora and Melaleuca linariifolia. In addition, how the oil is extracted also determines the composition. Fortunately, the international standard ISO 4730 ("Oil of Melaleuca, Terpinen-4-ol type") specifies levels of 14 components which are needed to define the oil as "tea tree oil." So before you buy your tea tree oil, you need to check for this certification.

Now, lets say you have your 5% tea tree oil, and it meets the ISO 4730 standard. You apply it but suffer an allergic reaction. Does this mean you cannot use tea tree oil? Not necessarily. Remember that the remaining 95% of the solution is probably some kind of solvent. Your reaction could be against the solvent rather than the tea tree oil. So, buck up and try a different brand with another solvent. Just because the manufacturer says the solvent they use is inactive or inert does not mean you cannot be allergic to it.

If you are not a chronic acne sufferer, is it worthwhile to keep a small bottle of tea tree oil in your home? The answer is definitely yes. You can extend the shelf-life by keeping it in your refrigerator. And the oil is useful for fungal infections and minor wounds. So you will definitely get some use out of it.

Are you looking for natural acne skin care techniques? Visit http://acnecure.kelvinmart.com/ to learn step-by-step, permanent acne care treatment.

More Resources


Acne & Menopause

What Causes of Body Acne?Body acne can range from the relatively harmless forms of acne mechanica to the rare, yet debilitating forms of acne fulminans.Body acne can arise from series of acne triggers.


Acne - An Introduction

Acne is the most common skin disorder. Over 10% of Americans age 25 - 44 have acne.


Seasonal Changes Require New Approaches to Skin Care

While summer has its own issues, fall brings on a range of new skin-care challenges.


Healthy Skin for Handsome Men

Skin is the most important part of one's body as it plays an important role in covering the internal organs and protecting us from deadly infections finding its way into our system.


Some Common Issues with skin

Our skin is the most important part of our body. Issues with skin can arise during any course of time. Proper care of skin is a very essential part of our day to day life and it becomes even more important in today's modern lifestyle.


Get Rid Of Back Acne Now!

"Bacne" is the name given to back acne. This can occur on the body in areas like the upper back, upper arms and the buttocks.


Use Kaveri Baby Fairness Oil for Softer and Glowing Skin

Kaveri baby fairness oil is available online for softer and glowing skin. The oil is meant not only for babies but also for other people who want to get baby-like skins.


How to get rid of a pimple scar effectively?

A pimple can ruin an otherwise perfect complexion. It doesn't matter how big a pimple is. This is because it probably is noticeable by the person who has it.


Find A Simple Solution To Get Rid Of Acne

Acne is a burden to many people. Acne is caused by the pores of the skin being clogged by oil and dirt, which causes bacteria to grow in them.


Acne Myths, Finally Some Facts

Acne is a common skin condition, which can be extremely mild or quite disfiguring. Having had a rather bad case as a young adolescent, I know the kind of socially embarrassing consequences it can have for the victim but I also remember it being sore and painful, filling my life with discomfort.


Make Acne Disappear From Your Life Forever

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, and chances are pretty good that you've suffered the occasional, or perhaps more frequent, breakout.


Accutane and Proactive Solution- Acne Cures That Really Work

Acne cures that work are hard to find and that is a problenm, especially since acne can be a serious skin disorder not just a few pimples. that can be unsightly and embarrassing to the individuals it afflicts.


Pizza Doesn't Cause Acne, Does It?

Dairy consumption has been positively linked to acne for many teenagers and adults. There have been numerous studies proving this association, including a portion of the landmark Nurses Health Study involving 47,355 women in 1998.


How To Combat Acne And Win Clear Skin

Acne can be as frustrating for teens as it is for adults. The best things to know about acne are how to prevent it from appearing, how to deal with it when it does, and how to take care of yourself afterwards. The tips included in this article can help you learn to manage your acne in the best way possible.


How to Treat Acne During Pregnancy

Pregnant women often struggle with acne, especially since many are unsure which acne medications are safe to use during pregnancy and which ones should be avoided. This page provides an overview of treatments approved for pregnant women; however, always consult a doctor before using any medication during pregnancy.


Struggling With Bad Acne? Try These Tips!

You have tried all of the natural ways to clear acne, from egg whites and vinegar to orange peels and cucumbers and nothing has worked. Here are some proven chemical treatments that have been proven to work and work well. These will vary in cost, but ultimately your beauty and peace of mind will be worth it. Read on for more information.


Learn Fast And Effective Treatments For Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, and chances are pretty good that you've suffered the occasional, or perhaps more frequent, breakout. But what do you do when a breakout strikes? It's important to do your research on acne, as you could be inadvertently harming your skin more than helping it.


Everything You Need To Know To Get Clear Skin

Learning methods to care for your acne is going to help you improve your complexion. There are several tips that can be used to help you take care of this problem and many of them are included in this article. Take the time to read them all and apply the ones that fit your needs.


Get Clear Skin And Get Happy

Every year, millions and millions of men and women find themselves trying desperately to correct and conceal the unsightly effects of acne on their faces and bodies. Here are some of the very best tips and tricks for those who find themselves looking for ways to cope with pimples and acne breakouts.


Learn How To Get Rid Of The Acne Curse

Acne can be frustrating to deal with. It does not matter what age you are when it strikes, the embarrassment of dealing with this skin condition can be debilitating and, at times, depressing. However, there are ways to both lessen the severity of acne and to control it on a regular basis and this article will discuss these.


More Acne Information:

Related Articles


Best Acne Treatments Review

Acne can come to us at any age. It can come to infants as young as one to two months old, and this is known as neonatal acne, which will mean as the parent, you will have to look into kids' acne treatments. This type of acne is believed to occur as a reaction to a temporary increase in hormone levels. Neonatal acne normally dissipates over time without the need for remedial treatment.


The latest globe and also many with a new level of attractiveness

Skinstitut Brisbane is often a business that handles every type associated with natural skin care treatment options and also makeup products for the identical. The company Skinstitut Brisbane is recently launched and has been set up about the belief that offers considerable, premium quality natural skin care which is needed to be obtainable to help all people and also that until day is hoping challenging to keep on her behalf phrases.


Water, the Acne Killer

Water, the terribly foundation of life itself. Without it, we'd quite virtually die. it is a bringer of health and for that reason alone, you ought to be obtaining enough of it. can|you'll|you may} realize that simply potable to assist fix your disease of the skin scarring will most likely not be enough to mend the disease of the skin scarring. it is a pain, I know.


The treatment options for cystic acne

If we look at the severity of different forms of acne, cystic acne (sometimes referred to as nodular acne) is one of the most severe forms of this problematic yet common skin infection. A person may suffer from cystic acne when the oil ducts that are located deep in the surface of the skin (far deeper than with the traditional forms of acne) become infected with bacteria and clog up.


Treat Your Scars Immediately!

Scar Therapy Creams are not exactly as prominent as other beauty creams available today. Among the primary reasons is as a result of the reality that not everybody acquires scars, while practically every person receives zits, dark areas or wrinkles. Nevertheless, scars are much more usual, if you receive pimples, then you lean to acne marks which can leave your skin looking dull with dark patches.


Get Rid Of Dark Spots

We all love the smooth clear skin on models. How could anyone achieve such a spot and wrinkle free skin? Well, it is not totally impossible.


Adult Acne Home Remedy

Adult having failed to come out of this trap of acne, them too just like their teenage counterparts have to grapple with the same dilemma of finding solutions to heal their acne. Acne today is a big issue in people's lives.


Treating Acne and Scarring better

Our skin is the biggest and perhaps the most noticeable organ of our body.


The Best Acne Treatments Available

Acne can be treated using many different methods, some medicinal, some natural. The best treatment is actually prevention, but not always achievable. Acne affects almost all teenagers and a large portion of the adult population.


The Best Acne Treatments Available

Acne can be treated using many different methods, some medicinal, some natural. The best treatment is actually prevention, but not always achievable. Acne affects almost all teenagers and a large portion of the adult population.


Acne And Birth Control Pills: An Odd Couple

Although it is fairly well known that women may develop acne at different times during pregnancy, there is another curious fact that you may not be aware of.


Developments In Acne Skin Care

It is estimated that nearly 90% of all teenagers will experience some degree of acne in their lifetime. Additionally, one out of every four adults will also develop acne. Is there anything that can be done using natural skin care to avoid this unfortunate skin condition? Well, yes and no. While there is no perfect natural beauty product cure for acne, there are acne skin care measures you can take to aid in prevention.


More Ways of Treating Your Acne

We all know that acne is not going to go away overnight. If that were the case, no one would worry about acne the way they do, and doctors would not constantly be working on new products and techniques to help rid people of their acne problems.


Prevention is the Best Treatment for Acne!

Those who have never suffered with acne (Zits) cannot possibly understand the stress it causes; but things are gradually improving for sufferers. It is one of those areas where research has continued to make advancements; as a consequence, many of these new treatments are very affective.


5 Common Acne Myths You Shouldnt Believe

When you are dealing with an acne problem, you want the truth. You want to know the truth behind your acne problem, not a bunch of myths. Sadly, there are many myths out there today and it may be hard to know what to believe. So, here are a few of the most common acne myths that you shouldnt believe and the real truth behind them.


A Look At Laser Acne Treatment

Laser acne treatment has been around for a few years now, and it is quickly replacing more traditional forms of acne removal and prevention. As antibiotics become increasingly ineffective due to overuse, more and more people are opting for this new technique.


Concealing Acne While Waiting For Treatment To Work

Most people are very conscious of the affects that the spots and redness which accompany acne have on their looks and so there are many tactics which can be employed to help to hide the problem.


Treating Acne With Prescription Medication

If you have moderate to severe acne, or have mild acne for which over-the-counter medication has proved ineffective, then we provide a brief guide to prescription acne treatments.


Acne Medication - The Advantages and Disadvantages of Acne Medications

There probably isn't anything that is so damaging for our day than a bout of acne.


Does Caffeine Cause Acne?

In recent years, people are getting more and more curious about the link between acne and food. And, you're no exception; perhaps, that's why you're reading this article! As fast-foods, sodas and caffeinated beverages have become so popular, it is wise to find out whether your acne is connected to any of these. Really, the food-acne relation varies from person to person. It's because of the fact that metabolic processes and hormonal imbalances are unique to each individual. It's a common opinion


Tips for Getting Rid of Acne - A Treatment Plan

Benzoclear - a benzoyl peroxide formulation in a gel base for maximum effectiveness forms the foundation of treatment for all grades of acne. For grade I acne, Benzoclear is all that is needed. Basic therapy for all grades starts with mild doses and works up to the levels needed for complete clearing.