Amelia Grant

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has been used in Australia to naturally heal common issues. It possesses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. This magic oil may help fight acne, toenail infections, athlete’s foot, and more. However, it may cause allergy and skin irritation and must not be ingested. Read this article to find out the health benefits and side effects of tea tree oil.

1. It fights inflammation

Tea tree oil contains a component called terpinen-4-ol that prevents the production of various inflammatory compounds. According to a human study of 27 subjects, when applied to the skin tea tree oil can significantly reduce swelling.

2. It can combat fungal infections

Tea tree oil worsens the permeability of Candida and other fungal cells. The oil can stop the formation of spore outgrowths by increasing the fat membrane’s resistance to deformation. Actually, all of the components of tea tree oil except β-myrcene have antifungal properties.

Dandruff

Dandruff is a very common fungal skin condition that provokes itchy, red patches. According to one study, tea tree oil improved dandruff severity by 41%.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is another common condition caused by various types of fungus found on the feet. In one study, both 25% and 50% tea tree oil caused a marked clinical improvement in 158 patients with this condition. It’s worth talking to your foot doctor about adding tea tree oil to your athlete’s foot treatment.  

Toenail Infections

Using tea tree oil regularly for six months can help you cure toenail infections (onychomycosis). It can also improve nail appearance and symptoms. In fact, tea tree oil has effects comparable to those of clotrimazole 1% solution.

3. It reduces acne

Tea tree oil is a very popular option for treating acne since it has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It can calm redness, swelling, and inflammation. Tea tree oil is able to prevent and reduce acne scars.

According to a study of 124 patients with acne, 5% tea tree oil significantly decreased the number of lesions, scaling, itching, and dryness compared with the control treatment. Another study has shown that a 5% tea tree oil gel is able to effectively reduce acne lesions, pustules, and other skin changes.

4. It stops Bacterial Infections

Adding tea tree oil to a hand wash formula can reduce the spread of pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus. According to a small study, a product containing 5% tea tree oil and water and a product containing 5% tea tree oil and 10% alcohol killed pathogens better than a non-medicated soft-soap.

This is due to the fact that tea tree oil destroys the cell membrane that results in complete cell death in multiple species of microbes.

5. It promotes oral health

Tea tree oil when added to mouthwash can reduce the number of harmful mouth bacteria and treat gingivitis. The oil also decreases the levels of compounds linked to bad breath. According to a study, tea tree oil has been shown to treat gingivitis and eliminate mouth bleeding. 

Risks and Side Effects

Despite its natural origin and mindblowing health benefits, tea tree oil has side effects like skin irritation, allergic skin rash (dermatitis), itching, burning, scaling, redness, and dryness. Also, tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed, but is safe to inhale or apply topically.

If you’re experiencing any side effects, contact your health care provider. The skin reaction may range from mild to severe and is usually caused by oxidation (breakdown) of the product. If you have eczema or skin dermatitis don’t use tea tree oil until you talk to your doctor.