Tea Tree Oil: 5 Uses & Precautions

As we all know, tea tree oil is a powerful weapon against acnes especially acne conglobata. Known as the “King of Antiseptic” in essential oil industry, it can soothe skin inflammation and dandruff, thanks to its anti-fungal properties. Thus, it is widely used in skincare and body cleaning products, leaving the skin free from bacteria and inflammation, as well as balancing the oil secretion. However, not all people are suitable to use tea tree oil especially when you have pets at home as it may be toxic if swallowed. Here is the lowdown of benefits and side-effects of tea tree oil, so you will have a better understanding on its good and bad sides!

What is tea tree oil?

Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a native Australian plant found in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. At first, it was used for treating skin inflammation, insect repellent and skin burnt etc, but then it was scientifically proven to be antiseptic. Since then, it is widely used in skincare and daily products and well-known as the do-it-all nature therapist. 

Use #1: Fighting acne

With its powerful disinfection properties, you can drop a few tea tree oil onto cotton swab and dab it onto your breakouts or acne conglobata. Leave it for a few hours and rinse it off. It helps soothe the redness and kill the bacteria. 

However, if you have sensitive skin, your skin will become drier and more allergic if apply it directly. In this case, you can dilute the tea tree oil by mixing with aloe vera jelly before topical application, soothing your discomfort. 

For better result, aside from putting on the oil directly, you can also use cleansing products infused with tea tree oil such as cleansing foam or anti-acne massage oil formulated with tea tree oil. 

Use #2: Relieve eczema

The annoying eczema is hardly to be cured, not to mention that it gets more serious during weather change. Though tea tree oil cannot cure eczema from the roots, it can soothe its itchiness.

You can put it onto your affected area directly and leave it until dry or mix it with coconut or almond oils to minimise the irritations to skin. If you want to pamper yourself, you can add 5ml of tea tree oil into your hot bath, allowing it to treat your skin with its anti-inflammatory benefit. You will feel so refreshed after bath while your skin is rejuvenated. Eczema? We don’t know her.

Use #3: Prevent hair loss

If you always bleach, dye or perm your hair, your scalp might be accumulated with chemical substances, sebum and dirts, resulting clogged follicles. Tea tree oil saves up oil balance to promote healthy hair growth whilst preventing hair fall. 

You can dilute the oil with water at 1:1 ratio then massage it onto scalp, keeping the follicles healthy. If you are a busy bee like me, you can buy a set of haircare products blended with tea tree oil, not only can they regulate your scalp health but also prevent the stinky smell of your hair sebum, leaving you the best hair condition when meeting your Mr. Right or besties!

Use #4: Antiseptic

Sanitisers are our daily essential during the pandemic but most of them are infused with chemicals which are not suitable for kids and sensitive skins.  Tea tree oil has been used for germ-fighting for centuries, so more and more natural disinfectant sprays appeared on market are formulated with tea tree oil, meaning they are safe to use for your whole family.

Use #5: Prevent gingivitis

Tea tree oil toothpaste is very common in Western countries for its protection to gum and teeth, perfect for those suffering from swollen gum and gingivitis. Bad news is, it is not easily found in Hong Kong yet. Good news is, you can make the tea tree oil mouthwash on your own at home to relieve the gingivitis and sore throat.

Add a drop of tea tree oil into 75ml water, mix thoroughly, and swish in your mouth when you have sore throat. Tea tree oil can kill the bacteria in mouth with pain relief benefit. I find my teeth cleaner after using it for a period of time too!

Precautions:

1. Aside from animals, kids and pregnant women should consult doctor before using tea tree oil.
2. There have been juvenile boys who developed gynecomastia after using tea tree oil, so children during puberty must seek professional advice from doctor before using it.
3. Beware of the shelf life to prevent using an oxidised oil, or it may lead to skin allergy. Suggest to use it within a year after opening.
4. Though tea tree oil is a jack-of-all-oil, some people may have reactions after using it, including itchiness, skin burnt or dizziness etc. If you happen to these, please stop using it immediately. I suggest you to add 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil on body first, wait until 5-10min to see any side effects, if no, it is safe to use.