Contrary to popular belief, not all oils are bad for oily and acne-prone skin! In fact, essential oils such as tea tree oil bear a ton of acne-fighting capabilities.

This plant derived oil can single handedly help tackle hormonal acne, leaving your skin clear and pimple-free.

Not only can tea tree oil help clear existing acne faster, but it can also help prevent  future breakouts! Let us investigate how tea tree oil compares against popular chemical acne treatments.

The Origin Story Of Tea Tree Oil

Derived from the Melaleuca tree that grows abundantly in Australia, tea tree oil has been a part of Australian Aboriginal medicine for centuries.

The native Australians crushed the tea tree leaves to extract the oil, which they inhaled to cure coughs and colds, diluted and massaged to the skin to heal infections.

In the 18th century, sailors discovered the Melaleuca tree and named it “Tea Tree” due to the nutmeg-scented tea they brewed from its leaves. Soon enough, the world became aware of the therapeutic benefits of tea tree oil.

Chemists found that tea tree extracts contain more than 100 components, with a compound called 4-terpineol being the most abundant.

This compound has potent antimicrobial properties, which is why tea tree oil works so well against skin infections and acne.

How Is Tea Tree Oil Extracted?

Tea tree oil is extracted using different techniques that are commonly used for essential oil extraction. These include distillation, solvent extraction, and CO2 SuperCritical Extraction. The most prevalent technique for extracting tea tree oil is that of steam distillation.

During steam distillation, steam passes through crushed tea tree leaves, which allows the volatile compounds in the leaves to evaporate. These volatile compounds are cooled and collected in a separate container, then processed and refined to obtain tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil extracted via this technique is then added to various skincare products, be it creams or cleansers. You can also find pure tea tree oil in stores, but you must dilute it with a carrier oil to make it gentler on the skin.

The Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil For Acne-Prone Skin

Nowadays, many different types of body lotions are available in the market, and they claim lots of promising results to improve the texture and appearance of skin.

Tea tree oil is extremely beneficial for acne-prone skin due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Here is how this essential oil helps acne-prone skin.

• Soothes pain, redness, and inflammation caused by hormonal acne
• Regulates sebum production on the skin, thereby preventing oil accumulation that leads to acne
• Kills acne-causing bacteria, which leads to faster healing of existing acne and prevents future breakouts
• Heals acne-induced wounds or broken skin faster due to its antiseptic properties
  

Tea Tree Oil vs. Benzoyl Peroxide – Which One Is Better For Hormonal Acne?

Benzoyl Peroxide is a popular anti-acne ingredient for spot treatments, cleansers, and creams.

Benzoyl Peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria and helps remove dead skin that clogs the pores. Thus, it encourages faster healing of acne and prevents pimples too.

In terms of their properties, tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide are fairly similar. Their mechanisms to heal and prevent acne are quite identical, even though the former is a naturally-derived ingredient while the latter is a synthetic compound.

However, one differentiating factor is that Benzoyl Peroxide can lead to dryness and irritation on the skin as a side effect.

Some clinical studies have compared the effects of tea tree extracts and benzoyl peroxide on mild to moderate acne. One such study revealed the following results –

·   Both 5% Tea Tree Oil gel and 5% Benzoyl Peroxide gel help to heal inflamed and non-inflamed acne.

·   Tea Tree Oil may show slower results in terms of healing acne as compared to Benzoyl Peroxide.

·   Tea Tree Oil did not exhibit side effects such as dryness and skin peeling. These side effects were noticeable with Benzoyl Peroxide.

Although tea tree oil might not work as fast as benzyl peroxide, we think that tea tree oil is better as it is more gentle on the skin (given that it is in a diluted solution).

The Best Way To Use Tea Tree Oil For All Skin Types

While tea tree oil is an excellent ingredient for all skin types, a high concentration of the product can irritate the skin sometimes.

Hence, wash-off products containing tea tree oil are gentler alternatives to spot treatments that contain this ingredient.

Cleansers with tea tree extracts work effectively for all skin types to wash away acne-causing bacteria without irritating the skin.

For example, Dr. Jart’s TeaTreatment Cleansing Foam is an excellent tea tree product for all skin types.

This cleanser contains 3 types of acne-fighting tea tree extracts, namely tea tree leaves, tea tree oil, and 4-Terpineol. It is also hydrating and gentle due to the presence of soothing green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile extracts.

This mild cleanser is free of sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, or harsh acids, and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and dry skin. It banishes hormonal acne, whiteheads, and blackheads with ease without stripping the skin dry.

True to the brand’s philosophy, Dr. Jart+ has created a gentle product that combines science and nature to deliver results!

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References:

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/352/1/012053/pdf

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-113/tea-tree-oil

https://www.healthline.com/health/tea-tree-oil-for-skin#types

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2145499/