The fast modern day lifestyle can be quite hectic for many and as a result you may sight the occasional pimples on your skin, especially on the face. This bumps or pimples are called Acne vulgaris or simply acne.
Many people will confess that having acne is not a pleasant experience since it can seriously mess with your self-esteem. Acne breaks out mostly as a result of stress, unhealthy habits and hormonal imbalance.
What is acne?
This is a common skin disorder that happens when the skin manufactures too much natural oil called sebum. Pimples occur as a result of the clogging of skin follicles that bond with the pores.
When the skin manufactures excess sebum, dead skin cells get mixed up with bacteria on the surface and they all get stuck in the pores. The pores begin to swell as the bacteria increases; this contributes to the spread of acne to other areas of the skin.
Treatment
In a quest to deal with this problem many people have resulted to using the millions of skin care products available in the market. Whereas not all of these products are bad, most of them contain harmful chemicals that may do more damage than good to your skin.
Natural is the way to go when it comes to acne and skin care. Many people have confirmed that tea tree oil has worked wonders on their skin.
What is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil is a pale yellow and somewhat colorless natural oil that occurs in the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant found in Australia.
Over the years, many Australian indigenous communities have been using the trees leaves for curing different kinds of skin disorders. The leaves are widely regarded as an antiseptic.
In the modern world, manufacturers have been using this oil as a dominant ingredient in skin products like face washes and creams.
Does Tea Tree Oil prevent Acne?
According to a study conducted in 1990, a 5% solution of tea tree oil can be used to treat acne the same way a 5% benzoyl peroxide can do it. The findings can be found in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Dr. Asa Hershoff adds that the ability of tea tree oil to fight bacteria, viruses and fungi helps in the stimulation of immunity and hence preventing acne. Dr. Hershoff is a homeopathic and naturopathic from Los Angeles, USA.
Therefore 5% of this natural remedy can equally give the same results as a drugstore prescription of benzoyl peroxide when dealing with acne.
How does it work?
When introduced to affected area, tea tree oil kills the acne-causing bacteria found on the skin surface. This is because it contains terpinen-4-ol.
The oil unblocks the sebaceous glands after sinking into the skin. This is important in preventing further spread of acne, cleansing of the pores and drying out of pimples.
It performs anti-microbial and antibacterial activities that are useful to the skin unlike harsh artificial chemicals.
This oil is also responsible for the removal of spoiled skin cells and controlling of oil production that ensures the skin stays balanced.
Its antifungal and antiseptic functions are also important in preventing acne breakouts thus avoiding inflammation.
The process of treating acne using Tea tree oil
It is important that you ensure that the oil is 100% pure so that it is most effective on your skin. This is to ensure that it does not contain any preservatives that your skin might be allergic to. The oil is very potent in this state and therefore you should dilute it before commencing the application.
If the acne has already broken out, apply the oil lightly to the affected area using cotton wool; the oil can sometimes cause allergy to normal skin resulting in peeling or redness.
You can also use tea tree oil in the general health of your skin by adding it to your skin care product. Take your moisturizer and add a few drops of the oil; ideally you should use this mixture two times in a day.
Take your moisturizer and add a few drops of the oil; make it a habit of applying this mixture twice a day. This method is more effective than buying a tea tree moisturizer because you get 100% purity and you can measure the oil dosage to suit your needs. If you experience a negative skin reaction then use the tea tree every 2 days.
Tea tree oil can also be used to prevent pimples from reaching the skin surface by applying the oil immediately you feel a pimple forming.
When you want to achieve a cleansing massage on your face, mix a few drops of tea tree oil with good massage oil like almond and smoothly rub it on your face. This should be done for a couple of nights to ensure the skin clears up.
Sometimes the tea tree oil is more effective on a pimple when you mix a drop of it with Vaseline. This is because the Vaseline ensures that the oil stays longer on your skin.
You can also use the oil as a toner after you are done cleansing your face; use a cotton pad to gently apply a mixture of water and 2drops of the oil.
If you do not like the smell of the oil, try to distract yourself with something else or by reminding yourself how happy you will be after your acne is gone!
Conclusion
Tea tree oil can be used for different purposes depending on the needs of the individual and hence you get to decide what you want it to do for you. This oil can be incorporated into your daily routine with ease, for instance if you have dry skin you can mix a few drops of the oil with your moisturizer or maybe you can use it as a toner after cleansing.
You should also be aware that the full results of this oil take time and hence you should not feel discouraged if you do not see instant changes. It should take 1 to 3 weeks for you to appreciate the good job the oil does to your skin. Remember, the results are definitely worth waiting for!
