TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil is available as an oil and in many over-the-counter skin products, including soaps and lotions. However, tea tree oil should not be taken orally. If swallowed, it can cause serious symptoms.
TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor and a colour that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless and clear.[1] It is derived from the leaves of the tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, native to southeast Queensland and the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. The oil comprises many constituent chemicals and its composition changes if it is exposed to air and oxidizes.
As a traditional medicine, it is typically used as a topical medication in low concentrations for the treatment of skin conditions, but there is little evidence of efficacy.[3][4][5] Tea tree oil is claimed as useful for treating dandruff, acne, lice, herpes, insect bites, scabies, and skin fungal or bacterial infections.[4][5][6] However, there is not enough evidence to support any of these claims due to the limited amount of research conducted on the topic.[4][7] Tea tree oil is neither a patented product nor an approved drug in the United States,[5] although it is approved as a complementary medicine for aromatherapy in Australia.[8] It is poisonous if consumed by mouth, and unsafe to use on children.[9]
Tea tree oil has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in the belief it treats acne, nail fungus, or athlete's foot, with little evidence to support these uses.[4] A 2015 Cochrane systematic review for acne complementary therapies, found a low-quality single trial showed benefit compared to placebo.[10]
According to the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency, traditional usage suggests that tea tree oil is a plausible treatment for "small superficial wounds, insect bites and small boils", that it may help reduce itching in minor cases of athlete's foot, and help with mild inflammation of the mouth lining. The CHMP say tea tree oil products should not be used on people under 12 years of age.[11]
Tea tree oil is not recommended for treating nail fungus as it is not effective.[12] It is not recommended for treating head lice in children because its effectiveness and safety has not been established and it could cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.[13][14] There is no good evidence tea tree oil is an effective treatment for demodex mite infestations.[15]
Tea tree oil is highly toxic when ingested.[4][16][7] It may cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children.[7] Tea tree oil should not be used in or around the mouth.[4][16][9]
Application of tea tree oil to the skin can cause an allergic reaction.[16] The potential for causing an allergic reaction increases as the oil ages and its chemical composition changes.[17] Adverse effects include skin irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, systemic contact dermatitis, linear immunoglobulin A disease, erythema multiforme-like reactions, and systemic hypersensitivity reactions.[6][18] Allergic reactions may be due to the various oxidation products that are formed by exposure of the oil to light and air.[18][19] Consequently, oxidized tea tree oil should not be used.[20]
In Australia, tea tree oil is one of the many essential oils causing poisoning, mostly of children. In the period 2014-2018, there were 749 reported cases in New South Wales, accounting for 17% of essential oil poisoning incidents.[21]
Tea tree oil potentially poses a risk for causing abnormal breast enlargement in men,[22][23] and pre-pubertal children.[24][25] A 2018 study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found four of the constituent chemicals (eucalyptol, 4-terpineol, dipentene and alpha-terpineol) are endocrine disruptors, raising concerns of potential environmental health impact from the oil.[26]
Tea tree oil is defined by the International Standard ISO 4730 ("Oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type"), containing terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinene as about 70% to 90% of whole oil, while p-cymene, terpinolene, α-terpineol, and α-pinene collectively account for some 15% of the oil (table, right).[1][3][5] The oil has been described as colorless to pale yellow[1] having a fresh, camphor-like smell.[31]
The name tea tree is used for several plants, mostly from Australia and New Zealand, from the family Myrtaceae, related to the myrtle. The use of the name probably originated from Captain James Cook's description of one of these shrubs that he used to make an infusion to drink in place of tea.[citation needed]
The commercial tea tree oil industry originated in the 1920s when Australian chemist Arthur Penfold investigated the business potential of a number of native extracted oils; he reported that tea tree oil had promise, as it exhibited antiseptic properties.[30]
Tea tree oil (TTO) is an essential oil, steam-distilled from the Australian native plant, Melaleuca alternifolia. It has a minimum content of terpinen-4-ol and a maximum content of 1, 8-cineole. Terpinen-4-ol is a major TTO component which exhibits strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Tea tree oil exerts antioxidant activity and has been reported to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections affecting skin and mucosa. Several studies have suggested the uses of TTO for the treatment of acne vulgaris, seborrheic dermatitis, and chronic gingivitis. It also accelerates the wound healing process and exhibits anti-skin cancer activity. This review opens up new horizons for dermatologists in the use of this herbal agent.
Research on the use of tea tree oil is still limited and its true efficacy is unclear. If you're considering using tea tree oil to treat any medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider first. Tea tree oil should not be used as a substitute for standard care in the treatment of any health condition.
Yes, but it should be diluted in a carrier oil first. This will help prevent the irritation tea tree oil can cause when applied to delicate facial skin. You should also do a test patch on a less noticeable area, such as the inside of your elbow, before using tea tree oil on your face.
Yes, you can put tea tree oil on your nails. Research suggests that doing so may help clear nail fungus. It's typically safe to place two to three drops of diluted tea tree oil on your nails up to twice daily.
Yes, research shows tea tree oil can both treat and prevent head lice infestations. Tea tree oil has been found effective in killing lice and lice eggs. It is even more effective when combined with lavender essential oil.
Satchell A, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson R. Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis with 25% and 50% tea tree oil solution: A randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study. Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2002;43(3):175-178. doi:10.1046/j.1440-0960.2002.00590.x
Syed T, Qureshi Z, Ali S, Ahmad S, Ahmad S. Treatment of toenail onychomycosis with 2% butenafine and 5% Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil in cream. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 1999;4(4):284-287. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3156.1999.00396.x
Rothenberger J, Krauss S, Tschumi C, Rahmanian-Schwarz A, Schaller HE, Held M. The effect of polyhexanide, octenidine dihydrochloride, and tea tree oil as topical antiseptic agents on in vivo microcirculation of the human skin: A noninvasive quantitative analysis. Wounds: a compendium of clinical research and practice. 2016;28(10):341-346.
AbdelHamid D, Gomaa AH, Mohammed GF, Eyada MM, El Sweify MA. Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of tea tree oil in treatment of onychomycosis. Int J Pharmacogn Phytochem Res. 2017;9(12):1414-1420. doi: 10.25258/phyto.v9i11.11184
Complementary and alternative medicines such as tea tree (melaleuca) oil have become increasingly popular in recent decades. This essential oil has been used for almost 100 years in Australia but is now available worldwide both as neat oil and as an active component in an array of products. The primary uses of tea tree oil have historically capitalized on the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions of the oil. This review summarizes recent developments in our understanding of the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the oil and its components, as well as clinical efficacy. Specific mechanisms of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action are reviewed, and the toxicity of the oil is briefly discussed.
Background: Finding an effective treatment for acne that is well tolerated by the patients is a challenge. One study has suggested the efficacy of tea tree oil in treatment of the acne vulgaris.
Methods: This was a randomized double-blind clinical trial performed in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. They were randomly divided into two groups and were treated with tea tree oil gel (n=30) or placebo (n=30). They were followed every 15 days for a period of 45 days. Response to treatment was evaluated by the total acne lesions counting (TLC) and acne severity index (ASI). The data was analyzed statistically using t-test and by SPSS program.
Results: There were no significant differences regarding demographic characteristics between the two groups. There was a significant difference between tea tree oil gel and placebo in the improvement of the TLC and also regarding improvement of the ASI. In terms of TLC and ASI, tea tree oil gel was 3.55 times and 5.75 times more effective than placebo respectively. Side-effects with both groups were relatively similar and tolerable.
Methods: In this open-label, uncontrolled phase II pilot study, participants applied tea tree oil products to the face twice daily for 12 weeks and were assessed after 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Efficacy was determined from total numbers of facial acne lesions and the investigator global assessment (IGA) score. Tolerability was evaluated by the frequency of adverse events and the mean tolerability score determined at each visit. Product acceptability was assessed via a questionnaire at the end of the study period. 041b061a72