Given the increased rate of antimicrobial resistance in p. "Tea tree oil can be used with other topical and oral acne medications for increased efficacy. You also don't have to use it on its own, but rather as an accompaniment to any other acne treatments you may already be using. In this case, you can either apply it directly onto blemishes with a cotton swab or mix a few drops in with a moisturizer to spread it onto wider areas, Carqueville suggests. You can pick up one of those products (keep reading for some of the derm's favorites), or you can use straight-up tea tree oil. "Tea tree oil can be found in multiple formulations, including toner, moisturizer, washes, and spot treatment, though it should be used twice daily for six to 12 weeks to start seeing a benefit," says Chang. Why you ask? "Tea tree oil is moisturizing, which differentiates it from topical benzoyl peroxide and retinoids, which are usually drying. In this comparative study, those patients using the tea tree oil had significantly fewer side effects of dryness and irritation," Carqueville explains. Tea tree oil was a bit slower to work, but, it did win out when it came to having less irksome side effects associated with it, says Nazarian. The results? Both treatments effectively addressed comedonal and inflammatory acne. An older 1990 study published in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at the direct effects of a five percent concentration of tea tree oil versus five percent benzoyl peroxide. So much so, that it's even been compared head-to-head with another antibacterial acne-fighter, benzoyl peroxide. While the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects make it a slightly better option for the latter, "tea tree oil improves both comedonal and mild to moderate inflammatory acne, reducing the number of acne lesions as well as the severity of these lesions," says Carqueville. It treats a wide range of acne: Here's the other nice thing: It can work on both comedonal acne (blackheads, whiteheads, smaller blemishes) and inflammatory acne (big, red, angry pimples).The science is there to back all of this up as well tea tree oil is an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne. Anti-inflammatory: At the same time, it decreases the inflammatory cascades that stimulate inflammation and redness, a major benefit for acne-plagued skin."Terpinene-4-ol is the active ingredient in the tea tree oil that destabilizes the cell of the bacteria, essentially killing it," explains Carqueville. This was even scientifically proven in a study published in 2020 in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. Tea tree oil has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, notes Chang, including being effective against even staphylococcus aureus (AKA staph), and, yep, p.acnes, too. Kills bacteria: True acne is caused in part due to the presence of p.acnes bacteria on the skin.As if all of that weren't enough, tea tree oil offers some antioxidant properties, too. (Not to mention that, unlike many other essential oils, it's non-comedogenic and won't clog pores, adds Nazarian). And it's those properties that are precisely what make tea tree oil such a good pick for acne-prone skin. Without getting too complicated, the takeaway here is that this compound has all the good stuff, namely strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, points out Chang. There are almost 100 components in the oil, one of the major ones being a compound known as Terpinen-4-ol. It's been a traditional medicine used by native Aborigines for centuries, who purportedly inhaled tea tree oil to treat coughs and, you guessed it, applied it topically for skin healing. Like so many other natural and plant-based ingredients, it has a long history. "Tea tree oil is an essential oil derived mainly from a plant native to Australia known as Melaleuca alternifolia," says Chang. WORKS WELL WITH: Non-comedogenic carrier oilsÄON'T USE WITH: Any other active product (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinol, etc.). However, do not apply it directly to the skin-it should be diluted with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil. HOW OFTEN CAN YOU USE IT: According to Chang, tea tree oil should be applied twice daily for six to 12 weeks to start seeing a benefit. WHO SHOULD USE IT: Those with acne-prone skin and fungal skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis. MAIN BENEFITS: Kills bacteria, fungus, and eases inflammation
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