ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS SKIN
The idea is to score any potential antimicrobial benefits sans skin irritation.
Until more research is done to confirm the best ways to use tea tree oil on your skin, you might want to start by adding a few drops when applying products you already use, like your go-to cleanser, Connecticut-based cosmetic chemist Joseph J.
Also, because tea tree oil can oxidize when exposed to too much light and air, Mitan recommends choosing a product with airtight, dark packaging and using it within the timeframe recommended on the label.ĭiluting tea tree oil in some way may help you avoid a skin freakout. “Since over-the-counter preparations aren’t FDA-controlled, they can vary in potency,” says Dr. Interested in mixing up your own tea-tree concoction? First, know that results may depend on the brand of oil you choose. If you think your skin can handle tea tree oil and you’re determined to try it, we’ve got a few tips to help your experiment go smoothly. Freezing off the wart might be another option, as it is with genital warts, which you may also be able to treat with methods like creams to bolster your immune system, the Mayo Clinic notes. For something like a plantar wart, your doctor may recommend salicylic acid treatments to exfoliate the skin, removing layers of the wart over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. As for warts, it depends on the type you’re dealing with. Instead, talk to your doctor about treating oral or genital herpes outbreaks with prescription antiviral medications such as acyclovir or valacyclovir, Dr. That’s not a medical fact as of yet, and it’s not completely clear how any study-based results that show promise here would actually work in people IRL. Translation: Don’t believe anything you hear that says tea tree oil can treat herpes outbreaks or warts from an HPV infection. So far, results have been mixed, with some studies showing inhibited virus replication and others showing basically none. It’s important to see your doctor and follow their treatment guidelines, such as using topical or oral antifungal medications.Ī couple of studies, mainly on cell cultures, have analyzed whether or not tea tree oil can treat infections caused by the herpes simplex virus or human papillomavirus. But that mechanism isn’t reliable enough to depend on tea tree oil to treat these issues.
It’s true that tea tree oil may halt and defeat fungal infections by breaking down the outer layer of fungal cells and disrupting how they function, ultimately preventing them from dividing and growing. Ringworm and athlete’s foot are contagious, and nail fungus can be persistent and cause pain if not treated properly. Zeichner recommends sticking to conventional antifungal treatments for these conditions. So what about using tea tree oil to target fungal issues besides dandruff, like ringworm (a red, circular rash with clear, scaly, or bumpy skin in the middle), athlete’s foot (a red, scaly rash that usually starts between the toes and may also cause itching, stinging, and burning), and nail fungus (which usually starts as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your nail and can lead to thickening and discoloration of the nail as the infection goes deeper)? Dr. For more stubborn flare-ups, experts recommend sticking to traditional dandruff treatments such as over-the-counter shampoos containing the antifungal and antibacterial ingredient pyrithione zinc or prescription medicines from your dermatologist. However, tea tree oil’s effect on severe dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis is unclear. If a shampoo with tea tree oil seems to reduce your dandruff, lathering up two to three times a week may be all you need to keep flakes at bay, says Dr. A 2013 review in International Journal of Dermatology noted that various studies have suggested shampoos with 5 percent tea tree oil may be able to subdue Malassezia furfur and help tame mild to moderate dandruff.
Tea tree oil may lower levels of yeast and combat the inflammatory response that can strike because of it.