How often should you apply tea tree oil?

How to apply tea tree oil for acne

Choose a diluted preparation rather than a bottle of 100% essential oil. A ready mixed skincare product saves you the mixing, which is a reasonable job to outsource to a bottle. Test the diluted product on your inner forearm before using it on your face.1

1. 1Wash your face with your cleanser and gently pat it dry.
2. 2For spot treatment, apply the diluted product to blemishes with a cotton round. For acne prevention, spread it evenly over your face, avoiding your eyes and lips.
3. 3Let the product soak in, then apply moisturizer.

How long should you keep using it?

Acne improvement can take up to 12 weeks. If tea tree oil helps, continued use is needed to maintain results. If your acne has not improved after 12 weeks, see a healthcare provider or dermatologist.1

Tea tree oil might reduce acne spots, but the evidence is limited and low quality. A small trial found fewer spots and lower acne severity with tea tree oil than with placebo. Treat it as an option to try cautiously, not an established replacement for your acne treatment.4

A tea tree oil medicine can have a shorter treatment limit than a general acne routine. European tea tree oil medicines are intended for adults and adolescents over 12. For small boils, use must not exceed one month; consult a doctor if symptoms continue or worsen. Read the leaflet for the exact product rather than carrying the 12 week acne schedule over to every bottle.3

Who should be careful with daily use?

Sensitive skin needs particular caution because tea tree oil can cause rashes and other skin reactions. People with atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, have a higher risk of allergic contact dermatitis from essential oils. Allergic contact dermatitis is an itchy skin inflammation caused by a delayed allergic reaction, rather than simply a product feeling uncomfortable during application.25

Adding tea tree oil to benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinol can increase irritation. Avoid casually adding it to an already active routine. Use sunscreen while treating acne with tea tree oil.1

Topical tea tree oil products may be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but safety is not certain. If you take medicines, discuss adding a herbal product with your healthcare provider. Include tea tree oil in that conversation even if you think of it as skincare rather than medicine.6

When should you stop?

Stop using tea tree oil if you develop itching, redness, swelling or irritation. Burning, stinging and pain are also reported reactions. An allergic reaction can take 24 to 72 hours to appear, so a comfortable first application is not enough to rule one out. Watch for scaling as well as redness; an allergic rash can spread beyond the area where you applied the oil. Avoiding the triggering oil usually clears allergic symptoms. If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical advice rather than restarting the product.123

Old tea tree oil, or oil exposed to heat, light or air, is more likely to cause skin reactions. Tea tree oil appears in skin and hair products, so its name on the front of a bottle is not an application schedule. Never swallow tea tree oil: ingestion can cause serious poisoning, including confusion and coma. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.156