Tea Tree Oil As a Treatment for Acne

 Recent scientific research has shown that tea tree oil is possibly a very effective remedy against acne. Although one with a slower onset of action, patients who use it, report fewer side effects than those who use the standard chemical treatments. But what is tea tree oil?
It is a nearly colorless and clear essential oil with a bitter-fresh smell. It should not be confused with tea oil, the cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant, not with tea oil plant. The tea tree is native to the coasts of New South Wales in Australia, where the Bundjalung people have been using it as a traditional medicine for centuries.
They inhale vapour from the oils from the crushed leaves to treat coughs and colds. They also sprinkle leaves on wounds, after which a poultice is applied. Also, tea tree leaves are soaked to make an infusion to treat sore throats or to be applied as skin treatment.
The use of the oil as such, as opposed to plant material, did not become commonplace until researcher Arthur Penfold published his first papers on its antimicrobial activity of this plant in the 1920s and 1930s. In evaluating its antimicrobial activity, tea tree oil was rated as ten times more active than phenol.
Most of the scientific studies on this oil however, are quite recent. They do support the use of this oil in skin care as well as for the treatment of various diseases and conditions. It appears to be effective against bacteria, viruses, fungal infections, mites and head lice. A 2008 study of showed that a tea tree oil preparation was more effective against head lice than permethrin, a popular pharmaceutical remedy. Some sources suggest beneficial medical properties when applied topically, including antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. As an antifungal agent, it is very effective against different types of skin problems. Shampoo with 5% tea tree oil, for instance, is an effective treatment for dandruff. The antiseptic properties can help in the fight against skin blemishes such as acne. As a consequence, there is also numerous interesting application of tea tree oil in cosmetics.
The commercial oil industry was born after discovery of the medicinal properties by Penfold in the 1920s. It was produced from natural bush stands that produced oil with the appropriate chemotype. The plant material was cut by hand and often distilled on the spot. Production waned after 1945, as demand for the oil declined, presumably due to the development of chemical antibiotics. As part of the general rebirth of interest in natural products, commercial plantations were established again in the 1970s and 1980s. This led to mechanization and large-scale production of a consistent essential oil product.