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Used as traditional medicine by Aboriginal populations, tea tree oil is an essential oil that is obtained by steaming leaves from the Australian tea tree. It is commonly used in soaps, lotions, and lip balms, and its strong antibacterial and antifungal properties have led to its common use to treat everything from athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and insect bites, to getting rid of lice.
Tea tree oil is great for your skin. Firstly, it has antibacterial properties, so it can help treat conditions such as acne and eczema. It also has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil has strong antioxidant properties, making it great for reducing damage from free radicals. It supports skin healing and skin cell turnover, making it a secondary preventative for dark spots and scarring.
While most people can use tea tree oil without problems, in some people it may cause skin irritation, rashes, itching, burning, redness, and dryness. When using it, bear in mind that it is an essential oil, and therefore must be used with a carrier such as a jojoba or almond oil or it can cause irritation to the skin in fully concentrated form.
It is not suitable for delicate or sensitive skin, as it may cause irritation. Our skin quiz will let you know if you need this ingredient, and if it’s the right choice for you.
Acne is a condition that occurs when certain pores in your face and torso are clogged up with an oil called sebum. Sebum comes from glands in your skin and hair follicles that would normally protect the skin and help with hair growth and be carried out of the pores in a natural exfoliation process. Acne occurs when the sebum stays clogged in the pores and hair follicles. Then our pores get inflamed with too much sebum and dead skin that doesn’t slough off properly. There are many types and causes of acne, from hormonal fluctuations to genetics to improper gland function.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and can be good for some type of acne. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating acne as well.
The secret to winning the battle against acne is having the right regimen for your skin. Products that are too strong can be irritating and drying, causing your skin to overproduce oil, which leads to more acne. Picking the wrong active ingredients may have no effect. Using the right regimen for your acne type and skin tolerance can effectively clear acne while keeping your skin healthy and balanced.
Tea tree oil may be effective for acne, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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