Tea Tree Oil for Acne-Prone Skin

Nobody likes to see the arrival of a pimple, particularly on an important day or when you're trying to make a good impression. They hurt, they look bad, and if you pop them they'll just scar your face! While there are many expensive solutions on the market, nature has given us one easy quick-fix for these stress spots. 

What is it? Tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. Tea tree oil is very effective at killing bacteria, so applying topical tea tree oil to acne lesions quickly kills Propionibacterium acnes, the skin-dwelling bacteria that is involved in causing acne. In a study comparing tea tree oil gel to benzoyl peroxide (the ingredient most acne treatments use), tea tree oil had fewer side effects than the benzoyl peroxide, which was associated with itching, burning, stinging, and dryness. Tea tree oil quickly minimizes the redness of pimples and deeply purifies the pores while toning the overall complexion of the skin.

How do I apply tea tree oil? It's usually best not to apply tea tree oil undiluted to sensitive skin, as it can cause minor irritation. If you have sensitive skin just mix up your bottle of tea tree oil with 8 parts water. Then pour a little of that solution onto a cotton swab and apply to any pimples you may have. If you have body acne you can put 8 parts water and 1 part tea tree oil in a spray bottle and just spray your body as soon as you get out of the shower. You may notice a tingling sensation, but this should only last for a minute or two and you'll notice your skin clearing up very quickly with the use of tea tree oil. To find out more about tea tree oil or to order your own, just Click Here for a 1 oz. bottle or Here for a 4 oz. bottle. You can find more natural health and beauty products on the Africa Imports web site by Clicking Here.