Tea Tree Oil in Skin Care

Tea Tree Oil has become a vital ingredient in many skin care products for its diverse applications and benefits.

As a natural antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-microbial, it works well in cosmeceutical products ranging from acne, toenail fungus to facial washes and cleansers. It can also be found in products that help treat wounds and rashes as well as helping heal wounds and opening the sinuses.

Tea Tree Oil is derived from the leaves of the well-known Melaleuca plant - Melaleuca Alternfolia, a medicinal plant indigenous to Australia.

Similar to Emu Oil, Melaleuca became a staple of Australian Aborigines for treating a varity of ailment, most especially wounds and cuts. Often combined with Emu Oil, Melaleuca Alternfolia provides significant natural components such as terpinen-4-ol, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes - all provide wide spectrum healing for common skin problems such as infections, nail fungus, burns and irritation; and has also been used for treatment of gout as it helps arrest euric acid, and bronchial problems and it has the ability to open sinuses and stimulate breathing.

The oil is produced through a steam extraction process of the leaves whereby the oil is separated from water while steaming. The Tea Tree Oil is then filtered and, in some cases, further refined. The leaves are harvested from the plants that grow predominately in swampy areas that are difficult to navigate. The leaves are separated from the plants by hand thus preserving sensitive ecosystems.

Studies by the University of Western Australia's School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences were undertaken to verify or disprove the claimed efficacy of Tea Tree Oil. Their findings were conclusive that the oil in fact provides fundamental antimocrobial properties without any apparent side effects. In fact, the studies have not yet completed a review of the ~100 components of the oil.

For skin care, Tea Tree Oil provides a natural, diverse application to several common skin and tissue problems. It is and has been found effective for treating acne, skin rashes, dry skin, and is often used with Emu Oil to treat abrasions and for wound healing. It is also an effective additive in hair care product formulations for addressing dandruff, oily hair, and lice.

Increasingly cosmeceutical and skin care companies such as HealthyHairPlus are shifting formulations to organic, natural and natural-based formulations. Side-effects and effectiveness are more reliable and have a broader range of test population. Plus, the use of Tea Tree Oil in skin care products allows the use of a diverse and effective ingredient in a wide range of skin and hair applications.