Essential Oils Tip: How to Dilute Tea Tree Oil

Essential oils have shown to give great benefits to skin's health, more so with the use of tea tree oil. The powerful antiseptic quality of tea tree oil can clear away common skin ailments such as acne, psoriasis, athlete's foot, eczema, boils, and even wounds and cuts.

Some aromatherapy experts have recommended using tea tree oil 'neat' which means that it can directly be applied to the skin without having to dilute it with a carrier oil. The question is, will it be safe to do so?

Here are some essential guidelines to reap great benefits from tea tree oil:

Why tea tree oil has to be diluted

Tea tree oil or other essential oils have medicinal components which should be treated with the same caution as you would for other types of medicines. Applying it directly on the afflicted skin might produce symptoms of sensitization which could take the form of an allergic reaction of the skin resulting in a rash that can be itchy. Severe sensitization reactions can develop to respiratory problems and could even lead to anaphylactic shock. Another thing to remember is the fact that once you have become sensitized to tea tree oil, this reaction will remain in your system for a lifetime. The best way to do away with this is to dilute the oil before testing it on a small portion of your skin.

What is the best dilution to use with tea tree oil?

The best dilution to use with tea tree oil varies, depending on the kind of skin ailments it is used for.

For Acne:

The bacteria that cause acne can be eliminated by adding 1-3 drops of tea tree oil to your favorite moisturizer or face cleanser. Another way is to mix the oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil using a cotton tip to apply directly to the face.

Skin ailments such as eczema, water warts, psoriasis

Tea tree oil can be mixed with a tablespoon of carrier oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil, using it directly on the affected skin to relieve warts, irritation and itchiness.

Adding 3 to 4 drops of tea tree oil to your favorite brand of shampoo can bring instant relief to flaky dry scalp commonly associated with psoriasis and dandruff. Another way is to directly apply on the scalp a mixture of carrier oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil with a few drops of tea tree oil. The rule of thumb to use when mixing tea tree oil to any carrier oil: less is more.

Additional benefits using other dilution to tea tree oil

Aloe Vera and tea tree oil

The anti-inflammatory components of aloe Vera have been known to relieve skin ailments such as acne. For best results, use a mixture of two teaspoons of aloe vera gel to a few drops of tea tree oil. Apply on the affected area either overnight or for 3-4 hours.

Organic honey and tea tree oil

Get rid of bacteria by using two teaspoons of organic honey and a few drops of tea tree oil. Use a cotton ball when applying the mixture to the affected area.