If you’re looking for a natural skincare product that will help treat your acne then tea tree oil is a great choice. It works to disinfect the skin and calm pimples. Thus helping to improve the appearance of your acne. Using it at night is also a great idea as this is the time your skin is working it’s hardest and rejuvenating. If you want to know more about using tea tree oil on your pimples overnight then read on.
Table of Contents
What is tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is an oil derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. The oil contains terpinene-4-ol, this makes it antibacterial. Tea tree oil contains a variety of antibacterial properties and these work against the bacteria that cause acne on your skin.
It works to kill off acne-causing bacteria on your skin and thus minimizes the chances of you developing breakouts. If you want a product that is just as effective as other acne skincare products then tea tree oil is a great option. It can even be more effective than other skincare products when it comes to reducing acne on the skin.
What is acne
Acne is a skin condition that can include having pimples, pustules, cysts, whiteheads, blackheads. Its really any skin condition that is caused by the pores on your skin getting clogged up by execs sebum, dead skin cells acne-causing bacteria or a combination. Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin condition.
When you have excess sebum on the skin, and it mixes with your dead skin cells and blocks your pores, it is considered acne. If the contents of the bump looks white then it is considered a whitehead. If the bump is exposed to oxygen and turns black on the surface it is seen as a blackhead. Bacteria can enter into the clogged pore and infect it. If this happens the blemish turns into a pimple. A cyst is a pimple under the skin, it is also called a blind pimple.
Benefits of tea tree oil for acne
Antibacterial: Because tea tree oil is antibacterial it will go a long way in getting rid of the acne-causing bacteria on your skin and thus reducing acne
Unblocking: Tea tree oil is also helpful as it helps to unclog the pores. It loosens dead skin cells, excess sebum and acne-causing bacteria. This relieves your skin of breakouts.
Inflammation: When you develop a pimple your skin becomes inflamed resulting in a red painful bump. Tea tree oil helps to reduce the inflammation helping the pimple heal faster.
Soothing: The tea tree oil soothes and calms the skin. This enables it to recover from the acne breakout better
Speed up healing: This oil speeds up healing on the skin. This helps you get back to having clear skin in no time.
Triple threat: Overall tea tree oil is antiviral, antibacterial and antimicrobial which is helpful not just for acne but for your skin overall.
Benefits of using tea tree oil over night
Regeneration: The nighttime is the best time to use your treatment products. This is the time where your skin is going through a rejuvenation stage. The term “beauty sleep” is accurate because at night the skin rejuvenates itself, getting rid of dead skin cells and creating new fresh skin cells. The skin needs nutrients during this time, tea tree oil can offer those nutrients.
Exfoliation: Exfoliation is usually done at night rather than in the morning because exfoliation makes your skin more vulnerable to the suns rays. Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells. This allows your skincare products to better penetrate the skin. Exfoliation allows tea tree oil to work more effectively
Better skin penetration: As you sleep your skin’s barrier is down. This allows it to better absorb any skincare products you apply to it. The better the absorption of your skin the better your products will work on it.
How to use tea tree oil overnight
Getting rid of your acne requires you to be consistent with your whole skincare routine. Skincare treatments work best when they are applied on skin that is well taken care of. This is how to use your tea tree oil overnight:
1. Cleanse the skin: Your cleanser or face wash is there to get rid of all your dirt, grime, excess sebum and any other external irritants that may be on your skin from the day. Cleansing will remove all this and prepare your skin for the next products in your skincare routine.
2. Exfoliate: To allow the skin to properly absorb the tea tree oil you need to remove the dead skin cells from your face. Dead skin cells create a layer that works like a barrier between your skincare products and your skin. Removing this barrier allows the tea tree oil to penetrate your skin better
3. Use a clay mask: Using a clay mask designed for acne skin is a great next step after your exfoliator. These masks help to absorb any excess oil and sebum you may have on your skin, leaving you with matte skin. The clay will absorb any excess oil from the top of your skin and also from your pores
4. Moisturise: Using a moisturiser that has been designed to counter the effects of acne will go a long way in improving the appearance of your acne. You should not be avoiding moisturisers because you have oily skin. Letting your skin dry out will result in more sebum production, this can further clog your pores. You should moisturise your skin to maintain a good level of sebum on your skin
5. Use your tea tree oil: When all the above steps have been done you can go ahead and use your tea tree oil. You can apply the tea tree oil on specific spots and this will help to lessen the appearance of your acne.
Safety when using tea tree oil
Dilution: You cannot use pure tea tree oil directly on your skin. Using it on your skin directly will cause irritation and redness. To use tea tree oil safely you need to dilute it with a carrier oil.
The correct ratio for dilution is 1-2 drops of tea tree oil to 12 drops of carrier oil. When choosing your carrier oils make sure you don’t pick a comedogenic oil. Comedogenic oils generally cause breakouts.
Patch test: Before applying the tea tree oil on your face, and before adding any skincare product to your face in general, you need to do a patch test. This test will assess whether you are allergic to a skincare product or oil.
To do the test you need to apply the product on a small area of your skin. This can be on the inside of your elbow. Let it absorb and don’t remove it for 24 hours.
If you see any signs of redness, itches, burning, swelling sensitivity or other allergic reactions then you should not use that product on your face. If there are no signs of an allergic reaction you can use the product on your face.
What happens if you don’t dilute tea tree oil?
If you don’t dilute the tea tree oil before applying it to your skin you will most likely develop some skin irritation. The symptoms of this will include burning, redness, stinging, itching and dry or scaly skin.
You can also develop contact dermatitis if you apply the product directly on the skin. Contact dermatitis symptoms include red, swollen and itchy skin as well as a skin rash.
Can I mix tea tree oil with water?
No, you cannot mix your tea tree oil with water, water and oil don’t mix. This is not a safe way to dilute this essential oil. You should dilute your tea tree oil in a carrier oil if you want to use it on your skin.
You can add your tea tree oil to other oil-based products including moisturisers, shampoos conditioners or hand sanitizers. If you’re using it as a cleaning product or something that does not touch your skin then you can dilute it with which hazel, vinegar, vodka or water.
How long does tea tree oil take to work on acne?
Just as with any other skincare product tea tree oil won’t cure your acne overnight. But it will significantly help to improve the appearance of it quickly enough.
A study was done with 14 participants who applied tea tree oil on their face twice a day. The study found that after 12 weeks their acne has greatly improved. Your skin needs time to adjust to the new produces you are using.
Can I put tea tree oil on a popped pimple?
Yes, you can put tea tree oil on a popped pimple. It will penetrate the skin and disinfect it. It will also help unclog any clogged pores in your skin as well as help to heal the popped pimple. Note: You must dilute it before use. This oil is quite strong and if you apply it outright on the popped pimple you can irritate the skin and cause it to scar
Can tea tree oil make acne worse?
Unfortunately yes, tea tree oil can make your acne worse. There is no one size fits all acne solution. That is why it is important to try things out to see what works for you. Many people can attest to the fact that tea tree oil works wonders on their skin but to others, it won’t.
This product can be comedogenic, it can clog pores making acne worse. The comedogenic properties of tea tree oil can cause you to develop more breakouts. You will have to test it out to see if this oil is comedogenic to you or not.
What kills pimples instantly?
There is no product that will get rid of your pimples instantly but there are a few ingredients that will help you decrease your acne very fast. Some ingredients work overnight and greatly reduce the appearance of your pimples. Here are a few ingredients that will help you get rid of your acne quickly:
Benzoyl peroxide: This ingredient is used in many acne treatment products. It kills off the microbes on the skin that cause acne and helps to dry out the oil in your pores. The result of using benzoyl peroxide is a much less aggressive looking pimple in the morning. Sulphur does the same thing.
Salicylic acid: This ingredient is also used in various acne treatment products. It does three main things to improve the appearance of pimples. It kills off microbes, dries up the sebum in the pimples and exfoliates the skin so the pimples have an opening to let the contents out
There are a few products on the market that contain these ingredients and will help you get rid of your pimples. These include the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Acne Treatment, which contains benzoyl peroxide. The The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. Murad’s Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment which offers salicylic acid and the well-loved and widely used Mario Badescu Drying Lotion which offers sulphur
Does toothpaste work on pimples?
No, not really. The idea that toothpaste can cure your pimples is a myth. Yes, it does have a drying effect on pimples and it may help decrease the redness and inflammation on your pimple but it can’t be compared to skincare products designed for acne treatment.
The drying effect that the toothpaste offers can even cause irritation and burning on the skin. This can worsen the pimples and make them angrier. The best treatment for pimples include tea tree oil, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid
Does Tea Tree Oil remove scars?
The tea tree oil is great at helping heal your pimple but it cannot help in removing any acne scars. If you want to improve the appearance of your scars you will need to use vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to brighten skin and helps in the regeneration process of your skin. This helps to improve the appearance of damaged skin cells thus improving the appearance of scars
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