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Some psoriasis sufferers report success with Tea tree oil, particularly for scalp psoriasis treatment.
Tea tree oil is most commonly found as a pure essential oil. It is also an ingredient in creams, ointments, lotions, soaps, and shampoos.
Tea tree oil Shampoos and Body Washes
An example of a Tea tree oil shampoo, which you may try for your scalp psoriasis treatment, is the generic Tea Tree Oil shampoo/conditioner from Sally's Beauty Supply (same as Paul Mitchells but cheaper and without the fragrances).
An example of a Tea tree oil body wash is a body wash called "Jason" from a health food store.
If using a Tea tree shampoo or body wash for psoriasis treatment - apply it as a usual shampoo or a body wash a few times per week.
Tea tree oil Creams and Lotions
If using a commercial Tea tree oil cream or lotion for psoriasis treatment - massage it several times per day into the affected psoriasis areas.
Pure Essential Tea tree oil
A lot of commercial creams, lotions and shampoos containing Tea tree oil have very minimal amounts of the Tea tree oil, which sometimes is not enough for psoriasis treatment.
The best results, for some psoriasis sufferers, come from the pure essential oil, which is massaged into the skin.
However, if the pure essential Tea tree oil irritates your skin, you are advised to immediately discontinue its use.
Pure Essential Tea tree oil in a Liquid Soap
You may also add a few drops of pure essential Tea tree oil into your favorite liquid soap for hand washing.
Internal Usage
NOTE! Tea tree oil should not be taken internally, even in small quantities, because orally used Tea tree oil is toxic.
Only the Tea tree oil in commercial toothpastes and mouthwashes is generally considered to be acceptable because it is not swallowed.
Side Effects
Some people experience very bad adverse affects after using Tea tree oil (i.e. in shampoo) - such as development of a very strong dandruff.
Some people are known to have developed a contact dermatitis and an allergy to the Tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil may cause hearing loss when used in the ears.
Tea tree oil Concentrations
Cosmetically Tea tree oil is usually used diluted - e.g., in the creams and the lotions etc. Undiluted Tea tree oil (e.g., as an antiseptic, as an insect and lice repellent etc.) may cause severe skin irritation and itching.
Results of the Tea tree oil Concentration study with 725 patients showed that:
- 100% Tea tree oil caused the skin irritation in 6% of the people;
- 1% Tea tree oil caused the skin irritation in 0.1% of the people;
- 0.1% Tea tree oil - none of the people had skin irritation.
Natural and Commercial Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil (aka Melaleuca oil, Australian Tea tree oil) is an essential oil with a clear or a very pale yellow color.
Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca tree, native to Australia. The leaves of the Melaleuca tree were used by the Australian aborigines as a substitute for tea, and thus the Melaleuca tree achieved the name of the Tea tree.
Australian aborigines also used Tea tree oil (crushed leaves etc.) for treating coughs and colds, sore throats, wounds, and various skin ailments and disorders.
NOTE! Tea tree oil should not be confused with Tea oil - the cooking oil from the Camellia tea plant. Tea tree oil should also not be confused with Chinese tea oil and Ti tree oil.
Commercial Tea tree oil is derived by distilling leaves of the Melaleuca tree.
Tea tree oil Properties
Tea tree oil studies suggest that the oil may possess the following properties:
- antiseptic and anti-fungal (e.g. dandruff may be successfully treated with a shampoo with 5% of the Tea tree oil, and acne - with a topical 5% Tea tree oil gel);
- insecticidal (e.g. 5% Tea tree oil solution may be used against the scabies mite; Tea tree oil may help in flea control by adding the Tea tree oil directly to animal fur or their bathing water. NOTE! Use on cats and dogs may make them sick and in some cases kill them, due to them licking their fur and thus consuming the Tea tree oil internally).
Main Ingredient of the Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has about a 100 various compounds, mainly consisting of a class of terpenes - the terpinens (up to 80%), and the main one being terpinen-4-ol 30, making up 48 % of the Tea tree oil.
Terpenes are a class of hydrocarbons, occurring in many species of plants and trees, particularly conifers, but also in some other plants and trees.
Terpenes are volatile organic compounds with a very strong characteristic fragrance that are generated in mechanical wood processing.
Tea tree oil, as well as most other essential oils consists primarily of terpenes (e.g. menthol, citronellal, d-limonene, pine-sol etc.)
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