Showing posts with label topical treatments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label topical treatments. Show all posts

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Tea Tree Oil Nail Fungus

You may have read or heard about a tea tree oil nail fungus treatment and wondered if this is some kind of gimmick designed to part the unwary and the desperate from their hard earned money. These schemes abound today as much as in the past: tea tree oil however, deserves a hard second look.
First, tea tree oil, marketed as a natural remedy for toe nail fungus and other fungal infections, does not come from tea, but from an Australian tree called the tea tree, Melaleuca alternafolia. It contains a number of naturally occurring substances, but the one that is thought to be the most important is terpinen-4-ol. To extract it and produce a tea tree oil nail fungus remedy, leaves and stem of the tree are subjected to a steam extraction process. The resulting oil is either sold as a pure oil, or blended with other plant extracts.
The important point to understand is that good scientific research has been conducted on the medicinal properties of tea tree oil nail fungus treatment appears to be able to penetrate the thick layers of an infected nail to reach and act on the fungus: lack of nail penetration has been a serious impediment to the development of topical treatments for fungal nail infections.
It seems that tea tree oil nail fungus remedy has everything to recommend it: it's available without a prescription and is relatively inexpensive compared to prescription medications for nail fungus; it's a topical treatment, so potential side effects of a systemic drug are not an issue; it's a genuinely natural remedy for toe nail fungus, and it appears to work. One note of caution is in order: tea tree oil has not been proven safe for ingestion, so only use it topically, and if you have sensitive skin, choose a product that is not pure tea tree oil (terpinen-4-ol, or some other component of the oil, can be irritating to skin).
Always consult a medical professional for a proper diagnosis before embarking on a self-care program for any health problem.
R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to
Tea Tree Oil Nail Fungus
, a blog dedicated to the treatment of fingernail and toenail fungus.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Tea Tree Oil Acne Treatment

Mainly used as a spot treatment, tea tree oil has gained a reputation as the natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide, giving many of the same clear skin benefits with generally milder side effects. Although most natural acne treatments that work come in the form of internal vitamin supplements, tea tree oil is an all-natural treatment that can produce great results with just a topical application.
More recently, its antibacterial properties have been found to be a potent weapon against acne. It's also been known to help sooth pain and speed the healing of small wounds. For years it has been used as a natural disinfectant, killing harmful bacteria in cuts and scrapes without the stinging that accompanies alcohol. Tea tree oil originates from the leaves of the Australian Melaleuca Alternafolia Tree.
In my experience, using 100% tea tree oil will not bleach your clothing either (plus it's less expensive, and a small amount will last much longer). In my experience, using 100% tea tree oil is usually used either as a concentrated spot treatment, or a diluted face wash. Most users find that the drying is not as severe as with other acne products that use benzoyl peroxide, and tea tree oil is usually used either as a concentrated spot treatment, or a diluted face wash. In my experience, using 100% tea tree oil directly to acne spots can kill the underlying bacteria and dry up the inflamed region, sometimes as quickly as overnight.

As an acne treatment, tea tree oil is usually used either as a concentrated spot treatment, or a diluted face wash.
As with any topical treatment, you don't want to over-dry and irritate your face, or clear skin will be even harder to maintain. Tea tree oil is most effective in high concentrations, so you're better off using a small amount directly on trouble spots, rather than diluting the concentration and using it all over, although users with highly sensitive skin may find dilution necessary.
As effective as tea tree oil is at eliminating current acne blemishes, like all topical treatments it cannot really help with preventing new acne from forming under your skin. Tea tree oil also has a rather strong alcohol-like smell, so it may be best to use it only at night before bed. These factors aside, tea tree oil is an excellent alternative if you're looking for a natural spot treatment that is more gentle on your skin than benzoyl peroxide. Combined with internal natural acne products (for acne prevention), you will have a natural regimen that eliminates spots quickly and maintains clear skin in the future.

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