Tea Tree: Not for Your Cup, But Perfect Oil for Eczema

Just as a money plant doesn’t produce money and a pencil tree doesn’t produce pencils, the tea tree plant doesn’t produce the tea or chai that we all know about. I get it - humans have some peculiar naming conventions! However, the tea tree does have an interesting backstory.
As historical accounts narrate, Captain James Cook, the British explorer, set his foot on the Australian land in the 1700s. There, he found a perennial plant that he used to make tea. According to most historic accounts, this plant was from the myrtle family, which includes clove, guava, allspice, eucalyptus and tea tree. Members of the myrtle family, whether shrubs or trees, myrtle family members all have essential oil.
The accounts are unclear if Cook drank tea made from the leaves of actual tea tree plant “Melaleuca alternifolia,” because it is toxic if ingested in large amounts. However, one thing is evident: Cook saw indigenous Australians using some plant from the myrtle family to make tea. Hence, this is where the name was originated, but to this day, it is more of a beauty product than a tea.

Benefits of Tea Tree oil

Wherever its name originates from, tea tree is used to produce tea tree oil. With beauty brands touting about its benefit, tea tree oil is a potent anti-septic that can prevent as well as kill bacteria that cause whiteheads, simultaneously reducing oil from T zone. You might second-guess that it’s only for oily skin, but it is equally beneficial for dry skin conditions like eczema. To understand the benefits of tea tree oil for eczema, we need to first understand eczema.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a condition where the skin becomes as dry as a desert, as itchy as wearing a wool sweater on a hot summer day, and as inflamed as a rash. In fact, it is a type of rash! The World Allergy Organization (WAO) defines it as a long-term, recurring skin condition that is episodic in nature and can occur in any part of the body such as hands, insides of the elbows, ankles, knees, neck, face (especially around cheeks), and also in and around ears.
Our skin has its own skin barrier, which is responsible for keeping moisture inside and preventing bacteria from entering. However, in eczema, this barrier is weakened.

Plight of Eczema Sufferers

The skin condition is often stigmatized and misunderstood. Despite more than a decade of research, the medical community hasn’t yet established a golden standard for diagnosing this skin condition. Those affected frequently find their daily activities hindered, leading to a decline in their quality of life over time.
People with eczema often have to adhere to specific clothing materials. Applying makeup may feel like a burning sensation on their skin. Even choosing the right soap can become a source of anxiety, as tasks that seem mundane to others can be overwhelming for those with eczema. Intense itching often disrupts sleep. And above all, the persistent feeling of being alone creeps in, making isolation their life-long companion. The situation is further complicated by ignorant comments and unsolicited advice from those with little understanding of the condition.

Tea tree oil for eczema

Tea tree oil can prove beneficial for people suffering from eczema. The oil has both anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to the disruptions in the skin barrier, microbes can easily enter but applying a layer of tea tree oil can prevent them from entering. Likewise, it also prevents inflammation.

A study conducted in 2004, showed that tea tree oil animals with tea tree oil experienced less itching and symptoms were relieved faster.
We believe that tea tree oil can help make those irritating, itchy and uncomfortable flares a bit bearable. If you haven’t decided on trying tea tree oil for eczema! Then it is worth giving it a chance! Who knows it might turn out to be an irreplaceable product in your daily skincare regime.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217753/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15568640/