Essential oils have become one of the most demanded beauty products in recent years and everything "natural" is a trend. Each one has its own properties and is used to treat one or more skin problems. There is one that is gaining fame for being quite effective, tea tree oil, especially because it is effective in treating one of the skin problems that most people suffer: acne . But it is not only used to combat pimples. Take note of all its benefits and properties because it will surely not take long to get a bottle.
What are the properties of tea tree oil?
Tea tree oil, whose scientific name is Melaleuca alternifolia, has little or nothing to do with the tea that the English drink at 5 in the afternoon. It comes from an Australian bush , specifically its leaves and bark, and has been used by the aborigines of the island for thousands of years. Tea tree oil has antibacterial, fungicidal, and healing properties.
Tea tree oil uses
One of its most common uses is to treat acne. Hence, there are many facial care lines that contain it. In addition, tea tree oil can be used directly to heal pimples and blackheads so that they disappear before their time and do not leave marks. It only needs to be 5% concentrated to be effective. But it is not advisable to apply it all over the face in this format because it can dry out the skin.
It is also a powerful antiseptic, so it works great for healing wounds, burns and blisters. As it is antifungal, it is also used to treat foot or nail fungus problems. And also to treat dandruff, just add a few drops to a regular shampoo. "If you wet a cotton ball in it and run it over the cuticles, it will be much easier for you to remove them; and if you add a few drops to the post-depilatory lotion, your skin will calm down a lot sooner," explains beautician Carmen Navarro.
On the other hand, it is also a great ally to fight the symptoms of colds and colds. Gargling with a few drops diluted in water helps heal throat infections. You can also use it to relieve nasal congestion by fuming. It is also effective against insects: it relieves mosquito bites and, above all, prevents the appearance of lice. " A few drops are applied to the shampoo or fabric softener when washing the head and, after a couple of minutes, you rinse well", explains Sergio Vañó, dermatologist and trichologist at the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital.
The most unexpected use of tea tree oil
Apart from all these uses, it serves as a disinfectant for cleaning the house . You can use it on countertops, bathrooms, floors … You just have to add a teaspoon of tea tree oil in a spray of water or about 50 drops in the mop bucket. If you want to remove bad odors from clothes or kitchen pots and pans, put a few drops in the detergent box of the washing machine or dishwasher.
