When used topically,
A 1994 study found that tea tree oil applied directly to toenail fungus is as effective as clotrimazole cream. Clotrimazole is an antifungal cream available on prescription or from a pharmacy.
According to a 2013 study, tea tree oil was effective in reducing growth of the fungus Trichophyton rubrum in nail infections. T. rubrum is a fungus that can cause infections such as athlete's foot and nail fungus. Improvements were seen after 14 days.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a bottle of nail polish to promote nail growth, treat fungus and increase the strength and health of your nail beds. Try this Anti-fungal Solution for Nails to treat and control fungal infections of the nails and surrounding skin.
Try nonprescription antifungal nail creams and ointments.
Several products are available, such as terbinafine (Lamisil). If you notice white markings on the surfaces of the nails, file them off, soak your nails in water, dry them, and apply the medicated cream or lotion.
Applying tea tree oil to the skin can cause irritation, particularly if it's not diluted properly and is used in higher concentrations. Symptoms of skin irritation from tea tree oil can include: redness. dry or scaly skin.
You should not apply tea tree oil directly to skin. It's important to dilute the oil with a carrier oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil. For every 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil, add 12 drops of a carrier oil.
Toenail fungus treatment options
After a gentle evaluation of your nails, a podiatrist may prescribe an antifungal medication, administer laser therapy, or surgically remove affected nails. Medications could include a topical cream or nail lacquer, as well as prescription pills.
Applying tea tree oil to the skin is possibly safe. It may cause skin irritation and swelling. In people with acne, it can sometimes cause skin dryness, itching, stinging, burning, and redness. Cross-reactions: Applying tea tree oil might cause skin itching and burning in people with allergies to other plants.
Combining Lotrimin cream, an antifungal drug, with tea tree oil was effective in 80 percent of patients after 16 weeks, compared with none in the placebo group.
Studies have shown that tea tree oil reduces both inflamed and non-inflamed lesions associated with acne, Batra says. “Allow the solution to stay on your skin for a few hours or overnight then rinse your face with warm water," she recommends. "This treatment can be repeated daily and should help stop breakouts."
Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then wash it off with a gentle cleanser. Apply a little moisturiser to seal in the benefits of the face mask into your skin. Repeat this every other day for stunning results.
Alternatively, you can make your own acne treatment by mixing one part tea tree oil with nine parts water and applying the mixture to affected areas with a cotton swab once or twice a day, as needed.
The treatment of fungal skin infections is based on monotherapy or polytherapy using the synergy of the therapeutic substances. Tea tree oil (TTO) may be a valuable addition to the traditional antifungal drugs due to its antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity.
Effective products include efinaconazole (Jublia), tavaborole (Kerydin) and ciclopirox (Penlac). All require daily applications, and it may take as long as a year to see noticeable improvement. These products may work for early, superficial fungal infections because they kill fungi on the surface of the nail.
Tea Tree Oil
This oil comes from a tree in Australia. It's a popular treatment for many conditions, including foot fungus. Research shows it works as well as clotrimazole, which is found in many OTC treatments.
Nail removal: If you have a severe infection or other treatments just don't work, your dermatologist may recommend removing the nail(s) to get rid of the infection.
As the fungus advances, the color may change from yellow to brown. In some cases, a really nasty nail fungus case may even turn black and start to crumble.
A severe case of nail fungus can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. And it may lead to other serious infections that spread beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions.
Toenails and fingernails protect your skin, but you might lose a nail due to trauma, fungus, or other reasons. Most nails grow back, although the rate of regrowth can vary from person to person. It might take several months or a year to grow back.
A. Yes, you can leave tea tree oil in your hair overnight. Choose your carrier oil – could be coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil – and add 10 drops of tea tree oil to it and leave it overnight.
Summary. Tea tree oil may be a good natural option for treating mild acne, but it may take up to three months for results to appear. While it's generally tolerated well, it does cause irritation in a small number of people, so watch for reactions if you're new to tea tree oil products.
Don't mix Tea Tree Oil with other active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, retinol, retinoids, tretinoin, Retin-A, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, vitamin c, etc. Best to use one or the other, not both. Never use it more than once a day – less is more!