What is tea tree oil in skincare?
Tea tree oil is an essential oil steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, an Australian shrub used medicinally by Aboriginal communities long before it reached Western pharmacies.
Its active constituent is terpinen-4-ol, which accounts for most of its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Quality varies considerably between products, and oil that has oxidised is both less effective and more irritating.
What skin concerns does tea tree oil treat?
Acne is its best-supported use. A comparative trial against benzoyl peroxide found 5% tea tree oil produced a similar reduction in inflamed lesions, more slowly but with markedly fewer side effects.
It is also used for fungal conditions such as athlete’s foot and nail infections, for dandruff, and for insect bites and minor wounds. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action makes it a reasonable spot treatment.
What ingredients are best paired with tea tree oil?
Never apply it undiluted – dilute to around 5% in a carrier such as jojoba or squalane. Pair it with niacinamide and salicylic acid for acne, and with ceramides to protect the barrier.
It is not suitable for delicate or very sensitive skin, and allergic contact dermatitis is relatively common, so always patch test. Store it in dark glass; oxidised tea tree oil is a well-documented sensitiser. Take our Skin Quiz.
What are sun spots?
Sun spots are flat patches of concentrated pigment that form where skin has taken the most ultraviolet exposure – cheeks, nose, forehead, hands, shoulders and chest. Dermatologists call them solar lentigines; they are the same thing as age spots.
They are harmless, but they are a visible marker of accumulated photodamage, and they usually arrive alongside other signs of it: fine lines, loss of firmness and an uneven overall tone.
What causes sun spots?
UV radiation prompts melanocytes to produce extra melanin as a defence. With repeated exposure that response becomes localised and fixed, leaving discrete patches instead of an even tan that fades.
Tanning beds, sunburns in childhood, fair skin and outdoor time without protection all increase the count. Incidental exposure – driving, walking, sitting near a window – adds up more than most people expect.
What ingredients are best for sun spots?
Retinoids to accelerate turnover, vitamin C to protect and brighten, and pigment inhibitors such as alpha arbutin, kojic acid, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid and liquorice root are the core toolkit.
Gentle AHAs help shift surface pigment, and niacinamide slows the transfer of melanin into skin cells. None of it holds without daily broad-spectrum SPF and reapplication. Take our Skin Quiz.
