| In the United States alone, there are over 40 | | | | I.B. Bassett, which compared tea tree oil to |
| Million people who struggle with acne. Many of | | | | benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne. It was |
| these people treat acne using chemicals such as | | | | found that tea tree oil is as effective as a 5% |
| antibiotics, prescription drugs, benzoyl peroxide, | | | | benzoyl peroxide solution. It takes longer (6 |
| and salicylic acid. | | | | weeks) for the tea tree oil to be as effective, |
| However, there is a growing number of people | | | | but participants in the study reported none of the |
| who choose herbal acne treatments over | | | | side effects associated with benzoyl peroxide, |
| traditional medications. Usually, herbal medications | | | | such as redness, skin irritation, or dry skin. |
| have far fewer side effects, and are not as | | | | This study has helped tea tree oil become a |
| dangerous as some of the prescription drugs. | | | | recognized and legitimate herbal acne treatment. |
| The problem however, is that the United States | | | | However, there is no need to purchase an |
| does very little to regulate the herbal supplement | | | | expensive cream that contains tea tree oil. Just |
| industry. Unlike traditional chemical medications, | | | | applying several drops of the oil directly on the |
| herbal medications are not required to be clinically | | | | acne has shown to be the most effective way to |
| proven to work, or even to be safe. An example | | | | apply tea tree oil. |
| of this lack of regulation recently came to light | | | | This was the only herbal acne treatment that had |
| with ephedra related deaths, and ephedras | | | | been proven to work until recently, when Dr. |
| subsequent ban. | | | | Jennifer Gan-Wong conducted a study that shows |
| This lack of regulation results in many different | | | | green tea can also effectively fight acne. |
| acne products on the market. All of which claim | | | | Dr. Gan-Wong compared a green tea cream with |
| to heal, prevent, or even cure acne with few, if | | | | 3% green tea, to a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution, |
| any, side effects. | | | | and found that the results in treating acne where |
| The truth is, there are very few herbal acne | | | | the same for both the tea and the peroxide. |
| treatments that are scientifically proven to work. | | | | These results were recently presented at the |
| Traditional chemical treatments are still the most | | | | 2003 annual meeting of the American Academy |
| effective in stopping acne. | | | | of Dermatology. |
| There are only 2 herbal treatments that have | | | | These findings are relatively recent, and are not |
| been clinically proven to help stop acne, tea tree | | | | yet corroborated by additional independent |
| oil and green tea cream. | | | | studies. However, this evidence does demonstrate |
| Tea tree oil is a natural oil, derived from the | | | | that the natural anti-bacterial properties of green |
| Melaleuca alternifolia, a particular type of tea tree | | | | tea can be effective to treat acne. |
| found exclusively in Australia. While it has been | | | | For those of you who are confused by the |
| used from hundreds of years by the native | | | | plethora of herbal acne treatments available, there |
| aboriginals as a treatment for just about anything, | | | | really are only 2 that have been proven to be |
| it has only recently been accepted by modern | | | | effective in fighting acne. Green tea cream, and |
| medicine as being a viable anti-bacterial agent. | | | | tea tree oil. While many other herbal acne |
| Even though tea tree oil has been suspected as | | | | treatments may be good to moisturize the skin, |
| an anti-bacterial agent for some time, A | | | | or reduce oils, these are the only two that should |
| groundbreakings study was conducted in 1990 by | | | | be considered truly effective acne treatments. |