Tea Tree Essential Oil: What is this solution for skin imperfections?

Thetea tree essential oil is extracted from the leaves of the tree Melaleuca alternifolia. According to the I.N.C.I. classification, it is named as "Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil".

The Tea tree, also known as tea tree plant or alternifolia melaleuca, is a shrub native to New Caledonia and Madagascar, but the leading producer today is Australia.

The essential oil of tea tree is extracted by hydrodistillation from the leaves, that is, by steam distillation. The principle involves heating a mixture of water and leaves to evaporate the volatile molecules and collect them following condensation. This method allows obtaining two extracts, namely the hydrosol and the essential oil. The tea tree essential oil is a clear liquid ranging from colorless to pale yellow. It emits a powerful, herbaceous, and fresh scent. It mainly contains monoterpenols (about 45% of terpinen-4-ol) and monoterpenes (gamma-terpinene, alpha terpinene, limonene). These compounds are responsible for its purifying and sanitizing properties.

This essential oil offers numerous benefits. Notably, it helps to reduce symptoms related to inflammatory phenomena, fights against bacteria, and treats infections. It's for these reasons that it has gained a certain reputation in aromatherapy.

Rich in monoterpenic alcohols and in hydrocarbons, this essential oil is known for its broad-spectrum action in fighting bacteria and treating infections. Indeed, it has demonstrated excellent bactericidal properties (killing bacteria) as well as bacteriostatic properties (inhibiting bacterial growth). Thus, it helps to limit the proliferation of microorganisms involved in acne such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

What is its antibacterial mode of action? Studies have shown that the constituents of tea tree essential oil work by depleting the constituents of the bacterial cell membrane. More specifically, the hydrocarbon structure and lipophilicity (attraction to fats) of the terpenes present in this essential oil lead to lysis and thus the loss of functional integrity of the bacterial membranes. This membrane destruction causes a leakage of potassium ions, thereby inhibiting cellular respiration. The compound 1,8-cineole present in this essential oil plays an important role in this phenomenon. It causes a permeabilization of the bacterial membrane, thus facilitating the entry of more active bactericidal molecules from the essential oil such as terpinene-4-ol.

A study has revealed that a gel containing 5% tea tree essential oil is as effective in reducing pimples as a lotion containing 5% benzoyl peroxide, a common acne medication. The use of tea tree essential oil also resulted in fewer side effects than benzoyl peroxide.