How is tea tree oil used and what are its contraindications?

Tea tree oil serves as a natural antibacterial agent that is often used to treat acne, athlete's foot, or nail fungi, but it also works to relieve mosquito bites. This oil is extracted by distilling the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia plant, native to Australia, which is why it is also known as melaleuca oil. However, this should not be confused with the plant that produces leaves used to make black, green, and oolong tea.Tea tree oil has been used as traditional medicine by native Australians for centuries. In those early uses, they crushed the leaves of tea trees to extract the oil, in order to inhale it and treat coughs and colds or applied it directly to the skin to heal it.This oil contains a compound called terpinen-4-ol, which has been shown to kill certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and it also seems to increase white blood cell activity, helping to combat germs. It is this, and other components, that make tea tree oil a valuable natural remedy for treating bacterial and fungal skin conditions, preventing infections, and promoting healing.How is tea tree oil used?Today, tea tree oil has gained a lot of popularity and is frequently used in skincare products, such as soaps or treatments.On the other hand, research has shown that it works in various applications, such as creams, shampoos, or soaps. For example, a treatment gel with tea tree oil can be effective for treating acne.Tea tree oil is also used in shampoos with a 4-week treatment for dandruff; in creams, to relieve athlete's foot symptoms, or pure oil combined with lavender oil to remove lice eggs from hair.The important thing is that its use should always be topical, meaning it should always be used externally and on the area you want to treat.Thus, while using tea tree oil is safe, the most important contraindication for this natural remedy is to avoid oral consumption, as it is toxic when swallowed, and it should not be used if you have eczema.Some side effects it may have, despite its proper use, include skin irritation, dermatitis, itching, stinging, burning, peeling, redness, and dryness.If you are going to use tea tree oil, do not forget to take its contraindications into account and always consult a doctor if you notice something unusual.