Title:

Essential Oils for Acne: Using Aromatherapy for Clear Skin

Word Count:
250

Summary:
Tea tree oil and other essential oils are effective for acne, and may have fewer
side effects than benzoyl peroxide and other conventional acne treatments.

Keywords:
tea tree oil, benzoyl peroxide, aromatherapy, acne, essential oil, aromatherapist,
acne treatment

Article Body:
Tea tree oil is known to have antifungal and antiseptic properties, and has been
used for many years as an antimicrobial agent and to help clear skin of acne. study
with over 100 participants, published in the Medical Journal of Australia,
demonstrated that a 5% tea tree oil gel was just as effective as a 5% benzoyl
peroxide lotion in the treatment of acne. Though the tea tree oil worked more
slowly to clear acne, it produced fewer side effects.

Sandalwood essential oil has been shown to inhibit growth of a type of bacteria
that is commonly a cause of acne. It is thought that a specific component of
sandalwood essential oil, farnesol, is responsible for antibacterial and antifungal
activity. Other essential oils containing farnesol include jasmine, palmarosa, and
ylang ylang. These essential oils may also be effective against acne.

Make your own aromatherapy acne wash by adding up to 5% of the essential oils
mentioned above to unscented face or body wash. For an aromatherapy acne gel, use
pure aloe vera gel as a base, and add up to 5% of the essential oils mentioned
above.

Be sure to avoid getting essential oils in or near the eyes. Also beware that
because there are many products that contain tea tree oil, the risk of
sensitization is increased due to increased exposure. There is always the potential
for becoming sensitized to specific essential oils, so it�s wise to rotate use of
different essential oils, rather than using the same essential oils over and over.