Can the tea tree oil I have been using be the culprit of my acne?

Nov 12, 2014

Sandy D.

I've been using it for like a month now and I constantly have little pimples spread out everywhere and I don't know what can be causing it, could my skin just not like the tea tree oil?

Have all of you ladies been successful with tea tree oil? (Specifically from the brand "Now") P.S I dilute it 50/50 with NOW jojoba oil)

Or what's a more effective thing I can use as a spot-treatment? :( I've been really wanting to go to the derm but I'm broke and our insurance doesn't cover it :( and I'm kinda getting desperate, I felt like just popping all my pimples this morning even I know that's bad :/

Nov 12, 2014

Shiro M.

Tea tree oil doesn't completely spot treat my acne, but it does help the pimple go away a little faster.
As an alternate spot treatment, I would suggest benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid

Nov 12, 2014

Sandy D.

Thanks ladies! Really appreciate the help, @Jacqlyn, do you recommend any sulfur treatment in specific? I've tried salicylic acid and bp but none of them seem to work for me, so I would like to try that sulfur, I haven't heard of that before though

Nov 12, 2014

Brittany F.

It could be a possibility! My boyfriend broke out horribly from tea tree oil and is now on acutane. No matter how "holy grail" an ingredient is or how non comedogenic it is it will still break you out if your skin decides it doesn't like it! Don't use it for a little while and consider anything else you've been using that could be the cause of all these breakouts. As for your current pimples, if they are popped a spot treatment will not help, try a bit of polysporin instead for quicker healing and scar minimization.

Nov 12, 2014

Brittany F.

I personally use the persa gel 5 as a spot treatment by clean and clear and it works basically over night! They have a 10% one aswell but I find it a bit too harsh on my skin.

Nov 12, 2014

Kathy K.

following

Nov 13, 2014

Kitty K.

Tea tree oil has fragrance in it which can contribute to irritation
There are no available studies proving TTO is meant for acne, just a test conducted that showed TTO is as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide but in a longer time frame period without being as harsh as BP.
What products are you also using in your skin care routine?

Nov 15, 2014

Sandy D.

Thanks so much everyone :) I'll be sure to look into those products
@ Kitty, yea BP was very harsh on my skin :( which is why I switched to TTO
In the morning I wash my face with cetaphil derma control and sometimes use thayers witch hazel/lavender/aloe Vera toner, and then apply my physicans formula bb cream
In the night I take it off with neutrogena sensitive makeup remover wipes and then again use the same cetaphil face wash then I apply TTO mixed with jojoba oil to my pimples and apply rosehip seed oil everywhere else :) and on Sundays I use a ABH clay mask and on Wednesdays I use the freeman black sugar charcoal mask :)