Tea tree oil has been used for centuries to treat skin infections
Tea tree oil is derived from an Australian native tree the Melaleuca alternifolia, a member of the myrtle family. Tea tree oil is commonly used for skin and nail bacterial, fungal or viral infections. Tea tree oil contains 100 bio-active components. Terpinen-4-ol in tea tree oil causes antimicrobial activity and suppresses an inflammatory mediator. However, tea tree oil should be used with care as a number of problems have been reported.
Allergy
Tea tree oil is found in a number of commercial products, but tea tree oil can cause an allergic reaction in some patients. An Australian study published in 2007 in " The Australasian Journal of Dermatology" showed that 1.8 percent of patients had a positive patch test to oxidized tea tree oil, with 20 percent previously having used neat tea tree oil prior to the reaction. It is thought that the allergic reaction may be due to either contaminants or oxidation products.
Antibiotic Resistance
Tea tree oil is known to have a broad antimicrobial activity. This antimicrobial activity also includes bacteria such as MRSA and E.coli. A study by Ann McMahon and colleagues in 2007 and published in "Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy" showed that though tea tree oil is an effective antimicrobial agent, inappropriate low concentrations of tea tree oil may contribute to antibiotic resistance in human pathogens.
