The short answer: dilute it, patch test it, and keep it fresh. Mix tea tree oil into a carrier oil at roughly 1% for the face (6 drops in 30ml) or up to 2% for body skin (12 drops in 30ml), test a small patch for 24 hours, and use it on small areas. Do not swallow it, and see a doctor for anything that persists.
How much tea tree oil should you put on skin?
Start with 1% on the face and no more than 2% on the body. That is 6 drops per 30ml of carrier for the face, 12 drops per 30ml for the body, at the usual rate of about 20 drops per millilitre. Raise the strength only if your skin has stayed calm for a week.
- Face spot or toner base: 1 drop of Blossence Tea Tree in 1 teaspoon (5ml) of Golden Jojoba, which is about 1%. Dab on with a clean cotton tip.
- Body skin (back, chest, shoulders): 12 drops in 30ml of jojoba, about 2%.
- Sensitive skin or children: stay at 1% or lower, and ask a doctor before using essential oils on skin for children under 2.
The full drops-per-bottle chart is in our jojoba dilution guide. A 2006 review in Clinical Microbiology Reviews found that tea tree oil can cause both irritant and allergic reactions, which is why the dilution matters.
How do you patch test tea tree oil?
Apply one diluted drop of your finished blend to the inner forearm or behind the ear, leave it uncovered, and wait 24 hours. Redness, itching, burning or swelling means do not use that blend. Repeat the test whenever you change the oil, the carrier or the strength.
Keep it away from eyes and inside the mouth, and wash your hands after applying. If a reaction does appear, wash the area with plain water and soap and stop using the oil.
What does the research say it is good for?
Some promise, thin evidence. The US NIH's NCCIH says tea tree oil might help acne but needs more evidence, may help athlete's foot though possibly not as well as standard treatments, and has too little nail fungus research to reach any conclusion.
For nails specifically, the 2006 Clinical Microbiology Reviews paper describes a double-blind trial of 100% tea tree oil against 1% clotrimazole in which full or partial resolution was 60% and 61%, a difference that was not significant, and notes that nail fungus is considered largely unresponsive to topical treatment of any kind. Small trials, a neat oil, and a stubborn condition: this is not a reason to self-treat a nail that is thickening or changing colour.
For breakouts, our guide to tea tree oil for acne in India covers the trial evidence and routine in detail, and the scalp acne guide covers the scalp.
Why does tea tree oil sometimes irritate skin?
Usually because it is too strong or too old. The same review reports that allergic reactions are caused mainly by oxidation products in aged or improperly stored oil, and NCCIH notes irritation may be more likely when a product has been exposed to heat, light or air.
- Store it dark, cool and capped. The review recommends dark, cool, dry conditions in a vessel with little air in it. In an Indian summer, that means a drawer, not a sunny bathroom shelf.
- Mix small batches. A blend of 30ml or less, used within a few weeks, is easier to keep fresh than a large bottle left half empty.
- Do not use oil that has changed smell or turned thick. If it smells sharper or off compared with when you opened it, replace it.
When should you stop and see a doctor?
Stop at the first sign of a rash, blistering or swelling, and see a doctor if a skin or nail problem spreads, is painful, has pus, or has not improved after a few weeks. Tea tree oil is a gentle home option for mild skin concerns, not a substitute for a diagnosis.
Never swallow it. NCCIH advises that tea tree oil should not be swallowed, as taking it by mouth can cause confusion, unsteadiness, inability to walk and coma. Keep bottles out of children's reach. If you are pregnant, on medicines or have a skin condition, speak to your doctor first.
Sources
Build your own diluted blend
Pair Blossence Tea Tree Essential Oil with Golden Jojoba as the carrier, and see Neem if you want a second oil used in Indian skincare.