Tea Tree Oil for Seborrheic dermatitis

A natural acne spot-treatment that kills the bacteria behind red, painful pimples. Slower than benzoyl peroxide but with fewer side effects when used at 5%.

Why it works for Seborrheic dermatitis

Its main active compound (terpinen-4-ol) kills the yeast behind seborrheic dermatitis. In a trial of 126 people (Satchell 2002), a 5 percent tea tree oil shampoo used daily for 4 weeks improved scalp severity by 41 percent, versus 11 percent for placebo. One caution: tea tree oil that has aged and reacted with air is a known cause of allergic skin reactions (PMID:27173437). Use it in rinse-off scalp products. Do not leave it on your face, especially if you also have eczema or react to fragrance.

How Tea Tree Oil works

Australian Melaleuca essential oil whose terpinen-4-ol content disrupts bacterial membranes (including C. acnes) and dampens inflammatory neutrophil response.

Evidence

4 citations from our ingredient database. Full citation list on the Tea Tree Oil ingredient page.

journal2022

Najafi-Taher R et al., A topical gel of tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene versus adapalene marketed gel in patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized clinical trial, Archives of Dermatological Research 2022;314(7):673-679 — RCT showed tea tree oil + adapalene nanoemulsion gel produced significantly better reduction in total, inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions than standard adapalene

journal2017

Malhi HK, Tu J, Riley TV, Kumarasinghe SP, Hammer KA, Tea tree oil gel for mild to moderate acne; a 12 week uncontrolled, open-label phase II pilot study, Australasian Journal of Dermatology 2017;58(3):205-210

journal2007

Enshaieh S, Jooya A, Siadat AH, Iraji F, The efficacy of 5% topical tea tree oil gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study, Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology 2007;73(1):22-5

journal1990

Bassett IB, Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS, A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne, Medical Journal of Australia 1990;153(8):455-8

Products with Tea Tree Oil in our catalog

These are the catalog products that list Tea Tree Oil as a tracked ingredient.

COSRX

Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

$15 · Cleanser

Sunday Riley

U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil

$40 · Treatment

COSRX

Master Patch Intensive

$8 · Treatment

COSRX

Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser

$12 · Cleanser

iUNIK

Tea Tree Relief Serum

$18 · Serum

Mediheal

Teatree Trouble Pad

$22 · Toner

Full Tea Tree Oil guide →Seborrheic dermatitis overview →