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What are The Essential Oils for Acne?
Essential oils and acne
If you’ve got acne and are looking for an alternative to drugstore and prescription acne treatments, you might consider essential oils. Essential oils are plant chemicals extracted with steam from different parts of the plant, including:
- stems
- roots
- leaves
- seeds
- flowers
Plant extracts have a long history in traditional folk medicine. They’re also studied in modern medicine for their benefits. This includes killing bacteria, one of the primary causes of acne.
While many people do report that essential oils can help treat acne, few studies have been done to support this information. While there isn’t enough evidence to recommend using essential oils for acne, they’re generally safe to try, and you may see positive results.
You should stop using essential oils if you notice irritation or sensitivity on the skin.
What causes acne?
Acne starts when skin flakes and skin oil (sebum) clogs your pores. A plugged pore becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, especially Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria, which contributes to causing pimples. Applying a topical bacteria-killing agent to the surface of your skin is one of the treatments used for acne.
Several essential oils kill bacteria. One laboratory study found the most effective against P. acnes include:
- thyme
- cinnamon rose
- rosemary
You can purchase the essential oils derived from these plants at a health food or herbal medicine store.
1. Thyme
In the kitchen, this herb’s delicate essence is often used to enhance pasta sauces and cooked potatoes. In the laboratory, thyme has been shown to be effective in fighting the bacteria that causes acne. It’s also effective in killing germs that cause eye infections. However, never apply thyme to the eyes.
2. Rosemary
In lab tests, rosemary has been shown to damage P. acnes. Food scientists have also studied rosemary’s positive effect on preventing fungal growth that rots food during harvest and packaging.
3. Cinnamon
It turns out cinnamon is good for more than just baking and sprinkling on your latte. This extensively studied tree bark product has been proven effective at fighting P. acnes. It has also been reported to reduce menstrual pain and cholesterol levels. And cinnamon has been shown to kill staphylococcal bacteria and E. coli.
4. Rose
Rose essential oil fightsE. coli, Staphylococcus, and other kinds of bacteria. In animal tests, it’s also been shown to be effective at reducing liver damage caused by acetaminophen (Tylenol).
5. Tea tree
Tea tree oil may be useful for killing bacteria and fungi. It’s been shown to reduce acne. But scientists aren’t certain if that’s because it kills P. acnes or because it reduces swelling. If you don’t care for undiluted tea tree oil, it’s also used as an ingredient in many skin products.
6. Oregano
Oregano has been extensively tested. It shows promise for activity against:
- malarial parasites
- cancer cells
- bacteria that cause hospital-acquired infections (MRSA is one such type)
It hasn’t been proven that it fights P. acnes, but oregano may have some anti- inflammatory properties, which means it might help reduce swelling.
7. Lavender
Testing has shown that lavender could help improve skin conditions. It’s also been proven as an antimicrobial. But the scientific community doesn’t know if it fights P. acnes. This essential oil will at least make you feel relaxed and promote sleep.
8. Bergamot
Advocates of bright, citrus-scented bergamot say that this fruit’s essential oil can improve your mood as well as help your skin. It’s been suggested to be an anti-inflammatory, meaning that it may reduce swelling and shrink pimples.
How to use essential oils
Because essential oils are concentrated plant chemicals, they can be very strong. Read the directions before applying any essential oil to your skin — you might need to dilute it with what’s referred to as a “carrier oil,†which is usually an unscented plant oil. You could also dilute it with water.
Never put essential oils in or near your eyes. Even the vapors can be irritating. And don’t use essential oils on your newborn’s baby acne or anywhere on your baby. Those tiny spots will go away soon enough.