To maintain healthy skin, it is necessary to carry out a facial routine that effectively responds to the skin’s needs. For this, it is essential that our skincare treatment includes all types of products: from cleansers and toners to contours or facial creams. However, before applying any cosmetic product, it is necessary to know what ingredients they have and how they can affect your skin. Not in vain, there are different types of skin – oily, dry or combination – that, together with the environmental conditions that surround us as well as stress or diet, define the general state of the dermis. In addition, we must take into account that the skin can absorb the active ingredients that we apply to it. In other words, the ingredients we choose can have a significant impact on our overall health. A common ingredient in cosmetics is tea tree oil, a component with many benefits but also has significant risks if applied incorrectly.
Tea tree oil has gained popularity in the skin care world due to its antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Now, as Arbosana Farmacia warns, tea tree oil “has volatile components that can be sensitizing.” While it is true that its benefits are inscrutable for the skin, it has great potential to sensitize the skin, especially when exposed directly to the air. “The potential of tea tree oil to sensitize the skin increases when exposed to air because oxidation makes the volatile components more powerful,” they say from the aforementioned Pharmacy.
In this regard, the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has also released a statement on the risks of tea tree oil, ensuring that “even using it on skin and hair can cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis in some people.” . Furthermore, the OCU goes further regarding the use of essential oils as cosmetic ingredients, stating that “they are safe” but “the pure oil” does have higher concentrations than those “typical for its cosmetic use” and may be a “non-exempt substance.” risky”.
In summary, although this component has a multitude of benefits, it is crucial to know the concentration contained in our cosmetics and use it with caution or always following the guidance of a professional to avoid possible risks to our skin health.
