Using Aromatherapy for Acne
Aromatherapy for Acne: It Works
Aromatherapy has had a reputation as a natural treatment for acne for many years. Of the aromatherapy oils, tea tree is probably the best-known as an acne remedy, though other oils such as lavender have been anecdotally reported effective. It turns out that aromatherapy does work for treating acne, and research now supports this.
In 1990, there was a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, which reported on a clinical trial comparing the well-known aromatherapy oil tea tree essential oil and benzoyl peroxide used as acne treatments. There were 124 participants in this single-blind randomized trial, and treatments were administered as a 5% tea tree oil gel or a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion.
Both the tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide were shown to be effective in reducing acne outbreaks and blemishes. Study participants using tea tree oil experienced a lower incidence of side effects; however, the tea tree oil took somewhat longer than the benzoyl peroxide to show results. Bear in mind, however, that acne remedies always take time to work, whether they are prescription drugs or aromatherapy remedies.
Aromatherapy Oils Combat Bacteria
Several other aromatherapy remedies have been shown to inhibit growth of specific strains of bacteria that are known to be acne causing. Some of these aromatherapy oils contain farnesol, a chemical compound that inhibits one type of acne-causing bacteria.
Aromatherapy Oils That Inhibit Acne-Causing Bacteria:
Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) essential oil
Lavender (Lavendula agustifolia) essential oil
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) essential oil
Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) essential oil
Sandalwood (Santalum album) essential oil
Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil
How to Use Aromatherapy for Face Acne and Back Acne
Try the following aromatherapy recipe: Acne Aromatherapy Oil Blend for facial application.
For back acne, choose three or four of the essential oils recommended for acne, and make a 5% solution with the essential oils in purified water and two tablespoons of aloe vera gel. Use a dark glass bottle with a pump spray, shake the bottle well, and spray the aromatherapy blend on the back.
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