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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services / National Institutes of Health
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Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree, a plant that grows in Australia. It was traditionally used as an antiseptic and herbal medicine.
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Today, external use of tea tree oil is promoted for conditions such as acne, athlete’s foot, and nail fungus.
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A small amount of research has been done on various topical uses of tea tree oil. Limited evidence suggests that tea tree oil might be helpful for acne and athlete’s foot. There’s less evidence that it might help with nail fungus. Overall, the research is insufficient to allow clear conclusions to be reached about the effectiveness of tea tree oil for these conditions.
What Do We Know About Safety?
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Tea tree oil should not be swallowed. It can have serious side effects if taken orally.
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Most people can use topical products containing tea tree oil without problems. However, some people may develop an allergic rash or skin irritation on the parts of the body where the product was used.
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