Dark Spots on Your Face? Try Tea Tree Oil!

If you have dark spots on your face, they can be frustrating and difficult to deal with. Of course, they can usually be covered with makeup, but it would be great if there was a way to reduce or get rid of them completely. Tea tree oil can help fight dark spots and even out skin. It has a lot of other great skin care benefits as well. It may just be the dark spot removal oil you’ve been looking for. Is tea tree oil for dark spots on face effective?

Table of Contents

• What Causes Dark Spots on the Face?
  • Hyperpigmentation After Inflammation
  • Skin Damage
  • Hormones
  • Medical Conditions
• Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
  • Anti-Microbial
  • Anti-Inflammatory
• Tea Tree Oil Side Effects
• Using Tea Tree Oil for Dark Spots on the Face
• To Use Tea Tree Oil to Treat Acne
• Other Oils to Use for Dark Spots on the Face
  • Frankincense
  • Chamomile or Blue Tansy
• Tea Tree Oil for Hyperpigmentation: Conclusion

What Causes Dark Spots on the Face?

Unfortunately, according to dermatologists, there are a lot of different types of dark spots, and they stem from different causes.

The most typical causes of dark spots are:

Hyperpigmentation After Inflammation

Acne and other inflammations can leave behind dark or hyper-pigmented spots on the skin.

Skin Damage

Over time, sun and free radicals can damage skin, causing dark spots to appear, particularly on the face and hands.

Hormones

Particularly in women, hormonal changes can cause dark spots to appear. Melasma is a type of dark spot that is strongly associated with pregnancy but can occur at any time in life.

Medical Conditions

Finally, dark spots can be associated with different skin conditions, and even certain medications can cause dark spots.

Because there are so many types of spots, arising from different causes, it can be difficult to find a product that helps to reduce or eliminate them.

But tea tree oil has proven to be a surprisingly effective treatment.

Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil does not come from the Asian Camellia sinensis, the shrub that gives us white, green, and black tea for drinking.

Instead, it comes from the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia, and has been used medicinally by indigenous Australians for centuries.

Anti-Microbial

Tea tree oil is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral.

Scientists are particularly interested in studying tea tree oil for its potential use against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but it has proven to be an effective treatment for acne.

In fact, one study showed that, while it was slower to take effect on acne than benzoyl peroxide, over time tea tree oil was just as effective, with fewer side effects.

Anti-Inflammatory

Tea tree oil is an effective way to reduce and suppress inflammation.

As if being proven anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory weren’t enough, preliminary studies suggest that tea tree oil may also be effective at treating a wide range of conditions, including:

• Dandruff
• Athlete’s foot
• Cold sores
• Excessive body hair
• Lice
• Gingivitis and dental plaque
• Yeast infections

In other words, this little oil is a real miracle worker!

Tea Tree Oil Side Effects

Tea tree oil is toxic to drink and should never be taken internally. When used topically, some people experience skin irritation, redness, and dryness.

Using Tea Tree Oil for Dark Spots on the Face

Tea tree oil is not effective on all kinds of dark spots on the face. It has a very limited ability to exfoliate, causing cell turnover that encourages new, unblemished skin to emerge.

Instead, tea tree oil is best used as a preventive measure, to make sure you don’t get dark spots to begin with.

When used to treat acne or other lesions on the face (such as insect bites, cuts, etc.), tea tree oil helps to reduce inflammation and help the wound heal faster. This reduces scarring and hyperpigmentation.

Because tea tree oil also helps to prevent acne, it helps to reduce the cause of hyperpigmentation altogether.

In other words, if you have dark spots on your face due to sun damage, aging, or other causes, tea tree oil is not the most effective treatment. But if you have hyperpigmentation due to acne, it’s a fantastic way to help clear the skin and reduce both dark and inflamed spots.

To Use Tea Tree Oil to Treat Acne

• Always dilute tea tree oil with a good carrier oil. Jojoba oil is a great carrier oil for acne-prone skin.
• Mix one drop of tea tree essential oil with 12 drops of carrier oil.
• Perform a spot test to make sure you can safely use tea tree oil.
• Using a cotton ball or pad, apply a thin layer of the oil to the affected area of your skin.
• Wait 10 minutes and rinse.
• If you are not sensitive to tea tree oil, and have severe acne, you may instead apply it to the skin and leave it on overnight, and rinse in the morning.

You may also consider using skincare products that have tea tree oil in them. All skin types can benefit from the gentle healing and cleansing of tea tree oil, which can help fight breakouts and calm irritated skin.

Buy on Amazon

The Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads are gentle daily cleansing pads that remove dirt, oil, and makeup, with organic herbal extracts and natural tea tree oil. Formulated with pure, non-GMO tea tree oil, these pads contain no animal products, no artificial fragrances or dyes, no mineral oil, no propylene glycol, and no parabens.

The cruelty-free formula is made in the United States by a certified B-corp, so it’s a product that is good for you and good for the world around you.

Other Oils to Use for Dark Spots on the Face

If your dark spots are due to sun damage, aging, scarring, or other conditions, tea tree oil may not be right for you. Instead, the best way to heal damage-related dark spots is to renew the skin from within.

Here are some oils to consider.

Frankincense

Frankincense oil is an excellent oil for promoting cell turnover and regeneration, working much like a retinol but without sun-sensitivity.

Chamomile or Blue Tansy

Chamomile and Blue Tansy both contain a natural compound called azulene, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It also helps to repair skin and renew cells.

Tea Tree Oil for Hyperpigmentation: Conclusion

As with so many things, the best cure for dark spots on the face is prevention.

Use sunscreen regularly and take good care of your skin to reduce dark spots before they begin.

Check out other related posts on our blog:

• Best Tea Tree Oil Brands for Acne
• Sunscreen Before or After Moisturizer?
• Best Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin
• Pregnancy Safe Makeup Brands

How about you? Have you ever used tea tree oil for dark spots on face treatment?