Essential Oils and Acne Treatment
Use of Essential Oils in Acne Treatment
Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder caused by an over-production of sebum, an oily substance that is secreted by the sebaceous glands in the hair follicles. Acne results from an excess accumulation of dirt and sebum around the hair follicle and the pores of the skin. As the pores and hair follicles become congested, bacteria begin to feed on the sebum. This leads to inflammation and infection around the hair follicle and the formation of a pimple or a puss-filled blackhead.
One of the most common forms of acne, Acne vulgaris, occurs primarily in adolescents due to hormone imbalances, which stimulate the creation of sebum. The exact cause of acne is not known, but some factors include stress, diet, monthly menstrual cycles, and the use of cosmetics. Acne in adults can be also be caused by hormone balances, as well as use of chlorinated compounds, endocrine system imbalances, or poor dietary practices. Heavy or greasy makeup can also contribute to acne.
Essential Oils plays an very important role in acne treatment because they are soluble through lipids in the skin and are easily absorbed and also because of their ability to dissolve sebum, kill bacteria, and preserve the acid mantle of the skin. Because essential oils may be slightly drying to the skin when applied undiluted, it may be necessary to dilute them with V6 Oil Complex or grapeseed oil to keep the skin hydrated. Used full strength or diluted with a carrier oil, essential oils can be applied topically to relieve mild to moderate acne. When choosing an essential oil you must consider your skin type, the kind of acne you are dealing with, and whether or not the oil of your choice has to be diluted before use. Here is the list of some essential oils for acne treatment.
- Rosewood Oil: This essential oil for acne treatment is excellent for people with excessively oily skin. It helps to reduce sebum production when applied topically thus limiting breakouts associated with oily skin. This essential oil is not recommended for those with very dry or sensitive skin. The strong drying properties of this oil make it an excellent spot treatment that can be applied throughout the day to effected areas.
- Jojoba Oil: It is rich in liquid wax esters, an extremely stable substance that does not easily deteriorate and the structure closely resembles that of your own skin sebum. This makes it an excellent moisturizer and ideal for all skin types. This essential oil for acne treatment is effective in most cases due to its antioxidant property. It can be used pure in massage, or can be mixed with other carrier oils. When used as a massage medium, it acts as an emulsifier with the skin's natural sebum and gently unclogs the pores and lifts grime and imbedded impurities. It is quickly absorbed and is excellent for dry and mature skins as well as inflamed conditions.
- Bergamot Oil: Bergamot pure essential oil is excellent antiseptic oil. It blends well with other essential oils making it an excellent addition to any acne treatment blend. Bergamot has a revitalizing fragrance, antibacterial and drying properties making it an ideal spot treatment for existing blemishes.
- Clove Oil: Clove oil is a very potent essential oil for acne treatment that has burning and purifying properties. It should be blended with carrier oil like grape-seed oil before being applied to the skin since it is very irritating in its pure form. When diluted, clove oil can be applied to the skin to treat emerging or existing breakouts. It is very strong and acts very quickly. It should not be used in full strength without the advice of a homeopathic professional. Clove oil can also be used for bruises, burns and cuts, keeping infection at bay and as a pain reliever.
- Lavender Oil: Lavender oil has well known antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. As a deodorant and antiseborrhoeic, lavender oil is also used to combat acne, eczema, seborrhoea and spots. It is excellent as a preventative acne treatment that effectively stops future breakouts while clearing the redness often associated with acne prone skin. Lavender oil is very strong and should not be used full strength except on the advice of a licensed homeopathic professional. It should be diluted prior to application on the skin.
- Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is an excellent antibacterial treatment making it an excellent acne fighter as well as a general purpose wound cleaner. It has been proven effective in killing acne bacteria when topically applied. And because of that it is often used as a replacement to benzoyl peroxide in many of the natural acne treatments. As an acne treatment, tea tree oil is fast acting and acts to clear up the skin while calming the effected area. Acne sufferer's skin is very sensitive to tea tree oil. So you need to start out with a very mild dose and experiment with just a small part of your skin. Dilute pure tea tree oil in pure aloe vera gel. Add only a drop or two to start with per ounce of aloe.
Application of Essential Oils for Acne Treatment
Add 15 - 30 drops of an essential oil or combination of 2-3 essential oils per 30 ml of the carrier oil. Some of the carrier oils like grape-seed oil, almond oil, canola oil, mineral oil, and olive oil. Carrier oils dilute the essential oils so that they can be applied to your skin. Many pure essential oils will irritate your skin and must be mixed with carrier oil if they are to be applied topically.
Other than the above essential oils, oils like Manuka, Helichrysum, spike lavender, thyme linalool, rose geranium, Petitgrain, grapefruit, sandalwood, Vetiver, mints, basil, German chamomile, atlas Cedarwood, Palma Rosa, thyme, Cajeput, Niaouli and Yarrow Hydrosol are also useful.