Tea tree is one of the most soothing essential oils to add to your bath. The warm water helps your skin to absorb the oils, and inhaling the tea tree fragrance is said to help with respiratory symptoms like congestion and cough. But how much tea tree oil should you add to your bath? Is there a right amount?
You don’t want to go overboard, here. Ideally, you should add between 10 and 15 drops of tea tree oil to your bath. Any more than this, and you might damage your skin. Tea tree oil is a potent essential oil, so it’s best to dilute it properly in your bath water using a measured amount.
Are tea tree oil baths good for you?
Yes, tea tree oil baths are good for you. There are many benefits of bathing in tea tree oil. The oil can reduce skin inflammation and soothe itchy, red rashes. Rashes caused by specific skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis, can be soothed with tea tree oil in bathwater.
Tea tree oil baths can treat swollen, painful joints, and have been proven effective at reducing the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections. Adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your bathwater should also help your skin to recover from bacterial infections.
Essential oils not to use in bath
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that’s safe to use in the bath – but not all essential oils should be added to your bathwater.
Black pepper, cassia, wintergreen, peppermint, spearmint, clove, cinnamon, camphor, hyssop, summer savoury, thyme, and oregano essential oils should never be used in your bath. While some essential oils, like tea tree, are soothing to the skin, others act as irritants, and are only intended to be used in diffusers. Choose wisely if you’re looking to add something other than tea tree oil to your bath.
Can tea tree oil in bath cause burning skin?
Generally, using tea tree oil in the bath won’t cause burning skin – as long as you stick to the right amount.
Adding more than 15 drops of tea tree oil to your bathwater means you’ll have a higher concentration of oil per litre of water. Remember that oil doesn’t mix properly with water, too, so you’ll likely end up with a shiny layer of oil on the surface of your bath. This oil could irritate your skin, causing it to become inflamed and produce a burning feeling.
It’s also wise to do a patch test with equal parts tea tree oil and a carrier oil before adding this oil to your bath. Some people can be allergic to tea tree oil, and skin reactions are a common side-effect.
Can I use tea tree oil in bath for eczema?
Yes – one of the most common uses of tea tree oil in the bath is for treating eczema. Tea tree oil is a highly effective natural eczema treatment. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation, and antimicrobial properties that right germs responsible for infection.
Additionally, tea tree can reduce itching, thanks to its antifungal properties, and it can soothe the skin, thanks to its antiseptic qualities. Finally, tea tree oil contains antioxidants, that help fight against free radicals, which are responsible for cell damage and skin conditions like eczema.
To use tea tree oil in the bath for eczema, just add 100% pure, organic oil to your bath while the water is still running. Soak for a minimum of 15 minutes to allow your skin to absorb the oil.
Is it safe to put essential oils in bathwater?
It depends on a few factors. To start, make sure you’re not adding the wrong type of essential oil to your bath. Check out the “essential oils not to use in bath” section above for clarification on what’s best to stay away from in the bathroom.
The quality of the oil will also affect how safe it is to use in your bath. A poor-quality oil is far more likely to cause skin reactions than a high-quality oil. It’s worth paying a little extra for an oil that’s organic and 100% what is says it is, with no added oils, chemicals, preservatives or artificial by-products.