What to do if you burn your skin with tea tree oil
Tea tree oil can be a beneficial natural skincare ingredient, but only when used sparingly. If you apply undiluted tea tree oil straight to your skin, you might end up with oil burn marks.
Treating a tea tree oil burn is simple and can be carried out at home. It’s unlikely that you’ll need medical attention unless the burn is particularly severe.
If you topically applied the oil, the first thing to do is remove it from your skin. Wash the affected area thoroughly with warm water. If you have a gentle soap, use it to carefully remove the oil from your skin.
Once you’ve washed your skin, use a washcloth to make a cool, wet compress and apply it to your skin. This should soothe the pain and relieve any itching.
Let your skin dry, then apply an antibiotic cream. If your burn is in a location that’s likely to catch on your clothes, cover it with a non-stick bandage, using gauze to hold it in place.
Why does my face burn when I put tea tree oil on it?
A burning face after applying tea tree oil could be caused by two things: a tea tree oil allergy and applying too much oil at once.
You should always use tea tree oil with a carrier oil or another solution that it can be diluted in. On its own, this essential oil is incredibly potent. It may burn, sting, or cause a rash if a high concentration of tea tree oil is applied directly to your skin.
To prevent burning when you apply tea tree oil to your face, add a measured amount to your moisturizer and mix well, or combine with a carrier oil like coconut.
Alternatively, a burning sensation may be a sign that you’re allergic to tea tree oil. Other tea tree oil allergy symptoms include skin itchiness and irritation, scaling, redness, dryness, and stinging. Stop using the oil immediately if you notice any signs of an adverse reaction.
Why does tea tree oil burn my piercing?
You may have been advised to use tea tree oil on an area of skin that has recently been pierced. Because tea tree oil is also an antiseptic, it can help to prevent open wounds – like piercings – from getting infected.
It’s normal for a piercing to burn when applying tea tree oil, as your piercing will be sensitive pretty much anything, especially potent liquids like essential oils. While some people recommend using tea tree oil on your piercings, it’s worth knowing that this oil is an astringent. That means it pulls moisture out of cells, and this may interrupt the piercing’s healing process.
How do you treat a skin rash with tea tree oil?
A skin rash caused by tea tree oil can also be treated at home.
Rashes will usually go away on their own if they’re given the time to heal. Of course, in this time, you shouldn’t expose your skin to the cause of the rash itself – in this case, the tea tree oil.
If your rash is particularly itchy or painful, you can apply an antiseptic healing cream to the affected area on a twice-daily basis. This should soothe the inflammation and encourage the rash to heal faster.
It can be tempting to itch or pick at your rash during the later stages of healing. Avoid doing this, as it could prevent your rash from healing properly, and even cause scarring.
Can you put tea tree oil on raw skin?
If you suffer an injury that results in broken or raw skin, you’re at risk of germs getting into the injury and infecting the area.
You can use tea tree oil to treat cuts or raw skin. Its antiseptic properties make it effective at killing a number of bacteria that commonly linger on skin injuries.
If you do plan to use tea tree oil on raw skin, you will need to dilute the oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil. Mix one teaspoon of coconut oil with one drop of tea tree oil, then, after thoroughly cleaning the cut with water and gentle soap, apply the mixture to the injury.
Don’t wash the oil off. Instead, cover your skin with a bandage and leave it to dry. You can apply this oil combination twice a day, until your skin shows signs of healing.