Tee Tree Oil & Hair Restoration

Studies have shown tea tree oil can be an effective and natural antiseptic and germicide. Users have adapted different methods of using the oil to suit individual areas of concern, including scalp and hair restoration.

Identification

• Also known as melaleuca oil, tea tree oil is steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia. Its use in alternative medicine ranges from skin conditions to cancer treatment.

Hair Composition

• A follicle root beneath the scalp produces a hair's protein and pigment for the cuticle, the visible part of hair above the scalp's surface. Alopecia, a common autoimmune disease affecting 1 to 2 percent of the general population, causes the body to attack healthy hair follicles, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. It occurs as patchy bald spots, total scalp baldness or complete hair loss.

Benefits

• Benefits of tea tree are based on its antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. Its active ingredient, terpinen-4-ol, is most likely the source of the antimicrobial benefits, according to Zhion.com, a health resource website. Fungal hair infections (Tinea Capitis) affect the scalp, frequently in children, causing localized or generalized scaly patches with hair loss that can be permanent if left untreated.

Side Effects

• Topical application may cause allergic reaction ranging from dermatitis to severe blisters in some people. Tea tree oil is relatively safe, however, and adverse effects are usually minor, according to Zhion.com.

Application/Warning

• Tea tree oil should not be used orally because it can lead to toxicity. When applied to the skin directly, it can be mildly irritating for some. Various store-bought hair care products, such as shampoos, conditioners and oil treatments, contain tea tree oil.