With its anti-bacterial properties, this is an ideal and entirely natural way to treat a variety of skin conditions. However, it is should be used with care, as tea tree oil is also well known for its strength, and when used incorrectly it can actually cause skin irritation rather than soothe areas which are already irritated or inflamed.

There is one instance where is it recommended and safe to apply tea tree oil neat, and this is to acne, but only if done is a very precise manner with a cotton bud dabbed onto each spot. When used neat on normal skin this can cause irritation and redness, but the strength of the oil is most effective when applied neat in this instance.

This can be done at night and in the morning after washing and moisturising the face. If this is done at night it can be very effective at killing the spot and reducing the inflammation significantly by the time morning arrives. For acne, this treatment should be carried out over a period of weeks or months in order to enjoy the best results.

If you are planning a course of tea tree oil for acne, then it is strongly recommended to consult a dermatologist or natural skin care practitioner first of all in order to get their guidance on your particular skin condition. These experts will be able to advise you more specifically on your use of tea tree oil and warn you of any particular precautions that you may need to take.

For those who are suffering from acne in hard to reach places on the body or on a larger area of skin, a general spot treatment can be formulated by mixing tea tree oil with a base oil such as coconut oil, or with aloe vera. This can consist of a mix of 10% to 20% of tea tree to the base oil, which will make it less potent but also less irritating to the skin.

For the right percentage of dilution, consult a skin care expert who will be able to guide you in accordance with the tolerance of your own skin to this oil. These diluted treatments can then be used on larger areas of the body, with nourishing coconut oil recommended for the body and soothing aloe vera recommended for the face.

These treatments are also good for other skin problems, such as athlete’s foot or blackheads and very oily skin on the face. In these cases the anti-bacterial properties of the oil and the base product will act to sooth, nourish and disinfect the problem areas for noticeable results over an extended course of treatment of a few weeks.

There are other ways of using this oil rather than direct application, and one great method for those suffering from a skin infection all over their body is by adding a few drops to a warm bath and enjoying a soak. This can then be towelled off and regular body moisturiser applied, which is very effective for a more gentle treatment that does not require direct application of the product.

Likewise, tea tree oil can also be added to existing beauty products such a moisturisers, shampoos and shower gels in order to enjoy some of the anti-bacterial benefits in a much more diluted solution, and without investing in another base product either. These are just some of the best ways to start integrating the benefits of tea tree oil into your skincare regime.