Are the effects of tea tree oil antifungal or just anti-inflammatory?
We fully understand the cause of dandruff Transformation With a notable article published in 1984. Instead of relying on secondary sources, reviews, editorials, and opinion pieces, the author looked at the primary literature, and original studies. He was “amazed to discover how vague the aetiological evidence”, and the true cause of dandruff, “and how it has been ignored because it has been so well buried under the mountain of error since Malasese (1874)” falsely put forward the theory. We now know that dandruff is caused by a fungus that lives and feeds on the human scalp. There are two main outcomes: first, how “concerned” is that a spurious theory could remain unchallenged in the medical literature for a century despite evidence to the contrary? Second, if it’s a fungus, how about trying tea tree oil? it contains Ingredients that have antifungal activity against a group of fungi.
As I discuss in my video Does tea tree oil work on dandruff and athlete’s foot?The latter idea was based on studies that found that tea tree oil in a petri dish can fight Pathogenic dermatophytes, as you can see below and at 1:07 in my country video. You don’t know if it works for dandruff, though, until it’s been tested.
It was one hundred and twenty-six men and women random Either daily use 5 percent tea tree oil shampoo or a placebo for a month. As you can see below and at 1:22 in my country videoIn this study, the placebo worked a bit, reducing dandruff severity by about 10 percent, but the tea tree oil shampoo worked best, reducing dandruff severity by about 40 percent. In the tea tree oil group, “only one patient had a complete response, as did one patient in the placebo group. Thus, it appears that 5% tea tree shampoo will require continued application to control dandruff.”
Speaking of fungi, how about tea tree oil in treating athlete’s foot? This may actually be the most common fungal skin infection, effect Up to one in ten. There were about a hundred patients random In one of three combinations: 10% tea tree oil cream, Tinactin (an antifungal medicine), or placebo cream. After one month, the fungus was eliminated in 85 percent of the drug group, but about a quarter of the placebo and tea tree oil groups were cured, as you can see below and at 2:31 in my country video. This is somewhat surprising, because tea tree oil can do that killing From the fungus in a petri dish, but apparently, not on the toes.
This reminds me of some oral health data on tea tree oil. Studies have shown that it can wipe up of some oral pathogens in a petri dish, but what happens if you have people using a solution of tea tree oil in their mouth, compared to a placebo and rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthwash? After four days without brushing their teeth, as with a placebo, tea tree oil had no effect on dental plaque buildup, while rinsing with mouthwash kept the treatment on the plaque quite a bit, as you can see below and at 2:56 in. Mine video.
So, if not tea tree oil Effect The amount of plaque, presumably will not help with gingivitis, gingivitis caused by plaque buildup. But, no, this is a twist. It is true that there is no reduction in dental plaque with 2.5 percent tea tree oil gel, however there is a significant reduction in gingivitis scores. “Since lower gums [gum] Inflammation occurred … Without a concomitant decrease in the degrees of plaque, the mechanism of its action could be anti-inflammatory rather than antibacterial. “
Could the same thing happen in the athlete’s foot study I mentioned earlier? From the point of view of the treatment of fungi – that is from the point of view of the treatment of fungi – tea tree oil was not really the same an act No better than a placebo. And although the drug treatment eliminated the fungus in 85 percent of cases, some of these patients did not actually notice an improvement in symptoms or even feel worse after using the drug, “perhaps a reflection of the minor irritating side effect” of tinactin. If you look, rather than a fungicide, at improving symptoms, tea tree oil works as well as medicine, as you can see below and at 4:14 in my country video. “This is possible is being The basis for the common use of tea tree oil in treating tinea pedis is athlete’s foot. People should realize, however, that it is merely symptomatic relief, and that they do not necessarily eliminate the underlying cause. Of course, it is possible that a higher concentration of tea tree oil may have anti-inflammatory properties. The fungi are better and more effective in treating tinea pedis.”
And indeed, instead of using a 10 percent tea tree oil cream, if you use one that contains a 25 or 50 percent tea tree oil solution, you can Get Mycological cure rates are higher than placebo, although not as good as the drug. However, at these high concentrations, some patients “who have applied tea tree oil have moderate to severe dermatitis,” breaking out in a rash. But, if you have a patient who doesn’t want to use medicated creams, using 25 percent tea tree oil has a good chance of getting rid of athlete’s foot without much risk, although standard over-the-counter antifungal creams may work better. .
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- Tea tree oil contains ingredients with antifungal activity against a range of different fungi.
- Dandruff is caused by a fungus that lives and feeds on the human scalp. Researchers found that a 5 percent tea tree oil shampoo worked better than a placebo at reducing the severity of dandruff, by 40 percent compared to 10 percent, respectively.
- Athlete’s foot may be the most common fungal infection of the skin, but a 10% tea tree oil cream wasn’t as effective as Tinactin (an antifungal medication). Tinactin killed the fungus in 85 percent of the drug group, but only about a quarter of the placebo and tea tree oil groups were treated.
- Swishing with a tea tree oil solution in the mouth does not appear to have an effect on plaque buildup without using a toothbrush, unlike medicated mouthwashes, but it does appear to lead to a significant reduction in gingivitis, the inflammation of the gums caused by plaque. The mechanism of tea tree oil’s activity may be anti-inflammatory rather than bacterial.
- In the athlete’s foot study, a 10% tea tree oil cream plus the drug Tinactin worked to improve symptoms. However, using a 25 or 50 percent tea tree oil solution achieved higher rates of fungal cure than those of a placebo (although still not as good as the drug), but at those higher concentrations some patients developed a rash. . Applying 25 percent tea tree oil may be able to treat athlete’s foot without much risk, but standard antifungal creams may work better.
Can’t get enough tea tree oil? Then watch:
For those interested in Old Friday memory: What is the best mouthwash?Click on the link to find out more.
You may also be interested in Natural treatment for acne and fungal infections. She has produced videos about another inflammatory skin condition, eczema (atopic dermatitis) as well. We see Treating Eczema with Coconut Oil and Mineral Oil vs. Vaseline And the Best foods to avoid eczema.
in health,
Michael Greer, MD
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