Tinea versicolor is a skin disease usually caused by oily skin, hot climate, excessive sweating and weak immune system. The main culprit for the condition is a type of yeast that naturally lives on our skin but has grown out of control at some point and appears as a rash. It is not contagious and affects people of all skin colors, prevalently teens and young adults.
The symptoms of the skin disease are the appearance of patches that have sharp borders and fine scales, are dark reddish or tan in color, are found on the back, underarms, upper arms, chest and neck. They don’t darken in the sun so they could actually sometimes appear lighter in color than the rest of the skin. Patients could also feel itching and excessive sweating.
Tea tree oil has great anti-fungal properties and is excellent at coping with this sort of diseases. In the following text, we’ll introduce you to some of the ways you can use this oil to your advantage and get rid of the tinea versicolor in a short time.
Tea tree oil and baking soda
In a low sitz bath put a cup of baking soda and 10 drops of tea tree oil. Fill in the bath and mix the ingredients well before getting in. Stay in the soak for 20 minutes. This routine should be repeated every day until the yeast infection disappears. Alternatively, you can use 3 cups of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of the tea tree oil. The other way to use baking soda and tea tree oil together is to mix a tablespoon of baking soda with 4 drops of the oil with the appropriate amount of water. Mix it well until it gets the consistency of a paste. Put the mixture on the affected areas and wash it off after 5-7 minutes.
Tea tree oil and alcohol
You need a tablespoon of tea tree oil and isopropyl which you’ll mix with a pint of water. You are to use this once a week as a douche. Alcohol is not exactly necessary. You can simply use a tablespoon of tea tree oil diluted in water and use it as a douche. However, alcohol contributes to the successfulness of the remedy. Speaking of intensifying the healing effect, you can mix a drop of tea tree oil and lavender oil together with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Stir this well and put it in 2 cups of warm water which you’ll pour in a douche bag. Mix it well and use it during showering. Repeat the treatment every day until the infection subsides.
Tea tree oil and carrier oil
This is an easy nightly routine that requires 3 drops of tea tree oil and a tablespoon of any carrier oil (almond, castor or olive oil). Massage this into the affected areas, let it stay like that through the night and rinse it off in the morning.
Tea tree oil and water
This is a method that you should repeat more often than the ones we’ve mentioned so far. Mix ½ teaspoon of tea tree oil in a ½ cup of water and dip a cotton ball in it. Apply this to affected areas, leave it for 5 minutes, rinse it off and pat dry it.
Tea tree oil and vegetable oil
This is yet another way to get rid of the yeast infection in the comfort of your own bathtub. You’ll need 2-5 drops of tea tree oil and a teaspoon of vegetable oil mixed and poured in the bathtub with lukewarm water. Repeat this daily until the infection tones down.
Tea tree oil and Garlic
This treatment is done once a day. Take a clove of peeled garlic, crush it and drop some tea tree oil on it. Wrap this up in gauze and apply to the areas affected by the infection. Let this soak in for 15 minutes and then wash it away and pat dry it.
Tea tree oil and aloe vera
The ratio of this mixture is the following: 3 drops of tea tree oil and 6 drops of aloe vera gel. Massage this into the yeast affected areas for 5 minutes, rinse it off and pat dry it. Repeat this twice a day.
Tea tree oil and oregano oil
For this, you’ll need 3 drops of tea tree oil, ½ teaspoon of oregano and a teaspoon of almond oil. Apply this to the affected areas with your fingertips, leave for a few minutes, rinse it off and repeat twice a day. Alternatively, you can mix 2 – 3 drops of tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, oregano oil and lemon juice in 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil. After applying this and letting it soak in, wipe it off with a clean cloth once a day.
Tea tree oil and honey
By using your fingertips, apply the mixture of 3 drops of tea tree oil and 2 tablespoons of raw honey. Massage this in every night for at least a week.
Are there any side effects of tea tree oil?
Tea tree oil is generally harmless. Still, it won’t hurt being cautious in certain situations. If you are allergic to tea tree oil, any of its parts, Balsam of Peru, benzoin, colophony (rosin) tinctures, eucalyptol, or to plants that are members of the myrtle (Myrtaceae) family, you should avoid using it. This is because it could cause rashes, allergies, itching redness, scaling and even eczema.
Conclusion
Tea tree oil is definitely one of the most effective and affordable ways to get rid of tinea versicolor and pretty much any other yeast infection. You can mix it with any other powerful antioxidant there is, but you always have to ensure that the dosage is right. This is, for example, the case with the combination of the lavender oil and tea tree oil. If you are tolerant to the oil you’re free to use it daily but if the allegro tests say the contrary, try to find other solution.
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