Tea tree oil for actinic keratosis. Topical treatments for actinic keratosis, or sunspots, can have adverse side effects, but new research highlights tea tree oil as a new promising solution. Share: Actinic keratosis is a scaly, red, and occasionally itchy patch of skin that sometimes resembles a mole.
Tea tree essential oil is a powerful natural remedy for Keratosis Pilaris boasting antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and exfoliating prowess.
If patients apply a mixture of frankincense essential oil in a castor carrier oil to seborrheic keratosis for the duration of one month, then the coloration and appearance of seborrheic keratosis will decrease.
Natural Tip: Coconut oil. Coconut oil is naturally rich in lauric acid. Lauric acid helps in breaking up the access build of keratin. Keratin, as you know, is the major cause of KP as it clogs the hair follicles –leading to the formation of the rough and small bumps.
Freezing a growth with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) can be an effective way to remove a seborrheic keratosis.
Topical hydrogen peroxide shows the greatest evidence for clinical clearance of seborrheic keratoses and may be a viable option for patients requesting noninvasive removal. No studies to our knowledge directly compare hydrogen peroxide to current first-line treatments.
While preliminary studies suggest tea tree oil may have potential for the treatment of actinic keratosis, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety for this use.
Tea tree oil has been shown to kill yeasts implicated in seborrheic dermatitis. Because it can cause contact dermatitis, undiluted tea tree oil should never be applied directly to the skin.
Dry skin tends to make keratosis pilaris worse.
You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly, and replace the bandage as needed. Avoid using an antibiotic ointment unless your doctor recommends it.
As keratosis presents as dry skin, the most important thing to do, is moisturise it. Moisturising the area is imperative to healing keratosis. There are so many natural, and very effective products you can use to moisturise. Coconut oil is one of the most popular, and readily available on the market.
Keratosis pilaris may have a link to vitamin A deficiency. Taking vitamin A supplements or using moisturizers or creams with small amounts of vitamin A may help treat keratosis pilaris.
Tea tree oil
People who try it apply a few drops of the oil to a cotton ball, which they affix to the skin tag with a bandage. They leave the cotton ball on the skin tag for 10 minutes, three times per day. It may take several days or weeks for the tag to fall off.
There are no proven home remedies for seborrheic keratosis. Lemon juice or vinegar used by some may irritate and possibly cause the growth to dry and crumble, but there is no evidence that this is safe or effective. Also, it can cause substantial irritation and pain.
The FDA has approved hydrogen peroxide 40% topical solution (Eskata – Aclaris Therapeutics) for treatment of raised seborrheic keratoses (SKs) in adults. It is the first drug to be approved for this indication. (Hydrogen peroxide is available over the counter for topical use as a 3% solution.)
Medicines. If you have several actinic keratoses, your health care provider might prescribe a medicated cream or gel to remove them, such as fluorouracil (Carac, Efudex others), imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) or diclofenac. These products might cause inflamed skin, scaling or a burning sensation for a few weeks.
Treatments for seborrhoeic keratoses? As they are harmless they do not require any treatment. Any itching or irritation can frequently be relieved by simple moisturisers such as E45 cream® or Vaseline Intensive Care lotion®. NHS services do not currently treat seborrhoeic keratoses.
In one study, researchers found coconut oil was better than olive oil at moisturizing skin when used in a carrier. Remember to look for cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil for your face or skin care.
Side effects of using coconut oil on your skin
It's hydrating, yes. But that means it can do its job a little too well and clog pores and cause acne breakouts — especially if your skin is more on the oily side.