Like many medications and herbal remedies, tea tree oil can have side effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Some of the most common side effects of this remedy include:

• Mild burning sensation in the area of application
• Irritation
• Itching
• Stinging
• Redness
• Contact dermatitis, showing symptoms such as dry, cracked, inflamed, or blistered areas of skin
• Allergic reactions

If you experience these or any other side effects while using tea tree oil, stop use and speak to your doctor or pharmacist if necessary.

For more information about the side effects of your own tea tree oil, please see the patient information leaflet that’s included with the product.

The easiest way to use tea tree oil on your hair is to find a shampoo that contains tea tree, preferably with a matching conditioner. Look out for a shampoo that contains 5% tea tree oil, as this can help you to choose a product with enough tea tree oil to make a difference to your hair.

If you want to use tea tree oil for your skin or to soothe spots or mild acne, then you can pick up some pure tea tree oil or use skin care products that contain tea tree oil.

If you decide to use pure tea tree oil for your skin, we’d recommend putting a couple of drops onto a cotton wool ball or cotton bud and using this to apply the tea tree oil directly to the area you wish to treat.

If you find that undiluted tea tree oil is too harsh on your skin, dilute 25 – 30 drops of the oil in 100ml of water and use this solution on your skin instead.

Do not apply tea tree oil to broken, inflamed, or infected areas of skin.

We would recommend that tea tree oil should only be used on children over the age of 12. Younger children can have more sensitive skin, which can be more easily irritated by tea tree oil.