Can Psoriasis be Treated with Tea Tree Oil?

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Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. It can affect nails, scalp, skin and in some cases body joints (psoriatic arthritis). In some conditions, patients can successfully treat their Psoriasis with tea tree oil.  

The disease is chronic. The patient suffers from excessive growth of skin cells which build up fast on the normal skin. This overgrowth looks like silvery patches which are dry, red and painful which sometimes bleed.

Psoriasis can last as long as a person lives depending on the intensity of the condition and the location of the patches, writes Health Line.

Tea tree Plant grows in Australia where its oil is added in skin care products since past hundred years. The oil is yellow in color and is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia - tea tree.

Tea tree oil is said to have positive role in treating this skin irritation because of its antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. But the cure depends on a person's personal physical condition, reports Medical News Today.

Though, there is no scientific study or evidence on being tea tree oil helpful in treating psoriasis but there is a possibility with some patients to feel positive change in the symptoms.

In some cases use of tea tree oil can cause allergic reaction. In this case tea tree oil must be completely avoided otherwise it can increase the pain and symptoms in the patient.  

There are no published studies that prove use of tea tree oil for the treatment of Psoriasis. Many hair and skin care products contain it but using it in pure form for treating psoriasis can hold some adverse results.

Teat tree oils can cause skin or eye burn, and mucous membranes if used undiluted. It is notable that mixing it with almond oil or coconut oil is advisable to make it mild for applying on the skin.

The effective treatments available up till now for psoriasis include medicines that alter body's immune system or slow down the cells' growth on the skin. Ultraviolet light therapy is also an effective treatment method but it needs supervision of an expert doctor.  

Common health tips like keeping the body weight ideal, cutting out alcohol and tobacco, and above all keeping stress level minimal can help in easing the pain and intensity of psoriasis.