A boil is a skin infection usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus (Staph) in a hair follicle or oil gland. Sometimes the infection can spread to the deeper tissues to cause furuncle or abscess.
The skin around the area of infection turns red and a pus filled lump begins to form. Pus inside the boil is contagious.
Anyone with low immunity is at risk of developing boils. They generally appear on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, thighs and buttocks. If a cluster of boils are formed then they are called carbuncle.
You can easily heal a boil with tea tree oil fast. It will also stop it from spreading to the other area of the body.
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How Tea Tree Oil Treats Boils?
As the name suggests the tea tree oil is made out of the leaves of the tea tree. However, these tea trees (Melaleuca alternifolia) native to Australia are not the same trees that give you black and green teas from China, India and Sri Lanka.
Tea Tree oil
- Is antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial, it ills many strains of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
- Treat skin infections such as acne, fungal infection of the nails, head lice, scabies, boils and ringworms.
- Is antiseptic on cuts, burns, insect bites and stings
- Can also treat cough, bronchitis and other pulmonary inflammations by adding it to bath water.
According to the University of Western Australia the primary active ingredients of tea tree oil are terpene hydrocarbons, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. These hydrocarbons are volatile and aromatic. They can travel through skin pores and mucus membranes.
A British study found tea tree oil to be non poisonous and gentle to the skin.
With such wide capabilities to deal with all kinds of bacteria, viruses and parasites, tea tree oil is one of the best remedies for boils.
You should always keep it in your medicine cabinet to deal with almost all kinds of conditions that require antiseptic, antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties in the treatment.
How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Boils?
Let us now see how you can use tea tree oil along with other ingredients to deal with boils on different parts of your body.
1. Tea Tree Oil Application
Direct application of tea tree oil on boils may not suit everyone. If you have sensitive skin then first patch test a drop of tea tree oil on your arm and experience if you can bear it. If so then proceed otherwise look at application with a carrier oil as mentioned in the next method.
- Wash and clean the boil and surrounding area with warm water and pat dry with towel.
- Apply 2-3 drops of tea tree oil on the boil
- Cover it with a cotton ball
- Apply a bandage to keep the oil in place
- Do it 2-3 times a day.
You can also apply a few drops of the tea tea oil on a bandage and wrap it around the boil.
Whichever method you use, make sure that the applied tea tree oil is not more than 2-3 drops and is used on the boil and the swollen area.
2. Tea Tree Oil with Coconut oil
Coconut oil is also an antibacterial product. It acts as a carrier of tea tree oil to keep it on the boil. You don't have to use any bandage.
- Wash the boil and surrounding area with warm water
- Take 5 drops of coconut oil in a tablespoon or a teaspoon and add 3 drops of tea tree oil
mix it well - Apply it on boil with q-tip
Let it stay there. It will go to the infection through the skin pores and act on bacteria.
3. Tea Tree Oil and Almond Oil for Scalp Boil
A boil on the scalp is as difficult to treat as a boil in the butt crack, but the best way to heal boil on the scalp is to use a combination of almond oil and tea tree oil.
- Take 5 drops of almond oil on a teaspoon
- Add 3 drops of tea tree oil
- Mix it well and apply on the scalp boil with q-tip by parting your hair and exposing the boil so that you can easily apply the oil mix.
- You can apply it 2-3 times a day to get the fast results
You can wash your head once a day and then apply the above mix. You don't have to wash your hand every time you apply the tree tea oil and almond oil mix.
4. Tea Tree Oil and Oil of Oregano
Both tree tea oil and oil of oregano are powerful antiseptic and antibacterial products. The combination makes it a more potent mixture to deal with most stubborn boils.
- Mix 3 drops each of tea tree oil and oregano in ½ teaspoon of coconut oil
- Apply directly on the boil with q-tip.
- Do it to 3 times a day
This combination will deal with the most difficult strain of bacteria such as MRSA.
5. Tea Tree Oil with Aloe Vera
The combination of tea tree oil with aloe vera is one of the easiest ways to apply tree tea Oil on a boil and let it stay there without a bandage.
- Take half teaspoon of aloe vera gel. Fresh gel is better, but you can use commercially purchased aloe vera gel.
- Add 3 drops of tea tree oil and mix it well
- Clean the boil and surrounding area with warm water
- Apply the tea tree oil and Aloe Vera Gel mix on the boil and in the surrounding area.
- Leave it there until it dries out
You can use tea tree oil with various other antiseptic and antibacterial natural products such as turmeric, camphor other essential oils like Rosemary oil and Lavender oil. The list of natural antibacterial products is big and tea tree oil can be used with most of these products to deal with boils.
Other Tips and Precautions
If boils are not treated with anything even then they will still be cleared in 4-7 days. You need to ensure proper hygiene, so that they don't recur in the surrounding area as they are highly contagious.
Applying antiseptic and antibacterial agents like tea tree oil helps to kill the bacteria faster and heal the boil quickly. It also stops spreading.
Do not pop or squeeze boil.
Some people, although rare, are allergic to tea tree oil. In that case you have to use other natural antiseptic products.
If your boil has not healed (very unlikely but can happen), or you have messed it up then contact your doctor.