The mainstream standard active ingredient in over the counter acne treatments is a chemical called benzoyl peroxide. While it has proven to be effective, there is a growing population of people who simply do not feel comfortable ingesting large amounts of chemicals, or rubbing them on their skin to be absorbed.

If that describes you, you are in luck! There is a highly effective natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide, and clinical tests have proven it to be just as effective, if not more so, in the long run– as that gold standard chemical compound.

Tea Tree Oil Acne Treatment

It might seem impossible that a natural substance like a tea tree oil can work as well or better than over the counter medication, but studies have shown it to be true.

For instance, there was a study done by scientists working out of Australia's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The parameters of the study were that it was double blind, and included 124 participants. All of the participants were long time acne sufferers, with mild to moderate cases of acne.

The control group used the standard, mainstream treatment they treated their acne on a daily basis with a five percent solution containing benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. The experimental group also used a daily five percent solution, but the active ingredient in their facial wash was tea tree oil.

The results were encouraging. The conclusion of the study was that both solutions had a significant ameliorating effect on the condition of the participants' acne lesions. The benzoyl peroxide did work more quickly, the study concluded, but that benefit was offset by also carrying a higher number of side effects.

There was also a smaller study done in 2007 which involved only 60 subjects. These participants, as well, suffered with cases of acne with severity ranging from mild to moderate. In this study, the control group did not use benzoyl peroxide, but rather a placebo. The experimental group was given a tea tree oil acne treatment gel to use for 45 days which contained a five percent concentration of tea tree oil.

The conclusion of this study was that tea tree oil acne treatment was by far more effective than the placebo, significantly reducing both the amount and the severity of the subjects' acne lesions.

The data is clear. If you are looking for a natural and effective alternative to the chemical compound benzoyl peroxide, then tea tree oil is the answer for you for skin care.