Essential Oils for Teen Acne

By Caryn Gehlmann

Teen acne makes an already difficult stage of life even more difficult. It can be tough to endure one pimple, let alone a major breakout of teen acne. That’s why it’s good to know more about essential oils for teen acne and how they can help soothe the skin, rebalance hormones, and even calm troubled emotions!

It is important to take a holistic approach when addressing the issue of acne. Healthy, whole-food nutrition, adequate hydration, exercise, stress reduction, and sleep are key components to support overall health, well-being, and hormonal balance

In addition to essential oils for acne use gentle, natural base ingredients such as Jojoba (Jojoba is a wax ester that closely resembles the skins sebum; it has anti-inflammatory properties and will not clog pores making it especially suitable for use with acne prone skin) or Castile soap. These help to minimize the risk of further irritating or drying the skin. Avoid frequent use of astringent products and products that contain synthetic fragrance or mineral oil.

RECIPES FOR ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS FOR TEEN ACNE

The recipes given here can be used as a guideline for proportions. You can substitute any of the essential oils from the list below to customize your blend.

GENTLE, SOOTHING TEA TREE & LAVENDER SPOT APPLICATION BLEND

Mix:

• 8 drops Lavender
• 7 drops Tea Tree
• 1/2 oz Aloe Vera

Store in small glass bottle.

Saturate the tip of a Q-tip with the mixture and apply directly on the acne blemish.

PROTOCOL TO DIMINISH ACNE BLEMISHES *

Mix:

• 30 drops Thyme Sweet
• 5 drops Chamomile German
• 30 drops Jojoba

Store in small glass bottle.

At the first sign of blemish here’s what one expert recommends: “Wrap an ice cube in one layer of a kitchen towel. Hold it against the spot of the pending blemish for five seconds. Pause for thirty seconds and repeat. Wait thirty seconds, pat dry, and then apply 1 drop of the essential oil mixture exactly on the blemish. Use this two-step process 3-5 times during the 1st day. After the first day simply apply the essential oil mixture 3-5 times per day. Decrease the number of applications, add more carrier, or discontinue if skin becomes irritated. Avoid putting moisturizer over the blemish.” – from Practical Aromatherapy for Self Care by Joni Keim

ACNE BLEND TO USE IN FACIAL WASH OR FACIAL LOTION/OIL **

Mix:

• 8 drops Geranium
• 4 drops Juniperberry
• 6 drops Lavender
• 2 drops Tea Tree

Store in small glass bottle.

Add to either 3 oz of gentle liquid soap such as a pure castile soap to use as a cleansing face and body gel or add 3 oz of unscented moisturizing cream or jojoba to use for balancing and moisturizing skin, especially beneficial for individuals who have the classic T-zone oily skin.

EVENING MOISTURIZER ***

Mix:

• 1 oz. Jojoba
• 4 drops Lavender
• 4 drops Thyme Sweet
• 4 drops Eucalyptus Citriodora

Store in small glass bottle.

After washing face in the evening, apply a few drops of oil blend to face. Dab off any excess oil with a tissue.

Essential oil for hormonal acne

The following list contains essential oils that are good for the skin, as well as helpful for rebalancing hormones and calming troubled emotions. Take advantage of e3’s sample policy to test out which ones are pleasing to your sense of smell. It’s especially helpful to use an aromatherapy inhaler of lavender right before you enter or as you recover from a stressful situation to remind yourself that you are so much more than the blemish(s) on your face. Smile and let your beauty shine!

Cedarwood Atlas Cedrus atlantica
Physical properties: Antiseptic, Astringent
Psychological properties: Stress, tension, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, emotional instability

Chamomile German Matricaria chamomilla
Physical properties: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent
Psychological properties: Stress, anxiety, mood swings

Eucalyptus Citriodora Eucalyptus citriodora
Physical properties: Antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Psychological properties: Nervous tension, stress, anxiety, mild depression

Geranium Pelargonium graveolens
Physical properties: Antibacterial, astringent, styptic.
Psychological properties: Stress, tension, anxiety, anger, fear, sleeplessness, impatience

Juniperberry Juniperus communis
Physical properties: Antiseptic, astringent
Psychological properties: Anxiety, mild depression

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
Physical properties: Analgesic, antibacterial
Psychological properties: Stress, anxiety, mood swings, anger, sleeplessness

Lavender Hydrosol can be used as a skin tonic. Lavender Hydrosol is produced during the distillation process. It’s calming, soothing and balancing for the skin and can be used in products or on its own as a skin spritz/tonic.

Neroli Citrus aurantium var. amara
Physical properties: Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial
Psychological properties: Anxiety, stress, shock, mild depression, sleeplessness, lack of sense of well-being

Petitgrain Citrus aurantium
Physical properties: Antiseptic
Psychological properties: Stress, anxiety, tension, sleeplessness, mild depression

Rose Rosa damascena
Physical properties: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic
Psychological properties: Mild depression, stress, anxiety, irritability, tension, sleeplessness, anger, fear

Tea Tree Melaleuca alternifolia
Physical properties: Antiseptic
Psychological properties: Nervous exhaustion, mild depression, mental fatigue

Thyme Sweet Thymus vulgaris ct. linalol
Physical properties:Antibacterial, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal.
Psychological properties: Stress, mental fatigue, mental fog

General Guidelines for Application Methods & Dilution Ratios

Body Lotion:

Add 6-30 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of fragrance-free, natural moisturizing lotion. Apply to your skin, especially after a shower or bath.

Body Oil:

Mix 6-30 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier, such as Fractionated Coconut Oil, Jojoba or Sweet Almond Oil. Apply to your skin, especially after a shower or bath.

Compress, Facial:

Fill the sink with warm water. Add 1-3 drops of essential oil in the water and agitate the water to mix well. Lay in a clean washcloth, wring, and apply to face, with eyes closed, holding in place for 5-10 seconds. Repeat dipping, wringing, and applying—3 times. Pat dry.

Facial Oil:

Mix 2-5 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier such as Jojoba, Calendula or Rosehip Seed oil.

Spot Application:

Mix 1-4 drops of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil or aloe vera and apply to the area in need.

Get a coupon for 20% off that you can use on Jojoba carrier oil or any of the other essential oils we mentioned in this article. All you need to do is sign up for e3’s educational newsletter. In addition to the coupon, you can look forward to: 1) Reliable advice from e3’s team of Clinical Aromatherapists and health care professionals. 2) Tips from the field on new and different ways to have fun with essential oils. 3) Updates on what’s on sale each month so you can plan ahead and save.

 References

*Recipe from Practical Aromatherapy for Self Care by Joni Keim

** Recipe from – Calm Kids A guide to natural therapies for children by Jennifer Jeffries

***Recipe Adapted from Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child by Valerie Ann Worwood

Research Study

The efficacy of 5% topical tea tree oil gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. – Enshaieh S1, Jooya A, Siadat AH, Iraji F