Tea Tree Oil vs. Tinactin for Athlete’s Foot

Are the results of tea tree oil anti-fungal or merely anti-inflammatory?

Our total understanding of the reason for dandruff shifted with a landmark article printed in 1984. Instead of counting on secondary sources, opinions, editorials, and opinion items, the writer seemed on the major literature, the unique research. He was “amazed to find out how overwhelming was the evidence of aetiology,” the true reason for dandruff, “and how it had been ignored because it was so well buried under the mountain of error since Malassez (1874)” put forth a bogus concept. We now know that dandruff is triggered by a fungus that lives and feeds on the human scalp. There are the 2 main implications: First, how “alarming” is it {that a} bogus concept can stay unchallenged within the medical literature for a century regardless of proof on the contrary? Second, if it’s a fungus, what about making an attempt tea tree oil, which contains elements which have anti-fungal exercise in opposition to a spread of fungi.

As I talk about in my video Does Tea Tree Oil Work for Dandruff and Athlete’s Foot?, the latter was an concept primarily based on research that discovered that tea tree oil in a petri dish can fight off pathogenic pores and skin fungi, as you possibly can see beneath and at 1:07 in my video. You don’t know if it really works for dandruff, although, till you place it to the check.

One hundred twenty-six women and men had been randomized both to day by day use of a 5 % tea tree oil shampoo or a placebo for a month. As you possibly can see beneath and at 1:22 in my video, the placebo labored slightly bit, reducing dandruff severity by about 10 %, however the tea tree oil shampoo labored higher, reducing dandruff severity by about 40 %. In the tea tree oil group, “only one patient actually achieved a complete response, as did one patient in the placebo group. Thus, it appears that 5% tea tree shampoo would require ongoing application for control of dandruff.”

Speaking of fungus, what about tea tree oil within the remedy of athlete’s foot? That may very well be our most typical fungal pores and skin an infection, affecting as much as one in ten. About 100 sufferers had been randomized into certainly one of three teams: a ten % tea tree oil cream, Tinactin (an antifungal drug), or a placebo cream. After one month, the fungus was worn out in 85 % of the drug group, however solely a couple of quarter of the placebo and tea tree oil teams had been cured, as you possibly can see beneath and at 2:31 in my video. This is considerably stunning, since tea tree oil can kill off the fungus in a petri dish, however apparently, not on toes.

This jogs my memory of a number of the oral well being knowledge on tea tree oil. Studies have proven it will probably wipe out some oral pathogens in a petri dish, however what occurs when you have individuals swish a tea tree oil resolution round of their mouth, in contrast with placebo and swishing with a medicated chlorhexidine mouthwash? After 4 days with out brushing their enamel, as with the placebo, the tea tree oil had no impact on dental plaque buildup, whereas swishing with the medicated mouthwash stored the plaque at bay a bit, as you possibly can see beneath and at 2:56 in my video.

So, if tea tree oil doesn’t influence the quantity of plaque, it presumably wouldn’t assist with gingivitis, the gum irritation that’s attributable to plaque buildup. But, no, right here’s the twist. True, there isn’t a discount in plaque with a 2.5 % tea tree oil gel, but there’s a important discount in gingivitis scores. “Since decreased gingival [gum] inflammation occurred…without a concomitant decrease in plaque scores, its mechanism of activity could have been anti-inflammatory rather than antibacterial.”

Might the identical factor be taking place in that athlete’s foot research I discussed earlier? From a mycological remedy standpoint—that’s, a fungal remedy standpoint—tea tree oil didn’t actually do any higher than placebo. And, though the drug remedy worn out the fungus in 85 % of circumstances, a few of these sufferers didn’t really discover an enchancment in signs and even felt worse after utilizing the drug, “probably a reflection of the minor irritant side effect” of Tinactin. If, as a substitute of mycological remedy, you checked out symptom enchancment, tea tree oil works in addition to the drug, as you possibly can see beneath and at 4:14 in my video. “This may be the basis for the popular use of tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis,” athlete’s foot. People ought to understand, although, that it’s simply symptomatic aid, and so they’re not essentially eliminating the underlying trigger. Of course, it “is possible that a higher concentration of tea tree oil would have better antifungal properties and even better efficacy in the treatment of tinea pedis.”

And, certainly, as a substitute of utilizing a ten % tea tree oil cream, in case you use one which’s 25 or 50 % tea tree oil resolution, you possibly can get mycological remedy charges above that of placebo, although nonetheless not so good as the drug. At these excessive concentrations, nevertheless, a number of the sufferers “applying tea tree oil developed moderate to severe dermatitis,” breaking out in a rash. But, when you have a affected person who doesn’t need to use the medicated lotions, then a 25 % tea tree oil utility has a good probability of knocking out their athlete’s foot with out being too dangerous, although the usual over-the-counter antifungal lotions may fit even higher.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Tea tree oil incorporates elements with anti-fungal exercise in opposition to a spread of various fungi.
• Dandruff is triggered by a fungus dwelling and feeding on the human scalp. Researchers discovered {that a} 5 % tea tree oil shampoo labored higher than placebo in reducing dandruff severity, 40 % in contrast with 10 %, respectively.
• Athlete’s foot could also be our most typical fungal pores and skin an infection, however a ten % tea tree oil cream was not as efficient a remedy as Tinactin (an antifungal drug). Tinactin worn out the fungus in 85 % of the drug group, however solely a couple of quarter of the placebo and tea tree oil teams had been cured.
• Swishing a tea tree oil resolution within the mouth doesn’t appear to affect dental plaque buildup with out toothbrushing, not like medicated mouthwash, however it does seem to lead to important discount in gingivitis, the gum irritation attributable to plaque. Tea tree oil’s mechanism of exercise could also be anti-inflammatory as a substitute of antibacterial.
• In the athlete’s foot research, the ten % tea tree oil cream labored in addition to the drug Tinactin for symptom enchancment. However, utilizing a 25 or 50 % tea tree oil resolution achieved mycological remedy charges increased than that of placebo (although nonetheless not so good as the drug), however at these increased concentrations, some sufferers broke out in a rash. A 25 % tea tree oil utility might be able to remedy athlete’s foot with out being too dangerous, however normal antifungal lotions may fit higher.

Can’t get sufficient about tea tree oil? Then watch:

For these excited by Flashback Friday: What’s the Best Mouthwash?, click on the hyperlink to be taught extra.

You may be excited by Natural Treatment for Acne and Fungal Infections. I’ve produced movies on one other inflammatory pores and skin situation, eczema (atopic dermatitis), too. See Eczema Treatment with Coconut Oil, Mineral Oil vs. Vaseline and Best Foods to Avoid for Eczema.

In well being,

Michael Greger, M.D.

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