How to make Tea Tree Oil Soap

[DeeAnna]

Tea tree oil is immiscible in any water-soluble chemical, and that would include glycerin. The TTO would just float to the top of the glycerin. That's why the polysorbates are in the commercial product -- so the TTO and glycerin become miscible or at least emulsified.

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I know this is about demodex not staph, but here's the best I could find regarding TTO use around the eyes -- from http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/essential-oils-and-eye-safety/ ....

"...In a Chinese study, an ointment containing 5% tea tree oil was used by patients whose eyelash follicles were infested with “eyelash mites” (Demodex folliculorum). The ointment was applied to the lid margins with eyes closed, daily for 4 weeks after washing the face, and resulted in considerably less itching and fewer mites. Two of the 24 patients experienced slight irritation from the ointment. The 5% concentration was arrived at after preliminary testing using various dilutions on rabbit eyes (Gao et al 2012)...."

Gao YY, Xu DL, Huang IJ et al 2012 Treatment of ocular itching associated with ocular demodicosis by 5% tea tree oil ointment. Cornea 31:14-17. Read abstract...

 

[penelopejane]

Thursday plantation is the original TTO producer and provides the most trusted and well recognised products in Oz. they have an organic soap that has the following ingredients:

Ingredients: Sodium Palmate*, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Glycerin, Water/Aqua, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil*, Limonene. *certfied organic ingredient – 97% certified organic / 100% naturally derived.

Their website lists other products. None of the usual chemical additives.
ThursdayPlantation.com

 

[doriettefarm]

Tea tree oil is immiscible in any water-soluble chemical, and that would include glycerin. The TTO would just float to the top of the glycerin. That's why the polysorbates are in the commercial product -- so the TTO and glycerin become miscible or at least emulsified.

Well that explains why they used PS20 & PS80 in the wipes and I feel like a dummy for suggesting to mix w/straight glycerin

 

[DeeAnna]

Don't feel like a dummy, Doriette. It's just all part of the learning process, and every one of us is always learning!

 

[CaraBou]

I am wondering if you could dilute the TTO in jojoba oil. It isn't really an oil, it's a wax ester that is liquid at room temp, and it easily absorbs into the skin. It is similar to sebum produced by skin, so your eyelids might tolerate it without allergy. It is also antibacterial, including against Staphylococcus aureus. I can't find my bottle to see how runny it is to help judge whether it would carry the TTO into your eyes. How would you apply it, with a q-tip? It might be worth looking further into. Best of luck to you, I hope you find relief very soon.

 

[qwertops]

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas and suggestions. T

 

[qwertops]

Here is a link to their other product TTO Wax:

http://www.teatreeoilproducts.co.uk/shop/consumer-products/tea-tree-creme-wax-metique.html

 

[Obsidian]

That actually sounds like a pretty good product and with a PH of 4.5, its less likely to disrupt the acid mantle. The only thing I would be concerned with is the colophonium, it can be a allergen to some people. I still think it would be worth trying but I'd suggest trying it your arm or belly before using it on your face.

Have you tried eye drops or any kind of eye rinse to use between product application? It might help wash away some of the irritation.

 

[qwertops]

I will be ordering the product

 

[cmzaha]

I am so sorry to hear you cannot find doctors where you live. Sometimes in the US we forget how lucky we are. If it were me I would go for the wash you listed and stay away from a wax. Waxes literally rip of including any find hairs and if it gets on your eyelashes it is very possible it will pull them out. I am wondering if mixing some Tea tree oil in some polysorbate then apply a few drops to a very well squeezed out wash hot wash cloth if it will help. As Obsidian mentioned do or can you use just wetting type eyedrops? I have to use wetting drops every 30 minutes when my Uveitis decides to raise it's ugly head and cause a flare. My specialist told me if I use preservative free drop they will not hurt to use them no matter how often you use them. So many do not realize how bad eye problems can be. My main eye problem can cause blindness if not treated properly and originated from Cataract surgery and was the doctors fault, whom is well known in the city I live in. As I mentioned there are bad ophthalmologists. I feel for you, these are horrible problems that are so hard to control. Do wish you some relief

 

[qwertops]

Hello, I hope your eye problems get better. I can relate to what are you going through.

I have figured out a way to solve my problem. I cannot believe that I didn't come up with this earlier. The Kelual DS cream that I'm using for my seb derm is based on caprylic acid and is hypoallergenic. Probably the best product I've ever used. I'll just mix it with tea tree oil to get a 5% concentration and carefully use it on my eyelids. The cream has good consistency and is not very oily. Not as much as if I were to dilute the TTO with MCT oil.

I will report back.

 

[Susie]

Never trust anything that says, "clinically proven AND used in trials against MRSA". Note it very carefully did not say used AND proven. You can use anything in a trial. And it could be clinically proven against nothing. The order of words is very important. Also, only certain antibiotics kill MRSA. Tea Tree Oil and other "natural" remedies are not on that list. I am a nurse, and have been on the front line of that battle.

 

[qwertops]

Thanks for the heads up. I don't have MRSA but s. aureus or s. epidermis owergrowth. TTO does kill both.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/pdf/0029-05.pdf

I found another TTO cream that doesn't seem to contain allergens. It's Healthaid TTO Creame.

http://www.auravita.com/OriginalImages/phar/phar12530_9_OI.jpg

Who should use HealthAid Tea Tree cream?

HealthAid Tea Tree cream MAY be of benefit to;

•People who have very dry skin
•Those who experience itchy skin caused by skin allergies and irritation
•Those who experience psoriasis
•Those with skin conditions such as eczema
Free from:

•Free from parabens, sulphates, propylene glycols, PEGS, TEA
•Free from artificial colours or fragrances
•No animal based products or animal testing
•Vegetarian friendly & Eco-friendly

Aqua (water), Cetearyl Alcohol (emulsifier from palm oil), Prunus dulcis (sweet almond oil), Stearic Acid (emulsifier from palm), Glyceryl Stearate (conditioning agent from coconut oil), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), Phenoxyethanol (antimicrobial preservative), Ethylhexylglycerin (natural preservative), Sodium Hydroxide (pH regulator), Limonene*.

* From natural essential oils

 

[qwertops]

Just a little update on my end. I am allergic to Metique soap but not to Healthaid Tea Tree Cream which is very good news. However the concentration of TTO in the cream is only 0.05%. The cream is based on almond oil and completely natural. It definitely works as an antiseptic but I think that the concentration is not high enough to have a significant effect on staph. I will mix a little TTO with it and see if I get better results. I applied the cream about every two hours yesterday and it does dry out the skin but not nearly as much as bar soap.