How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Piercings

If you've ever gotten a piercing in your life, you'll know how important the aftercare is.

While it's completely normal to want to show off your new nose ring or helix piercing right away, there's a good chance it won't last longer than a couple of weeks without the right cleaning techniques under your belt.

Fresh piercings are incredibly vulnerable to infections, bumps, and a whole host of other nasties that can leave the area looking inflamed, painful, and generally unpleasant to put up with.

For that reason, piercers all around the world recommend following strict rules for aftercare to avoid these stubborn symptoms until the area is fully healed.

Using tea tree essential oil for piercings is one such remedy that experts have started to look toward, thanks to its long history of strong antibacterial and antimicrobial effects.

We'll be running through how to use tea tree essential oil on your piercings, how it works, and when it's best avoided.

Is tea tree oil good for piercings?

Thanks to its strong antiseptic qualities, tea tree essential oil is considered to work exceptionally well on piercings - but there are precautions.

If you've still got a fresh, open wound in your piercing, there's a high chance too much tea tree oil may actually damage this area further. This is because the oil can be very drying, leading the brittle skin that is more susceptible to cracking and scarring.

To avoid this, it's best to combine tea tree with other aftercare methods like warm water and sea salt, and to ensure it's always diluted with a carrier oil before use (more on this later).

That being said, there's one major area of the healing process that tea tree is undoubtedly perfect for - piercing bumps.

Does tea tree oil remove piercing bumps?

Piercing bumps are a pretty common side effect to the healing process. They are usually situated right next to the wound area, and tend to be inflamed in appearance.

Applying tea tree oil to piercing bumps can help reduce redness as well as keep the area sufficiently clean - allowing them to reduce in appearance over time.

While piercing bumps are totally normal during healing, they shouldn't be ignored. Failure to properly clean a piercing bump can lead to an unwanted side effect known as a keloid.

Keloids are enlarged, raised scars that can develop around various forms of skin damage, including piercings. They can be uncomfortable, unpleasant to look at, and can ultimately lead to the removal of your piercing if they grow too large or become infected.

Using tea tree oil throughout healing can prevent the formation of keloids as well as other forms of infectious scar tissue.

If you do notice a keloid around your piercing, or if you see scars becoming larger and more defined, you should speak to a medical professional to find out the best methods for removal.

What are the benefits of using tea tree oil for piercings?

No matter if you're using tea tree oil for nose piercings, belly button rings, or your common lobe piercing, implementing these benefits into your aftercare is a sure-fire way to ensure a better overall result.

We've listed some of the most impactful benefits of tea tree oil below:

1. It's anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial

Piercings have a habit of becoming red and inflamed during healing. In some cases, they can even become itchy and tender to the touch as a result of inflammation.

Thankfully, tea tree essential oil is renowned for its anti-inflammatory effects, and has developed major acclaim for its ability to reduce swelling as well as clear bacteria.

2. It can prevent infections

Terpinen-4-ol has been studied by various researchers for its successes in fighting against common infections including strep and MRSA, as well as chronic skin conditions like psoriasis. [1] [2]

It is this constituent that also gives tea tree oil its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoal properties.

These effects combined can help keep your piercing free from infection, as well as prevent future infections with frequent application.

3. It can promote wound healing

The antibacterial properties of tea tree oil make it a great agent for speeding up wound healing, which is vital if you want your new piercing looking great as soon as possible.

It is also said to help increase white blood cell activity in the body, meaning it can encourage your immune system to patch up the area quicker than it otherwise would've. [1]

How to use tea tree oil for piercings

Applying tea tree oil to your piercings is easy and stress-free with the right precautions in place, and there are a couple of different methods you can choose form depending on what works best for you.

The most important thing to remember before applying any essential oil to your skin is to dilute it with a carrier oil.

Essential oils, especially drying ones like tea tree, can be extremely potent and should never be directly slathered onto any part of your body.

To safely incorporate tea tree oil into your aftercare routine, here's what you need to do:

1. Mix 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil with a tablespoon of carrier oil.
2. Dip a cotton bud into the mixture, being careful not to use too much.
3. Carefully dab the mixture over the affected area.

You can repeat this process as many times as you feel is necessary, however we recommend no more than a couple of times a day (in the morning and at night) to prevent drying or over-exposure.

How do I make a salt water and tea tree solution?

When you leave the parlour with your new piercing, it's likely you'll be given some sort of instruction detailing a sea salt and hot water rinse as part of your aftercare.

This step is incredibly important for healing and should always be used alongside any other method you choose to incorporate.

If you're wanting to kill two birds with one stone, however, there's an easy way to include both the tea tree oil and your salt water solution in one:

1. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt into warm water and stir well.
2. Apply the solution with a clean cloth to the affected area.
3. Add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to the solution and mix well.
4. Re-apply as above.

Try to apply the solution before it gets too cold and avoid using more than twice a day.

Ensure you're being gentle but firm when applying, and that you're covering the wound entirely in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can tea tree oil make keloid scars worse?

Tea tree oil works better as a prevention tactic for keloids rather than a solution, however there's no reason why it should make the area worse.

If you notice your keloids becoming more defined, painful, or larger in any way, speak to a medical professional about the appropriate next steps.

What are the best carrier oils for cleaning new piercings?

Carrier oils are crucial for ensuring proper dilution of your tea tree oil.

Most experts recommend using a skin-loving carrier oil with proven moisturising effects, like coconut oil or sweet almond oil.

You can also try out a number of other carrier oils like grapeseed oil or jojoba oil until you find one that's best for you.

How do you know if a piercing is infected?

With any new piercing, there's always a risk of infection.

Signs that your piercing may need attention include redness, swelling, pain, discomfort, and even puss.

If you notice any of these symptoms around your piercing, try upping your aftercare routine to see if things improve.

If nothing budges or matters start getting worse, visit your doctor as soon as possible to avoid having to remove the piercing.

Are there any side effects to using tea tree oil for piercings?

Tea tree oil, like all essential oils, is extremely potent and should always be diluted before use. It's also a good idea to perform a patch test on an area of unbroken skin prior to applying on your piercing.

Cease use immediately if you notice any allergic reactions.

How long does it take for tea tree oil to heal a piercing?

Piercings can take at least six to eight weeks to heal with the proper aftercare measures in place.

Without the use of aftercare measures like tea tree oil or salt water, it can often take much longer - so be sure to choose a routine you know you can stick to!

Piercings are a great way to express yourself, and can be well-loved additions once they are properly healed and secure.

Using essential oils like tea tree to keep the area clean can help fight against infections, bacteria, and other common pitfalls that prevent a piercing from fully healing.

However you choose to apply it, always remember that aftercare is the most crucial part of the piercing process, so be sure not to neglect it!

References

[1] C. F. Carson et al. (2006) Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

[2] Nader Pazyar et al. (2012) Tea tree oil as a novel antipsoriasis weapon https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22473218/

[3] S S Budhiraja et al. (1999) Biological activity of Melaleuca alternifola (Tea Tree) oil component, terpinen-4-ol, in human myelocytic cell line HL-60 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10519561/