Most commercial tea tree creams are in a 5% impregnation within the medium of choice, usually a cream, lotion, glycerin, base oil or saponin for shampoos. While this is a safe concentration for use on the skin, chronic infections may require a higher strength tea tree application, especially in chronic fungal infections and dandruff.
A 10% impregnation of tea tree oil can be used but should be applied cautiously. Higher concentration tea tree applications are not widely available over the counter and can be prepared specifically for your use by a herbal pharmacy, naturopath or phytotherapist. However an extra strength tea tree cream does not have a long shelf life as it causes flocculation of the base cream, resulting in a soapy smell and separation of ingredients.
Using an extra strength tea trea application is useful for persistent fungal infections especially in athlete’s foot, jock itch and a fungus under the breast. It should be applied on the skin carefully, usually spread on the affected area rather than being rubbed into the skin. The high concentration tea tree cream should be left on the skin for a maximum of 10 minutes and then washed off thoroughly. If there is a burning or itching sensation, wash off the high strength tea tree cream immediately as it can cause dry skin, peeling and skin discoloration.
High concentration tea tree creams can be useful for acne as a spot or blemish cream. Spot new or pustilar pimples with an extra strength tea tree cream for 5 minutes and wash off thoroughly. Use twice daily only on the pimple. This assists with drying the pimple and prevents any secondary bacterial infection.
[...] high strength tea tree cream should be used before bathing to assist with skin sloughing. Apply the teat tree cream as a thick [...]