Blemishes. Everyone gets blemishes, but what are they, and can tea tree oil
really help you to fight them. I'm Steve Mould. I'm a scientist. I like to solve
everyday problems with science like how to manage breakouts. I've teamed up with
the body shop to investigate the science behind their best-selling tea tree oil
and how it can combat breakouts. Let's find out what blemishes are and how
tea-tree oil might help you to control them. The problems start when your pores
get blocked and here's why. Your skin is home to about a hundred billion bacteria
cells. Inside the pores of your skin lives a bacteria called P acnes which
feeds off a waxy substance on your body called sebum. Sebum is a thin oily layer
that keeps your skin waterproof and lubricated. Sometimes your pores get
blocked and sebum builds up which means P acnes has more food and so the
population grows. Your immune system fights back against this growing P acnes
population by sending blood to the affected area. This causes swelling and
redness and this is when blemishes appear. This is where tea tree oil can
help. Tea tree plants have evolved the ability to make chemicals that stop
bacteria cells in their tracks even causing the cells to pop. Tea tree can
speed up the healing process, getting rid of blemishes more quickly. So there you go,
the clever tea tree plant helping you in the fight for clearer skin, which might
explain why the body shops tea tree oil is so popular.
