TEA TREE OIL
Place in Therapy
Tea tree oil is a natural medicine with proven efficacy for the treatment of tinea pedis. There are almost no adverse effects associated with the topical administration of this medication and it is a reasonable option to recommend if the patient prefers something natural or if the patient does not tolerate standard treatment with imidazole antifungals.
References
1. Tong MM, Altman PM, Barnetson RS. Tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis. Australas J Dermatol. 1992; 33(3):145-9. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/doi/10.1111/j.1440-0960.1992.tb00103.x/pdf. Accessed 07/07/2012.
2. Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS. Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis with 25% and 50% tea tree oil solution: a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study. Australas J Dermatol. 2002; 43(3):175-8. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1440-0960.2002.00590.x/pdf. Accessed 07/07/2012.
3. Martin KW, Ernst E. Herbal medicines for treatment of fungal infections: a systematic review of controlled clinical triasl. Mycoses. 2004; 47(3-4:87-92. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1439-0507.2003.00951.x/pdf. Accessed 07/07/2012.
4. Rubel DM, Freeman S, Southwell IA. Tea tree oil allergy: What is the offending agent? Report of three cases of tea tree oil allergy and review of the literature. Australas J. Dermatol. 1998; 39:244-247. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/doi/10.1111/j.1440-0960.1998.tb01482.x/pdf. Accessed 07/078/2012.
5. Apted JH. Contact dermatitis associated with the use of tea-tree oil. Australas. J. Dermatol. 1991; 32:177.
6. De Groot AC, Weyland JW. Systemic contact dermatitis from tea tree oil. Contact Dermatitis. 1992; 27:279-80.
7. Knight TE, Hausen BM. Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) dermatitis. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 1994; 30:423-7.
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