Acne skin is a tricky thing. Finding an effective spot treatment is truly a feat, whether dealing with sensitive skin, dry skin, hormonal acne, or all of the above. However, acne care with tea tree oil is a must-try treatment, especially for those who have tried to treat acne with over-the-counter acne care products, resulting in rashes, irritation, and flakiness. And while the wonderful world of tea tree oil may stink, it is one of the non-irritating acne treatments that deserves praise on the interwebs.

Tea tree oil sounds like one of those hippie-pretentious alternative skin care treatments that aren't as effective as tried-and-true ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, but it's not. Apply it at night to whiteheads and bumps, and you'll wake up with the same acne. Despite what the packaging claims, there is no topical treatment that will cure a pimple in a few hours.

Still, as anyone with sensitive skin knows, finding an acne product that doesn't irritate the hell out of your face can be a challenge. And tea tree oil is not just a magic acne remedy. Studies show that tea tree oil is as effective as benzoyl peroxide (open in new tab) in treating acne, but with fewer irritating side effects.

As a simple refresher, benzoyl peroxide - or BP - is chemically formulated to quickly kill the bacteria that cause acne on your skin. The downside: this speed often comes at an irritating price. Tea tree oil (TTO), however, uses its natural antibacterial properties to kill bacteria at a slower, milder rate. That's because "tea tree oil is also a natural anti-inflammatory agent," explains Mona Gohara, M.D., associate professor and dermatologist at Yale University (opens in new tab). For people with sensitive skin, this is a very big deal. [There are, of course, caveats. Says Dr. Gohara, "Tea tree oil can be really drying for some people." Moreover, tea tree oil is so concentrated that when applied to clean, dry skin, it is surprisingly irritating, even though it is a seemingly harmless oil (oil, tea). But don't be afraid. Just dilute it before applying and you're good to go.

One of the most effective ways to apply TTO is to apply it with a damp Q-tip (to help dilute it further) after applying the night moisturizer. Then, with a damp Q-tip, lightly tap the inside of the TTO lid to pick up a small amount of product before applying it to the pimple. Easy, easy.

But be warned: tea tree oil has a strong medicinal smell that may or may not make your roommate or S.O. cry out loud. But it's a sweet, sweet acne fighter (without the irritation). All the whining in the world is worth it.

Sure, tea tree oil gets rave reviews, but what do leading dermatologists think of the product? Says Dr. Jeanine Downey, MD (opens in new tab) and co-host of the skin care roundtable talk "The Gist" (opens in new tab), "My patients love it as a scalp antiseptic to reduce psoriasis flaking of the scalp and ears."

Again, the key is to use small amounts of these things. Don't overdo it. Purvisha Patel, a board-certified dermatologist (open in new tab) and founder of Visha Skincare (open in new tab), recommends not using it directly on the skin if the skin is ultra-sensitive. Dr. Patel explains, "It is best to mix or dilute it with other oils or skin care formulations to prevent skin irritation."

Meanwhile, Ramya Viswanathan (open in new tab), director of new product development at Biossance (open in new tab), prefers to combine tea tree oil and squalane. 'Tea tree oil is a pretty potent ingredient on its own. "We love to pair it with squalane to take advantage of its purifying effects while nourishing, moisturizing, and replenishing the skin."

"There is no right answer to this question because everyone reacts differently.

"There is no right answer to this question because everyone reacts differently," explains Julia Bao (open in new tab), founder and director of BAO Laboratory (open in new tab). If you want to add essential oils to your skin care regimen, first do a skin patch test to make sure you won't face any side effects that could irritate your skin."

"Tea tree oil is also sensitive to light, so avoid direct sunlight or use it only at night," Bao adds. Tea tree oil changes when exposed to the sun. Symptoms range from sun spots and blisters to rashes and burns. To be safe, use it only for nighttime skin care."