MELALEUCA OIL (TEA TREE OIL) DERMATITIS

Background: Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) is the essential oil distille d from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel. Tea tree oil is pop ular for treating various cutaneous maladies. Objective: Our purpose w as to determine which constituent compounds of Melaleuca oil are respo nsible for allergic contact eczema in seven patients who became sensit ized. Methods: The seven patients were patch tested with Finn Chambers to a 1% solution (vol/ vol) of melaleuca oil and 1% solutions (vol/vo l) of 11 constituent compounds. Results: Of seven patients reactive to the 1% melaleuca oil solution, six patients also reacted to limonene, five to alpha-terpinene and aromadendrene, 2 to terpinen-4-ol, and on e each to p-cymene and alpha-phellandrene. d-Carvone, an autoaxidative derivative of limonene, caused no reactions among the seven patients. Conclusion: d-limonene was the most common allergen causing allergic contact eczema in our patients. Clinicians are likely to see more cont act eczema caused by the increasing use of this popular nostrum.