The Use of Teatree essential oil with nappies and wipes
The following interview took place in October 2015 between the UK Cloth Nappy Library Network and Jennifer Barnes-Hill, a respected and highly qualified Aromatherapist. We wanted to clarify the safety of Teatree essential oil and its use with nappies and wipes. Further information about Jennifer and her training can be found on her website http://www.jbhtraining.co.uk/
"First of all, could you tell us a bit about yourself, your experience and your profession?
I am an experienced aromatherapist and teacher who is a Fellow of the Federation of Holistic Therapists and a Principal Lecturer of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists. I have a training school in Worcestershire and one in County Durham and I also teach at University.
We're talking today about Tea Tree essential oil, which is often used with cloth nappies as an antibacterial agent. However, there is some concern about the safety of it being used on nappies and wipes that then go against baby's skin as it is a sensitizing oil and can cause skin problems. Could you tell us more about this?
The most commonly used Tea Tree is Melaleuca Alternifolia which is native to Australia. Sometimes people just pick up a bottle as it is their local Boots or health food shop or read about it in a magazine without realising that it is still a potent solution. Essential oils are taken from plants and so there are many variations which have different properties and uses. Tea tree is a popular and useful against bacteria, fungi and viruses which are abundant in the warm, damp conditions in which it grows. It is poisonous if ingested so as with any products in the house they should be kept away from children and pets who may accidentally swallow it.
Tea tree can be an irritant and cause sensitivity in some cases. When considering a baby's skin and immune system they are generally more immature and sensitive than an adult's. Symptoms may include contact dermatitis, redness, itching or more severe vomiting, inflammation, weakness, blistering, burning, drowsiness, loss of muscle control and disorientation. Using a high or concentrated dosage can also cause allergic reaction symptoms. Essential oils are readily absorbed through any openings to the body which are 'damp' or have a mucus membrane and these areas are more vascular (have a higher blood supply). Essential oils can also pass through the blood-brain barrier and access the central nervous system. An example of this would be when we feel relaxed if lavender oil is used in a diffuser in a closed room as we breathe in particles of the oil through our nose. In relation to babies, the area which the nappy is used is also a damp opening to the body where essential oils are more readily absorbed. Babies less than 12 weeks old have a particularly sensitive and immature or underdeveloped body systems.
Tea tree can be an irritant to those with more sensitive skin when topically applied because it contains 1,8–cineole which is a skin irritant and a sensitisation reaction is an immune response. Some brands which sell essential oils will endeavour to only retail oils with a lower level of 1,8-cineole to reduce the risk of possible irritation.
People also use tea tree oil to soak dirty baby wipes or nappies before washing, claiming that the oil is washed out and is therefore safe. Is that correct? The fact that the items still smell strongly of tea tree after washing does tend to indicate that the oil does not fully wash out. And in terms of the amount used, how much essential oil would you actually need to use in a washing machine to sanitise the average nappy wash (approx 18 nappies)?
My first question would be what is the desired outcome of soaking these items in essential oils? Is it to kill bacteria? If so, studies show that around a 4% blend is currently required to kill bacteria successfully; particularly as they are adapting and changing and in recent years we are now presented with 'superbugs' such as MRSA.
It is quite difficult to measure how much oil you would need. This would depend on how many litres of water your machine used during a cycle, how absorbent the material was and the temperature of the cycle amongst other variables. However, taking the 4% blend example, the average washing machine uses 11 litres of water in an average cycle which would mean you would need (if my maths is correct!) 13,200 drops of essential oil in your washing machine for it to be effective, this is equivalent to 66 bottles of 10ml essential oil per wash to kill bacteria in the water successfully. In a tub that holds one litre of water for soaking wipes, 1200 drops would be needed which is 6 bottles of essential oil! I do not work with fabrics so I am unsure how much would be needed for certain fabrics as I am unsure of how readily liquids are absorbed into them. If something smells of an oil it means that some of the oil particles remain on the garment and in the surrounding air, and they have travelled into your nose and have been detected by the olfactory receptors. Old tea tree oxidised also causes more irritation than fresh.
As a general rule with toddlers (due to their size, weight and immaturity of body systems) a 1% blend is used. This means adding three drops of essential oil to 10ml or two teaspoons of liquid. For 12 weeks plus one to two drop of essential oil in 10ml or two teaspoons of liquid and for babies under 12 weeks one drop of oil in 20ml or four teaspoons of liquid. The concentrated or constant exposure to many things can cause an allergy or allergic response. Similarly to foods when you are first or second time exposed to a new food you can have an allergic reaction. This is particularly common in those with an immature immune system (eg. babies).
Essential oils do corrode or dissolve plastics so if the washing machine had many plastic parts this may be a consideration. Oils are also highly flammable so should not be used in tumble driers which can get very hot, cause static and sparks with synthetic fabrics.
In summary, it is our understanding that Tea Tree essential oil should not be used on children under 12 years old or anything coming into contact with their skin, including nappies and wipes, unless treating a medical condition under the care of a qualified aromatherapist. Is that correct?
The percentage blends are calculated for different age groups in relation to maturity and size / weight and in the case of tea tree oil we would want to use it on skin which is not as immature or sensitive. Tea tree has proven useful in treating acne and other skin complaints common to teenagers. The larger you are; the larger dose you can tolerate. This is the same when a GP ascertains how many mg of a medicine to prescribe. A 5% blend can be used for adults classed as 18 and over and a 1% blend for toddlers so gradually increasing that % as the child grows in size and maturity tends to be the accepted method of calculation. When an aromatherapist selects a blend or oil to use with a client or patient the treatment plan is created considering a wide range of factors on a case by case basis. If you or your child has a specific medical condition you may wish to consult a medical practitioner and support that with a complementary therapist. There is still a lot we do not know about essential oils and although in recent years the depth and breadth of academic research has increased, more work needs to be done to give conclusive and specific guidance and in many instances practitioners air on the side of caution and safety."
"First of all, could you tell us a bit about yourself, your experience and your profession?
I am an experienced aromatherapist and teacher who is a Fellow of the Federation of Holistic Therapists and a Principal Lecturer of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists. I have a training school in Worcestershire and one in County Durham and I also teach at University.
We're talking today about Tea Tree essential oil, which is often used with cloth nappies as an antibacterial agent. However, there is some concern about the safety of it being used on nappies and wipes that then go against baby's skin as it is a sensitizing oil and can cause skin problems. Could you tell us more about this?
The most commonly used Tea Tree is Melaleuca Alternifolia which is native to Australia. Sometimes people just pick up a bottle as it is their local Boots or health food shop or read about it in a magazine without realising that it is still a potent solution. Essential oils are taken from plants and so there are many variations which have different properties and uses. Tea tree is a popular and useful against bacteria, fungi and viruses which are abundant in the warm, damp conditions in which it grows. It is poisonous if ingested so as with any products in the house they should be kept away from children and pets who may accidentally swallow it.
Tea tree can be an irritant and cause sensitivity in some cases. When considering a baby's skin and immune system they are generally more immature and sensitive than an adult's. Symptoms may include contact dermatitis, redness, itching or more severe vomiting, inflammation, weakness, blistering, burning, drowsiness, loss of muscle control and disorientation. Using a high or concentrated dosage can also cause allergic reaction symptoms. Essential oils are readily absorbed through any openings to the body which are 'damp' or have a mucus membrane and these areas are more vascular (have a higher blood supply). Essential oils can also pass through the blood-brain barrier and access the central nervous system. An example of this would be when we feel relaxed if lavender oil is used in a diffuser in a closed room as we breathe in particles of the oil through our nose. In relation to babies, the area which the nappy is used is also a damp opening to the body where essential oils are more readily absorbed. Babies less than 12 weeks old have a particularly sensitive and immature or underdeveloped body systems.
Tea tree can be an irritant to those with more sensitive skin when topically applied because it contains 1,8–cineole which is a skin irritant and a sensitisation reaction is an immune response. Some brands which sell essential oils will endeavour to only retail oils with a lower level of 1,8-cineole to reduce the risk of possible irritation.
People also use tea tree oil to soak dirty baby wipes or nappies before washing, claiming that the oil is washed out and is therefore safe. Is that correct? The fact that the items still smell strongly of tea tree after washing does tend to indicate that the oil does not fully wash out. And in terms of the amount used, how much essential oil would you actually need to use in a washing machine to sanitise the average nappy wash (approx 18 nappies)?
My first question would be what is the desired outcome of soaking these items in essential oils? Is it to kill bacteria? If so, studies show that around a 4% blend is currently required to kill bacteria successfully; particularly as they are adapting and changing and in recent years we are now presented with 'superbugs' such as MRSA.
It is quite difficult to measure how much oil you would need. This would depend on how many litres of water your machine used during a cycle, how absorbent the material was and the temperature of the cycle amongst other variables. However, taking the 4% blend example, the average washing machine uses 11 litres of water in an average cycle which would mean you would need (if my maths is correct!) 13,200 drops of essential oil in your washing machine for it to be effective, this is equivalent to 66 bottles of 10ml essential oil per wash to kill bacteria in the water successfully. In a tub that holds one litre of water for soaking wipes, 1200 drops would be needed which is 6 bottles of essential oil! I do not work with fabrics so I am unsure how much would be needed for certain fabrics as I am unsure of how readily liquids are absorbed into them. If something smells of an oil it means that some of the oil particles remain on the garment and in the surrounding air, and they have travelled into your nose and have been detected by the olfactory receptors. Old tea tree oxidised also causes more irritation than fresh.
As a general rule with toddlers (due to their size, weight and immaturity of body systems) a 1% blend is used. This means adding three drops of essential oil to 10ml or two teaspoons of liquid. For 12 weeks plus one to two drop of essential oil in 10ml or two teaspoons of liquid and for babies under 12 weeks one drop of oil in 20ml or four teaspoons of liquid. The concentrated or constant exposure to many things can cause an allergy or allergic response. Similarly to foods when you are first or second time exposed to a new food you can have an allergic reaction. This is particularly common in those with an immature immune system (eg. babies).
Essential oils do corrode or dissolve plastics so if the washing machine had many plastic parts this may be a consideration. Oils are also highly flammable so should not be used in tumble driers which can get very hot, cause static and sparks with synthetic fabrics.
In summary, it is our understanding that Tea Tree essential oil should not be used on children under 12 years old or anything coming into contact with their skin, including nappies and wipes, unless treating a medical condition under the care of a qualified aromatherapist. Is that correct?
The percentage blends are calculated for different age groups in relation to maturity and size / weight and in the case of tea tree oil we would want to use it on skin which is not as immature or sensitive. Tea tree has proven useful in treating acne and other skin complaints common to teenagers. The larger you are; the larger dose you can tolerate. This is the same when a GP ascertains how many mg of a medicine to prescribe. A 5% blend can be used for adults classed as 18 and over and a 1% blend for toddlers so gradually increasing that % as the child grows in size and maturity tends to be the accepted method of calculation. When an aromatherapist selects a blend or oil to use with a client or patient the treatment plan is created considering a wide range of factors on a case by case basis. If you or your child has a specific medical condition you may wish to consult a medical practitioner and support that with a complementary therapist. There is still a lot we do not know about essential oils and although in recent years the depth and breadth of academic research has increased, more work needs to be done to give conclusive and specific guidance and in many instances practitioners air on the side of caution and safety."