In April I started using a tea tree oil regimen which greatly cleared up my skin. I use a tea tree oil based face wash in the shower and at night dab pure tea tree oil all over my face. Before this I could say I had mild/ sometimes semi moderate acne. From April up until the first week of November-ish Ihad incredibly clear skin. I got the occasional pimple but nothing close to what I had before I started using tea tree oil. Now, my skin isn't clear anymore and it seems that as more time passes my acne increases. I understand that it is winter and the tea tree oil might be drying my skin more, but my skin is pretty normal for the most part. not dry or oily; because of this I've been moisturizing more but I am still breaking out. I haven't changed anything in my diet and if anything I am eating healthier/ drinking way more water now. I do live in New York so I'm expecting a cold winter ahead but I'm not sure if it is the fault of the regimen or season. I just want my skin to be clear again. I tried taking Vitamin d3 supplements because I thought it was the lack of sun, but they didn't seem to help much and I wouldn't say I was out in the sun that much during the summer anyway. Any suggestions?? someone please help me!!
It's not recommended to use concentrated tea tree oil directly on your face, so I'm surprised it didn't cause you issues for so long. The max they recommend is diluting it 1:10 with another carrier oil for treating acne. 1:20 seems to be the most effective.
It might be too drying in the winter, I would try diluting it and see if that makes a difference, since you haven't changed anything about what you do.It's quite possibly the weather.