Oregano:

• In the context of acne vulgaris, the antioxidant properties of oregano essential oil may mitigate the oxidative stress-induced damage to skin cells, thereby reducing inflammation and fostering healing.

• Oregano essential oil may contribute to the overall improvement of acne symptoms by neutralizing free radicals.

• Acne microorganisms were effectively neutralized. 

• Strong antibacterial properties; potent antioxidant activities. These compounds possess a potent ability to scavenge free radicals and efficiently mitigate oxidative stress in tissues and cells.

• Antioxidant activity: Is less than that of butylated hydroxytoluene.

• The stem oils are the least effective at serving as antioxidants while the leaf-flower oils possess the greatest antioxidant properties.

• The antioxidant activity of Origanum compactum essential oils was comparable to that of Vitamin C.

• Oregano, thymol, and thyme were the most effective. 

• Ethanol oregano extracts effectively reduced Cutibacterium acnes-induced skin inflammation.

• Lower anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-treated murine macrophage cells.

• When sows received supplements with essential oils of Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, the oxidative stress indicators in their offspring were reduced, as evidenced by reduced blood levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and TBARS, which cause severe DNA damage.

• Enhanced intranuclear nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 target gene expression and the functioning of an antioxidant response factor reporter plasmid.

• Significantly suppressed ROS and MDA.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects are closely related to the anti-acne, regenerating, and anti-aging properties.

• Effectively inhibited the activity of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and S. epidermidis bacteria.

• Proved that nanosystems loaded with OVO can be a natural, alternative treatment for skin ailments, including acne, irritation, wounds, or skin aging.

• Proved the strong antibacterial effect against C. acnes and S. epidermidis and the anti-acne potential of topical nanoemulsions in vivo in an acne-induced mouse model to overcome the limitations of topical anti-acne antibiotics. The use of the preparation contributed to the reduction of inflammation and better healing of tissues. The preparation showed a better therapeutic and antimicrobial effect than the reference antibiotic.

• Showed a superior effect of a galenic preparation containing O. vulgare L. and M. communis L. essential oils in mild to moderate acne compared to a commercial product containing clindamycin and tretinoin. The preparation with the addition of oils showed a better effect in reducing papular erythema and soothing irritation caused by retinoids.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Oregano, thyme, and thymol were the top three antimicrobial agents against P. acnes.

• The anti-acne effects of oregano essentiall oil surpassed that of other essential oils evaluated including commercialized over-the-counter acne treatment tea tree essential oil.

• Oregano essential oil exhibited strongest anti-biofilm activity.

• Oregano essential oil at 4 MIC showed rapid killing of both tested acne-causing bacteria.

• Oregano oil exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-leishmanial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and anti-tumor activities. 

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Palmarosa (aka Lemon Grass):

• Antibacterial qualities.

• Most commonly used to treat skin infections such as acne and to stimulate cell regeneration while regulating sebaceous production.

• Effective at neutralizing free radicals and has the potential to be an effective antioxidant in acne management

• Used to treat skin issues and ease nerve discomfort. 

• Notable increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines by human monocytes. 

• Cytokine concentrations were decreased and tyrosinase was suppressed.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Lavender:

• Decreased the development of edema, nitric oxide generation, and myeloperoxidase activity.

• Counteracted the inflammatory signals caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

• Scavenges free radicals and decreasing oxidative stress.

• Protected cells from oxidative injury by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing ROS production

• Serves as free radical scavengers, protecting cells from oxidative damage and mitigating the effects of oxidative stress.

• Considerable antioxidant action

• The number of oxidant-induced DNA lesions was significantly reduced (observed DNA-protective effect). 

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Strong antibacterial and antifungal properties.

• Lavender oil has a bactericidal effect, even on some antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, which is essential in the case of long-term acne treatment.

• One of the most commonly used oils on the skin’s surface in the treatment of acne, eczema and psoriasis; it also improves skin condition.

• The skin quickly absorbs the oil and its ingredients. After topical application combined with massage, linalool and linalyl acetate were detectable in plasma at maximum levels after about 19 minutes. 

• Studies conducted using commercial lavender oil against C. acnes did not show a practical bactericidal effect. 

• Linalool has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, and antimicrobial properties and also against opportunistic bacteria (P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis).

• Linalool associated with standard antibiotics may increase antibacterial effectiveness, resulting in synergistic activity against bacterial strains of clinical importance, which makes it possible to act on resistant strains.

• A mixture of tea tree oil (3%) and lavender oil (2%) applied topically for 4 weeks significantly reduced both the total population of C. acnes and the number of inflammatory lesions.

• Lavender oil is recommended for prophylaxis and topical treatment of superficial infections but is not recommended for use in treating deep (deep-seated) infections.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Both tested acne-causing bacteria were resistant to chamomile, lavender, and menthe essential oils.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Has antiedematogenic activity and possesses an anti-inflammatory activity, both in the topical treatment and orally.

• Lavender essential oil affects inflammatory response and exerts anti-inflammatory effects at low doses but has an irritant effect at higher doses.

Source: NIH, National Linrary of Medicine

Mertyl:

• Possesses antiproliferative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. 

• Anti-inflammatory properties; antioxidant properties.

• Substantial antioxidant effects via multiple biochemical pathways.

• Effectively decreased the production of eicosanoids.

• May be used to stabilize challenging lipid systems, as prebiotics in food products.

• May be used as a potential therapy for the treatment of inflammations.

• Neutralize free radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• A promising source of alternative antimicrobial agents against the growing number of pathogenic microbes resistant to conventional antibiotics and antioxidants.

• Good anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Has antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) and antioxidant properties.

• Significantly inhibited the growth of five tested bacteria, E. coli, S. aureus, B. subtilis, Salmonella sp., and Listeria sp.

• Showed a strong antileishmanial effect, indicating it is a potential source of production of new agents against cutaneous leishmaniasis (this infection causes chronic skin lesions and leaves permanent scars with deformation of the infected area).

• Proven that it has the effect of convergence, reduction of erythema, removal of sebum and dead skin cells, and antibacterial effect on the facial skin. These studies show that MCLO is a safe, skin-soothing substance that effectively treats acne.

• Myrtle, oregano, tretinoin vs poruct containing clindamycin (has recently replaced erythromycin - which is increasingly showing the occurrence of bacterial resistance): Has the same anti-acne effectiveness and increased anti-inflammatory activity; showed anti-acne and anti-inflammatory effects. 

• Reduced erythema in vivo.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Lemon and Other Citrus Essential Oil:

• Due to their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, citrus essential oils may provide multiple benefits for acne vulgaris management.

• Antibacterial properties.

• Damages cell membranes, increased membrane permeability, and decreased respiratory system metabolic action.

• Destroyes cell shape and the integrity of bacterial cell walls.

• Citrus limon essential oil possesses natural antioxidant properties that are superior to those of butylated hydroxytoluene.

• Potent free radical scavenger that protects cells from oxidative damage and shows antioxidant properties by suppressing lipid peroxidation and decreasing oxidative stress.

• Cold-pressed lemon essential oil was more efficient than hydro distilled lemon essential oil at preventing liver damage induced by oxidative stress.

• Cold-pressed lemon essential oil had effects comparable to vitamin C.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and is used in dermatology, e.g., in treating acne vulgaris and rosacea.

• The antibacterial activity is broad; the oil was active against Gram-positive (B. subtilis, S. capitis, Micrococcus luteus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas fluorescens, E. coli) bacteria.

• Has an inhibitory effect against Streptococcus mutans and effectively reduces the adhesion of bacteria to the glass surface.

• Limonene effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus ATCC 6538 at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 20 mL/L.

• Limonene caused the destruction of cell morphology and the integrity of the bacterial cell wall, damaging the cell membrane, increasing membrane permeability, and reducing the metabolic activity of the respiratory system.

• Lime oil (lime peel oil), patchouli oil, and olive oil in a ratio of 11:1:18 turned out to be significantly more active against C. acne than tea tree oil, patchouli oil, and acne gel.

• Reduced cell migration, cytokine production, and carrageenan-induced protein extravasation.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Tea tree and lemongrass essential oils exhibited an intermediate antimicrobial effect against P. acnes and S. epidermidis.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Eucalyptus:

• Treatment of infectious and inflammatory illnesses.

• Possesses immunostimulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and spasmolytic properties.

• Viruses, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and fungi, including Candida species, are susceptible to the antimicrobial effects of eucalyptus oil and its main component, 1,8-cineole.

• Produces analgesic effects.

• Inhibits histamine and carrageenan-induced blood vessel permeability.

• Possesses potent antioxidant properties by scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Effectively reduced acne scars.

• Proven that the combination of this oil and honey enhanced the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and dermatoprotective effects and could inhibit lipid peroxidation

• Showed inhibitory effect on some pathogenic bacteria associated with the development of acne.

• Very effective in reducing the size of enlarged sebaceous glands and thus controlling the production of sebum, the excessive amount of which promotes the formation of acne lesions.

• Proven to have a dual effect, reducing sebum production and controlling the secondary infectious stage by other microorganisms, establishing an alternative pathway for acne management.

• An oil-in-water cream containing 2% eucalyptus oil was more effective than a commercial anti-acne gel with 5% benzoyl peroxide.

• Used for centuries as a traditional medicine for various health problems, such as respiratory infections, toothache, diarrhea, and stomatitis.

• Antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic, and even anticancer properties of eucalyptus leaf extracts and essential oil, which are associated with the reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Thyme:

• Has antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, expectorant, anthelmintic, antihyperglycemic, antiseptic, and antispasmodic properties.

• Thyme, clove, and tea tree essential oils were found to suppress the Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis growth in a microbiological screening.

• Yhyme essential oil had the most potent and rapid bactericidal effect, eliminating the initial bacterial inoculum with Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcys epidermidis after 10 h and 6 h of exposure, respectively.

• The highest anti-biofilm activity was also seen with thyme essential oil.

• Damages the acne-associated bacteria cell membrane, causing the release of its cytoplasmic components.

• Thymus vulgaris essential oil, carvacrol, and thymol all had asubstantial inhibitory effect on inflammatory edema in the pleurisy model.

• Only Thymus vulgaris essential oil and carvacrol suppressed leukocyte migration.

• Carvacrol prevented leukocyte migration.

• Carvacrol and thymol showed a suppression of biofilm development at sub-minimal inhibitory concentration  against Salmonella enteritidis. 

• Increased catalase and SOD activity as well as the THP-1 cells’ antioxidant capacity.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Has antiseptic, antimicrobial, astringent, anthelmintic, healing, tonic, carminative, antiseptic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Exhibits intense antibacterial activity against many pathogenic bacteria and can be used as an alternative antibacterial and antioxidant agent.

• A broad antibacterial activity against Salmonella enteritidis, S. thyphimurium, S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, E. coli, and B. cereus.

• Thyme and cinnamon oils showed the most potent antibacterial activity against C. acnes and cytotoxic activity against human tumor cell lines A549, PC-3, and MCF-7.

• Thyme oil nanoemulsion had a strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect compared to reference antibiotics, suggesting its effectiveness as a natural alternative in treating acne.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Oregano, thyme, and thymol were the top three antimicrobial agents against P. acnes.

• Thymol exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against acne-causing bacteria, but less than oregano EO itself.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Both thymol and thyme essential oil have long been used in traditional medicine as expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic agents, mainly in the treatment of the upper respiratory system.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Thyme and cinnamon essential oils exhibited the strongest anti-bacterial activities towards P. acnes and cytotoxic activities towards A549, PC-3, and MCF-7 human tumor cell lines.

Source: MDPA.com

Tea Tree (aka melaleuca oil):

• It has been determined that tea tree oil’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties reduce the number of inflammatory lesions, particularly papules and pustules, suggesting its possible use in acne vulgaris management.

• Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

• Antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating potential applications in the management of skin infections.

• Due to the presence of these bioactive compounds, tea tree essential oil may possess potent antioxidant properties and function as an antioxidant and radical scavenger by preventing the excessive production of ROS.

• Effective in removing carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

• Effective in the treatment of oral candidiasis and acne.

• 5% tea-tree oil gel and 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion used in treating mild to moderate acne. Significantly improved the acne by reducing the amount of non-inflamed and inflamed lesions (i.e., open and closed comedones); however, tea-tree oil took longer to present a therapeutic effect.

• Topical 5% tea tree oil gel: Significant improvement over placebo in terms of total acne lesion count and acne severity index.

• One group received treatment with a cream containing 20% propolis, 3% tea tree oil, and 10% aloe vera (PTAC), while the other groups were administered a 3% erythromycin cream (ERC) or a placebo. Importantly, the study’s findings highlighted the superior effectiveness of the PTAC formulation compared to ERC in reducing erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count.

• Can be considered a true antioxidant because it autoxidizes quickly relative to numerous other compounds, preventing their decomposition.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer activity.

• A cream containing TTO 3%, propolis 20%, and Aloe vera 10% has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is more effective in reducing acne, erythematous scars, acne severity index, and the total number of lesions compared to the preparation of synthetic origin, e.g., erythromycin.

• Significantly decreased acne formation by inhibiting the growth of acne-related bacteria, C. acnes and S. aureus, and reducing acne-caused inflammation.

• Has great potential in treating acne due to its antimicrobial effects, ability to reduce scars, and ability to promote wound healing.

• Concentration of less than 5% is more suitable and safer for treating acne than higher concentrations.

• Therapy of many skin diseases and their appendages, such as acne vulgaris, dandruff, dandruff versicolor, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, diaper rash and eczema, corns and hardening, foot and scalp mycoses, nail yeast infections, diabetic ulcers and varicose veins, burns, boils, and paronychia.

• One of the most potent natural antiseptics.

• Antibacterial (S. epidermidis, C. acnes), antifungal (Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum), anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of tea tree oil have been demonstrated. 

• The strong antibacterial effect of tea tree oil is obtained even at low concentrations. It has been proven that in the concentration range of 0.6–30 mg/mL, it inhibits the development of Gram-positive aerobic cocci of S. epidermidis, and in the concentration of 1–5 mg/mL, it has a bactericidal effect against 32 strains of C. acnes bacteria, which were isolated from acne lesions.

• It can migrate to the dermis (cutis verai) and get into the bloodstream, lymphatic system, and skin nerve endings.

• The lipophilic components of the oil can also quickly get inside the cells of microorganisms, causing inhibition of metabolism and their death.

• Low impact on the development of antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Tea tree and lemongrass essential oils exhibited an intermediate antimicrobial effect against P. acnes and S. epidermidis.

• The anti-acne effects of oregano essentiall oil surpassed that of other essential oils evaluated including commercialized over-the-counter acne treatment tea tree essential oil.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Rosemary:

• Substantial free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition, indicating rosemary oil’s potent antioxidant capacity and a potential use in the management of acne vulgaris.

• Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-antimicrobial, and anti-carcinogenic properties, along with a number of other health advantages.

• LPS-induced inflammation is inhibited by rosemary extract or its constituents. 

• Cutibacterium acnes revealed significant morphological and size changes in reaction to essential oil therapy. As the concentration of the essential oil increased, the bacterial cells experienced significant damage.

• Significantly inhibited the mRNA expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines, like IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF.

• Has been used in the food industry as a preservative due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Clove and Rosemary: The antimicrobial activity of the two essential oils combined indicated their additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects against individual microorganism tests (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans).

Source:  Wiley Online Library

Clove

• Clove essential oil exhibited significant activity against P acnes.

• The mode of action of clove essential oil toward P acnes is associated with a loss of membrane integrity.

• At low concentrations, the essential oil first attached to the surface of P acnes, and the surface became rougher.

• At higher concentrations, ruptured cell walls and membranes resulted, causing severe cell damage.

• The cytoplasmic volume decreased, ultimately leading to bacterial death.

Source: JAMA Network

• Clove and Rosemary: The antimicrobial activity of the two essential oils combined indicated their additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects against individual microorganism tests (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans).

Source:  Wiley Online Library

Lemongrass

• Tea tree and lemongrass essential oils exhibited an intermediate antimicrobial effect against P. acnes and S. epidermidis. 

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

• Lemongrass exhibited the most effective antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity (compared to bergamot and grapefruit essential oils).

Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology