One of the more popular home remedies for acne is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. It has been found to have anti-microbial properties, so it is often applied topically to acne lesions to kill acne-causing bacteria.

What many people don't realize about tea tree oil is that overzealously dabbing the undiluted oil onto acne lesions can irritate skin, causing as redness, blistering, overdrying, and itching. The overdrying can even worsen acne. Find out more about tea tree oil and acne, including research, tea tree oil sources, and safety concerns. Tea Tree Oil for Acne.

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photo credit: © Afonso Lima

A reader asks, "I recently heard about supplements and other products that can prevent gray hair and allow your hair to grow back in its natural color. Is there any truth in these products or are they bogus? Thanks for any input".

There is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or product can prevent or reverse gray hair, however, there are some underlying conditions that can cause hair to go prematurely gray and some ancient approaches you might be interested in. Read the full answer, Help for Gray Hair