How Advanced Clinicals Tea Tree Oil Cleared My Rosacea

I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to write this story, not because I didn’t want to share, but because I wanted it to sort of feel like a testimony. You know, one of those heartfelt “look at what I survived” moments that you can only tell when you’ve come out on the other side. And I think I’m finally there. This is how I went from inflamed, reactive skin to finally having healthy and calm skin. Advanced Clinicals Tea Tree Oil played the hero in my long, messy skincare story.

And I think I’m finally there. This is the skin story of how I went from inflamed, reactive skin to finally having healthy and calm skin. Advanced Clinicals Tea Tree Oil played the hero in my long, messy skincare story.

Let’s rewind to how it all began because this is a cautionary tale of how I used my own hands to give myself steroid-induced rosacea.

The Skincare Mistake That Started It All

It all started when I reacted using Dettol antibacterial soap on my face (huge mistake, please don’t do this). It stripped my skin barrier entirely and left me with inflamed, irritated bumps. I panicked, and like many of us would, I ran to the clinic.

I was given a corticosteroid cream to “calm” the inflammation there. Now, if you’re not familiar with it, corticosteroid creams are topical medications used to reduce inflammation in the skin. Some popular examples of these creams are Funbact-A and Skineal. They’re brilliant for short-term treatment of conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or allergic reactions. Still, they’re absolutely not meant for long-term use, especially not on the delicate skin of the face.

But I didn’t know that then. What I knew was that when I applied the cream, the bumps faded and the inflammation calmed down. My skin looked like it was getting better; that was all I needed to see. So, I kept using it. Whenever the rash came back (and it always came back) I reached for the tube nightly, for years.

Eventually, my skin started pushing back. The first sign was the appearance of tiny, broken red capillaries on both sides of my face. Then came the real rebellion when the steroid creams simply stopped working. It was as if my skin said, “Enough.” They left behind tiny, itchy red rashes scattered across my cheeks, forehead, down to my jawline, even the back of my ears and neck. And when I say itchy, I mean an itch that keeps you up at night. At this point, I was desperate.

I later learned this was steroid-induced rosacea, or demodicosis, a subtype of rosacea caused by an overgrowth of Demodex mites. These microscopic mites naturally live on our skin, but the prolonged use of topical steroids suppresses the immune system and creates the perfect environment for them to multiply uncontrollably. This causes inflammation, itchiness, and papules that mimic acne, but don’t respond to acne treatments.

And believe me, I tried everything. Nobody talks enough about the trial-and-error phase of trying to build a skincare routine that works. I went through it all: wasted money, skincare that made things worse, and professionals who just didn’t get it.

At one point, a “professional” prescribed oral steroids and an 80,000 naira skincare haul, none of which worked because, surprise, surprise, I wasn’t dealing with acne. I was dealing with a mite infestation.

Frustrated and exhausted, I took matters into my own hands. I started doing my own research by visiting skincare forums, reading research papers, and medical journals. That was when I came across a study highlighting the efficacy of tea tree oil in treating demodicosis. Tea tree oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and more importantly, it is one of the few natural ingredients proven to reduce the population of Demodex mites.

I didn’t even need to buy anything new because I already had the Advanced Clinicals Tea Tree Oil sitting in my stash. With over 20,000 reviews on Amazon, I figured, “Well, this might just be it.” And it actually was.

Advanced Clinicals Tea Tree Oil Product Description

According to the brand:

“This balancing face oil, enriched with Tea Tree Oil, Oat Lipid Oil, and Vitamin E, nourishes and revitalises the skin. It helps refine the look of large pores and evens out skin texture while restoring hydration for a smooth, healthy glow. The lightweight, fast-absorbing formula renews and comforts, leaving skin feeling soft, clear, and revitalised.”

The ingredients list includes:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride – a skin-conditioning emollient.

Tea Tree Leaf Oil – the star ingredient.

Vitamin E – a soothing antioxidant.

Oat Kernel Oil – calming and barrier-repairing.

Rice Bran Extract, Sunflower Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract – all skin-soothing and antioxidant-rich.

First Impressions

This oil comes in a massive 58ml bottle! I’ve been doing skincare for years and I’ve never seen a face oil with that much product. Most serums are 30ml, max. This bottle lasted me almost a year (8 months) of using it morning and night. That’s a major value for money.

What It Did For My Skin

Within a few days, the itching reduced. That was the first sign. No more waking up in the middle of the night clawing at my face. Then, within two weeks, the angry red rashes began to disappear. My skin tone evened out, the inflammation subsided, and I could look in the mirror for the first time in months and not feel defeated.

This oil didn’t clog my pores, didn’t feel greasy, and, most importantly, didn’t irritate my already sensitive skin. Tea tree oil is a godsend for inflamed skin when used in the right concentration and with the right supporting ingredients.

It targeted the root cause, the mites, and calmed down the redness and itchiness they caused. I wasn’t expecting miracles, just relief, but I had healthy skin and felt comfortable again.

What Makes Tea Tree Oil So Effective?

Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant. It has powerful antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s effective at targeting Demodex mites and soothing inflamed skin. It’s a go-to for acne-prone and reactive skin types.

My New Skincare Routine?

Of course, no skincare product is a miracle worker on its own. I rebuilt my skincare routine from scratch, prioritising hydration and barrier support.

After this experience, I realized that skincare isn’t one straight line. It’s not always as easy as “just use this product” or “follow this routine.” Sometimes, you have to unlearn what you thought you knew and do your own digging.