Can tea tree oil in the bath tub help clear up a yeast infection in a baby?

Question

My daughter has a yeast infection and I've heard that a bit of tea tree oil in the bath tub can take care of it. What is the ratio of tea tree oil to water to clear it up? Is it possible to put too much? How long does she need to be in the water for this to be effective? I've also got her on a pro-biotic and bare bottomed. Any other suggestions?

Answer 1

I would use caution with Tea tree oil. I'm not sure what kind of yeast infection she has. But I always use/recommend garlic suppositories for vaginal yeast infections in women. They really work. This is what people do when they don't have access to drug stores, and it will clear up a yeast infection totally in about a week. Eating garlic, probiotic supplements etc. are all good too, but not as sure-fire as the peeled clove suppository. Again, not sure how this would work for an infant.

Answer 2

How old is your daughter?  Where is the yeast infection?

I would first start doing much higher doses of the probiotic than what the label says, just until the symptoms subside.  If it says to take one pill (or powder, depending on what you have,) once a day, use the same dose, but three times a day.

Second, do NOT use tea tree oil or any other essential oil on her until you have done a patch test to make sure your daughter is not sensative.  Add one drop to about a tablespoon of water, mix it well, then dab a cotton swab in the mixture and apply it to the inside of her elbow.  Wait a day or two, and if nothing happens, then use a few drops in her bath.  Still continue the probiotic through this process.

You might also want to consider calendula (marigold flower.)  It has healing properties that are good for kids and adults alike.  You can buy it at a good health food store in lots of different forms, (creams, tinctures, etc.) for relatively cheap.  This is good for any sort of cut and scrape too (as kids are prone to get,) so its not just a one trick pony!

Answer 3

If you get 100%Tea tree oil like they sell at Trader Joe's ($5) then in a small baby bath 4 to 5 drops would do. I don't think that the tea tree oil would penetrate to the yeast infected area though. Tea tree oil usually has to be placed on the affected area.

Eating yogurt is good. The organisms in the yogurt clear up yeast infetctions. Eating it or applying it to the affected area.

Also available is the yogurt bacteria in pill form to take orally, it is called Acidophilus. Again, sold at Trader Joe's ($5).

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Why Do People Use Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree has a long history of traditional use. Australian aboriginals used tea tree leaves for healing skin cuts, burns, and infections by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area.

Tea tree oil contains consituents called terpenoids, which have been found to have antiseptic and antifungal activity. The compound terpinen-4-ol is the most abundant and is thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial activity.

People use tea tree oil for the following conditions:

Acne

Athlete's foot

Dandruff

Vaginitis

Thrush

Periodontal disease

As an antiseptic

Boils

Lice

Eczema

Psoriasis

Yeast infection

Eczema

Psoriasis

Yeast infection

I use alternative medicine and would give my child active culture yogurt. or acidophiles.

Answer 5

You shouldn't do the tea tree oil at all for your baby!  For one thing it is an oil and it doesn't mix in the water so just like baby oil it sits there in globs.  It can be pretty caustic to your baby's delicate skin.  I soaked my feet in some once because I thought I had athletes foot, and it wasn't much at all I put in the water.  Well the oil was touching my skin and a couple hours later I had huge welts on top my feet.  It itched real bad.  They blistered and itched bad!  I went to the doctor and he gave me prednisone and said it was contact dermatitis, like I walked in poison ivy.  So dooon't put it one the baby!   I'm in my 40's and have tough skin by the way.

Try taking the probiotic powder and put in a dish, add lukewarm water about body temperature, a few drops to moisten it and activate the organisms.  Then add it to a light moisturizing cream that soaks into the skin good and rub that on her.  You could also use oregano oil and mix into cream and rub on.  It has similar properties to tea tree but not caustic.

Answer 6

I would see a pediatrician and get an anti-fungal drug before trying any other types of therapy.

Answer 7

it is amazing how little these responders know about tea tree oil. it does not mix with water so a drop in water is silly. it is so gentle that that it COULD be applied to the skin directly without carrier oil.If you mix the tea tree oil in carrier oil before you put it in the tub it will not glom it will spread around nicely. also it is absorbed through the skin so direct application is not needed. so what to do? mix 6 drops TT oil into a small amount of carrier oil like safflower or sunflower or grape seed or jojoba but NOT cooking oil like corn or canola. Put the mix in the tub of warm water and swish it around. child could stay in the tub for maybe 10 minutes. do not use a lot of TT oil because it has to be processed by the liver and it could overburden the liver and cause  some problems.  but 6 drops in a tub is fine. all oils can affect a person with seizure disorder. and last if you are pregnant don't swish the water with your hand as all oils can possibly cause a problem. other than those 3 issues oils are really safe and TT along with Lavender are among the safest. read up on TT oil at Camdengrey.com