title: Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dandruff appears to be related to the yeast Pityrosporum ovale. Tea tree oil has antifungal properties with activity against P ovale and may be useful in the treatment of dandruff.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of 5% tea tree oil and placebo in patients with mild to moderate dandruff.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-six male and female patients, aged 14 years and older, were randomly assigned to receive either 5% tea tree oil shampoo or placebo, which was used daily for 4 weeks. The dandruff was scored on a quadrant-area-severity scale and by patient self-assessment scores of scaliness, itchiness, and greasiness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5% tea tree oil shampoo group showed a 41% improvement in the quadrant-area-severity score compared with 11% in the placebo group (P <.001). Statistically significant improvements were also observed in the total area of involvement score, the total severity score, and the itchiness and greasiness components of the patients' self-assessments. The scaliness component of patient self-assessment improved but was not statistically significant. There were no adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five percent tea tree oil appears to effective and well tolerated in the treatment of dandruff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Satchell
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saurajen
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Ross StC
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Barnetson
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations; D020947:Tea Tree Oil