Tea tree oil vs fungus: A clinical trial showed 100% tea tree oil performed comparably to 1% clotrimazole cream in clearing fungal infection.
6‑month trial: In participants using tea tree oil twice daily, 82–89% achieved fungal clearance with visible nail improvement in many cases.
Combination therapy: A formula using 5% tea tree oil + 2% butenafine achieved an 80% cure rate in 16 weeks—significantly better than tea tree oil alone.
Lab findings: Lab studies confirm tea tree oil disrupts fungal cell membranes and enhances penetration of topical agents.