A team from the University of Western Australia found that tea tree oil is a fast, inexpensive and effective way to treat non-melanoma skin cancers.
According to the journal Cancer Chemotherapy Pharmacology, the natural remedy is already being used to treat brown spots and insect bites.
Researchers found that this treatment shrunk non-melanoma skin cancer in mice in just one day and got rid of the cancer in just three days.
Study leader Dr. Sara Greay commented: "We are very excited about these results and are hoping to find funding for a small clinical trial of about 50 people with pre-cancerous lesions, with the aim of preventing the development of skin cancers."
One of the best ways to prevent skin cancer is to avoid sun exposure.