Pine (Pinus spp.) has a long history of traditional use in various cultures for treating skin infections, including those thought to be caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus. Pine tar, pine resin, and pine needle extracts have been applied topically in folk medicine as antiseptics and wound dressings. This use is primarily based on the observed antibacterial properties of pine resins and essential oils, which contain compounds such as alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and other terpenes with demonstrated activity against several microbes in laboratory settings.

However, while in vitro studies have shown that some pine-derived substances exhibit antibacterial action against Staphylococcus species, including S. aureus, the evidence remains preliminary and largely restricted to laboratory experiments. There is a lack of robust clinical trials or well-designed studies in humans directly supporting the efficacy of pine or its extracts in treating established staph infections. As a result, pine’s use for this purpose is best characterized as traditional, with only modest scientific support derived from test-tube studies rather than rigorous clinical validation. Pine products may offer mild antibacterial benefits topically, but should not be relied upon as a primary or sole treatment for staph infections, especially given the seriousness of such infections and the availability of proven antibiotics.