What Tea Helps With Acne

Can Drinking Green Tea Help With Acne

The research regarding this question is still limited. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the claim that green tea does have a positive effect on acne, but that is yet to be proven.

What we do know so far is that green tea is a major source of polyphenols antioxidants that can be usually found in food. Antioxidants help protect the skin from the damage of free radicals. They deactivate these radicals which are also known as oxidant radicals. Along with other polyphenolic components, they help lower inflammation in your body, which is one of the main causes of acne. People with high levels of inflammation are more acne-prone than others.

This antioxidant also has the power of balancing out your hormones, which is amazing news for those who suffer from hormonal acne.

You might be wondering how exactly does green tea influence hormones? It works by lowering the androgen levels in your body, which naturally become higher than they should during adolescence or because of some lifestyle factors and medical conditions. It makes the body produce more IGFBP-3 , a type of protein that binds with IGF-1. In addition, it can also block IGF-1 receptors, resulting in less acne. Imbalanced hormones lead to excess production of sebum which in turn causes clogged pores.

Green tea is also known for its antibacterial benefits. Some studies show that it can work on a few acne-causing bacteria.

Green Tea For Treating Acne: Is It Effective

Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP

If youve ever searched online for foods with health benefits, youve no doubt heard about the many advantages offered by green tea, including its ability to treat acne.

Green tea is highly popular with natural health enthusiasts, and for good reasons like many other herbal teas, its loaded with natural compounds that are rich in antioxidants and offer a variety of benefits for your health and wellbeing.

However, like many other natural remedies, it can be difficult to separate the real science from the hype behind green tea, especially as an acne treatment.

Below, weve dug into the scientific research behind using green tea to treat acne to find out if its really as effective as its enthusiasts claim. Weve also explained how green tea can fit into your acne and skincare routine alongside other science-backed treatments.

Drinks That Will Clear Your Acne According To Science

• EMAILSHARE

There’s no denying we’re product junkies, but when it comes to acne, we’d rather take more of a holistic approach than hoard spot treatments and cleansers. Especially for those of us who fall victim to the drying and burning side effects of pimple potions, addressing the situation internally makes for less stress on the skin .

So when we recently learned that spearmint tea is acne’s foe , we decided to research some other ways to sip our way to a clearer complexion, sans skincare products. Truth be told, there are lots of teas ahead , but we’ve included a few other tasty libations to quench your thirstfor a smoother complexion, that is. Take a look at the best anti-blemish beverages below!

You May Like: Does Retinol Help With Cystic Acne

Does Tea Tree Oil Work For Acne

Tea tree oil has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, making it effective for combating most forms of acne, from non-inflamed blackheads and whiteheads to painful nodules . If youre dealing with a host of comedonal acne , Green says tea tree oil can be an effective form of treatment. One study found that a 5% tea tree oil topical gel helped to significantly improve mild to moderate acne symptoms. Researchers have also seen an increase in white blood cell activity associated with tea tree oil use, which is integral when it comes to the acne-healing process.

We know what youre thinkingthis sounds strangely familiar to benzoyl peroxide. The difference? Tea tree oil is also anti-inflammatory, which means it has the ability to soothe and relieve irritated, itchy, red, swollen skin, notes Louisiana-based dermatologistMamina Turegano, M.D., FAAD. This mitigates the risk of developing skin sensitivitiesas is often the case with traditional acne-clearing ingredients like our little friend benzoyl peroxideand is a much gentler, non-irritating alternative to combating acne that can also reduce the risk of scarring. True, tea tree oil is slower at warding off acne than benzoyl peroxide, but for those with easily irritated skin, the gentler approach may be worth the wait.

TL DR: Tea tree oil possesses qualities that make it an effective fighter against acne, inflammation, and bacteria that leads to breakouts.

Dont Miss: Whats Good For Back Acne

Drinking Green Tea For Beauty Benefits

A healthy diet certainly supports skin health, and that can include green tea, which research has already flagged as a cancer fighter, immune booster and heart protector. Drinking green tea helps skin, too, by decreasing inflammation and free radicals. However, not much gets into skin, says Baumann.

That said, brewing up a cup of green tea isnt enough. For the best benefits, Baumann recommends both drinking green tea and applying green tea products to your skin. Happy sippingand slathering.

Also Check: Why Do I Get Acne On My Cheeks

Integrating Green Tea Into Your Skincare Routine

Some of the best green tea skincare products show their true potential when you combine them with other antioxidants. They work synergistically, basically making each other stronger and more stable.

Take vitamin C, for example. Weve written about this powerful antioxidant before . Vitamin C can help preserve EGCG, the active compound in green tea. In turn, EGCG has the potential to enhance the antioxidant effect of vitamin C and E. If you are using them in separate products, they can be applied directly on top of each other.

One 12-week clinical trial tested the efficacy of this combination on 31 females. During week 12 of the trial, ultrasound measurements proved increased skin density compared to measurements taken at the beginning. This is an indicator of thicker epidermal and dermal tissue, both of which are associated with youthful, healthy skin. The trials participants also reported fewer fine lines and wrinkles as well as improved skin tone and texture.

Green tea skincare also works well when applied below your sunscreen. Its antioxidant properties can help extend the sunscreens effectiveness and deliver an additional layer of protection. One thing green tea cant do is replace your sunscreen.

Another winning companion ingredient for green tea extract is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is known mostly for its moisturizing properties. Because of this, it can help EGCG penetrate deeper into the skin and work harder for you.

Peppermint Tea Or Spearmint Tea For Acne

Lastly, because Ive been asked this: its not peppermint tea its spearmint tea specifically. I have not researched peppermint tea for acne, but I know that spearmint has the strongest anti-inflammatory activity from all the mints.

And I havent heard of peppermint having the same androgen-reducing effect, which is what gives spearmint its effectivity in fighting acne.

Related: The best skin care products for treating acne scars

Also Check: Where Do You Get Stress Acne

Green Tea And Egg White Mask

The albumin present in egg white destroys the cell structure of bacteria and kill it. It shrinks the skin pores which prevents the accumulation of dirt.

• Brew green tea and let it cool down to room temperature.
• Combine green tea and 1 egg white.
• Wash your face thoroughly with water and pat the skin dry.
• Apply the mask by focusing more on the acne affected areas and leave it on until dry.
• Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
• Repeat the process 2 times weekly.

Ayurvedic Properties Of Turmeric 3

Rasaor taste:Tikta or bitter,Katu or pungent

Gunaor qualities:Rooksha or dry,laghu or light

Veerya or potency:Ushna or hot

Vipaka or post-digestive taste:Katu or pungent

Effect On Three Doshas:Tri dosha hara

Due to itsUshna veerya or hot potency, turmeric isKapha Vata Shamak, it pacifies aggravatedKapha and Vata doshas. Due to its bitter taste, it is also considered to be useful in blood-related or circulation-related problems.3

Bitter and astringent foods are helpful in bringing Pitta and Kapha dosha into equilibrium and both Pitta and Kapha are located inrakta dhatu or blood.

Read More: How To Include Bitter Foods In Your Diet

Turmeric might be helpful in pacifying the causative factors of acne given its properties in Ayurvedic medicine. Turmeric also might help with the secondary symptoms of acne like inflammation, skin discoloration, and pain from inflammation.3

Read Also: What’s Best For Acne Scars

Using Mint Tea For Acne And Pcos

Both men and women need some testosterone to function, but unlike men, women need significantly less to function optimally. In fact, conditions where women produce too much testosterone, like polycystic ovary syndrome , tend to be linked to higher rates of acne.

The best way to naturally lower testosterone without birth control or hormonal therapy is with a healthy diet. Low-carb diets have been shown to be particularly effective at treating hormonal acne.

Still, drinking mint tea is a good strategy for lowering testosterone and DHT levels in women.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19585478https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15679984

Start out by drinking a cup or two of high-quality, organic spearmint or peppermint tea per day. Itll probably take some time to see results, but if you think you have hormonal acne due to high testosterone levels, its definitely worth a shot.

Need Both Eye Creams Give Your Eyes A Soothing Daytime And Nighttime Boost With The Duo In Our Perfectly Fresh Eyes Kit

Turmeric tea bags are available on the market, or you can make your own mix with turmeric powder. You can also make turmeric tea from freshly grated turmeric root…IF you can get your hands on it. Check out any Asian groceries in your area, to start.

HELPS WITH:environmental damage, anti-aging, inflammation, blood sugar, stress

Saffron, considered the most expensive spice in the world, is a luxe commodity harvested from crocus flowers. You may have come across it in Indian or Mediterranean cuisine. It can also be steeped into a golden, uplifting tea.

Saffron is a known anti-inflammatory. It also includes compounds like safranal and crocin that have antidepressant and mood-improving qualities.

This is good for your mental AND physical health, skin included. Lowering your stress leads to lower levels of acne-triggering hormones like cortisol and CRH, helping to prevent breakouts before they get started.

Something similar can be said for saffrons effect on your blood sugar. By lowering your blood sugar levels and increasing your sensitivity to sugar-regulating insulin, saffron may help nip sugar-induced breakouts in the bud.

Saffron also includes all sorts of antioxidants, helping you fight off environmental damage and maintain your naturally youthful complexion.

Ready to brew? On its own, saffron can have a strong, earthy taste that edges on bitter. Many tea-lovers suggest pairing it with other flavorings like lemon, cardamom, or mint.

Recommended Reading: What Does Acne Medication Do

Tea Is High In Oxalates

Tea is extremely high in compounds called oxalates.

Again, this is something I break down in full detail in the eBook in the GoodGlow Clear Skin Resource Kit, but Ill summarize it here

Oxalates are antinutrients that bind to calcium in the blood and which can lead to things like kidney stones or inflammation. While kidney stones are not good, well focus on the inflammation aspect of oxalates because this directly pertains to acne.

Oxalates are a highly debated and contentious topic in the world of antinutrients. Some nutritionists and experts claim that oxalates present little to no health risks, while others claim that theyre among the most damaging.

One study found that oxalates may be responsible for, wide variety of other health problems related to inflammation, auto-immunity, mitochondrial dysfunction, mineral balance, connective tissue integrity, urinary tract issues, and poor gut function,Mercola, J. . The Damaging Effects of Oxalates on the Human Body. Retrieved February 2, 2021, from Mercola website: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/10/oxalic-toxicity.aspx.

With regards to acne, what were concerned with is oxalates effect on inflammation.

Inflammation is the process that takes a relatively harmless and routine bacterial infection on the skin and turns it into a red, protruding, painful cyst or comedone in other words, a pimple.

Aloe Vera And Green Tea For Acne

Aloe vera has an anti-acne effect on the skin. The mucopolysaccharides present in it help to keep your skin hydrated by binding moisture to the skin and stimulate the fibroblasts that produce collagen and elastin to keep your skin young and plump .

You Will Need

• Towel

Method

• 2 times a day.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Acne Spots

Does It Actually Work On Acne Scars

There isnt enough evidence to confirm that tea tree oil is an effective scar treatment. But dont write it off just yet! Tree tree oils anti-inflammatory properties and acne-fighting super powers suggest it can be used on scars as well.

Pure essential oils are too concentrated to apply to your skin directly so make sure you always dilute them first. Heres the deal:

• Mix pure tea tree oil with a carrier oil .
• The ideal mixture is 12 drops of tea tree oil to one ounce of carrier oil.
• You can put this mixture all over your face once or twice a day.
• Dont mix tea tree oil with products that have active ingredients like acids, retinol, or vitamin C. These can trigger irritation.

Tea tree essential oil is the bomb but its not magic. It can take several months for acne scars to fade. Upping the amount of tea tree oil you use wont help your scars fade faster. In fact, too much of this good thing can be damaging.

Using tea tree oil in excess can lead to inflammation and irritation. It can even break down your skins moisture barrier which may make your skin too dry.

The overall risks for using tea tree oil topically are pretty low. Just be sure to follow the rules. Remember:

Stop using tea tree oil if you experience irritation or extreme dryness.

If tea tree oil isnt your thing, youre still in luck. There are lots of other ways to heal acne scars.

Keep in mind: Active ingredients shouldnt be blended. Try them out one at a time.

Tea Tree Oil For Acne

Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado.

Tea tree oil is obtained from the leaves of the Melaleuca plant. It’s often credited as being a natural treatment for acne. Although a few small studies show that tea tree oil may have some acne-fighting abilities, the true effect tea tree oil has on acne is unclear. And, as with conventional acne treatments, tea tree oil can cause side effects of its own and should be used with care.

Recommended Reading: Why Do I Have Chin Acne

It Helps Decrease Inflammation

Catechins are rich in green tea. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate was discovered to be useful in the treatment of acne and rosacea out of the four primary catechins identified in green Tea. It works by lowering swelling. In one study, the use of a 2% green tea lotion reduces inflammatory acne.

EGCG is a strong antioxidant with immunomodulatory and photoprotective effects. It also has antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory actions .

Read Also: Where To Buy Tea Cups And Saucers

Does Tea Tree Oil Help With Acne Scars

Apart from their unsightly appearance, acne scars can affect a persons level of confidence. But acne scars are not usually easy to remove. Chemical and laser treatment options might not be considered viable alternatives due to their potential costs and the risks involved.

As such, many of us will be looking for a suitable alternative mode of treatment. Fortunately for you, theres a simple home remedy that can help lighten or fill up mild scars and deep pits. Though its not known to many, tea tree oil is probably the most effective home remedy for acne scars.

Read Also: What To Use For Acne Scars

How Long Does It Take For Tea Tree Oil To Work On Acne Scarring

Like with acne breakouts, acne scarring can be treated with tea tree oil. When going into this type of treatment, it is good to maintain reasonable expectations and understand that everyones skin is different and will react uniquely to different treatments.

Your skin may love the tea tree oil and show significant improvements in as little as a few days. Alternatively, it may worsen with tea tree oil usage. Like with any other treatment, there are risks that must be weighed and accessed before moving forward with product usage.

If you opt for tea tree oil as your acne scarring treatment path, you should give it at least six to eight weeks. Patience is key since acne scarring is different than acne. It is deep damage that can take quite some time to repair, especially if it is not particularly new.

The longer a scar sits, the harder it is to remove. There are so many factors that play into scar removal so it is impossible to say exactly how long it will take for your blemishes to fully clear up or even begin to heal.

Dont Miss: What Types Of Birth Control Help Acne

Green Tea Activated Mask

If youre looking for a more powerful treatment that is still all-natural, then you should definitely try FOREOs Green Tea activated mask! Soothe and condition stressed skin with one of mother natures most potent sources of antioxidants in 20 minutes. Alternatively, pair with UFO for a refreshing facial treatment that will gently purify and protect skin, leaving it looking healthy and naturally radiant in just 2 minutes. Green Tea activated mask is designed for all skin types, especially those who are regularly exposed to environmental stressors.

Once you start using Green Tea activated mask, you can expect some great benefits, such as:

• Soothing and protecting skin damaged by environmental stressors
• Richness in antioxidants to help protect and rejuvenate skins appearance
• Purifying effect for flawless, healthy-looking skin

Don’t Miss: Are Facials Good For Acne