This article on Green Tea for Acne Treatment Will End Most of Your Face Problems.
We all are quite familiar with acne related problems. This typical skin condition shows up in different forms. Sometimes it’s an irritating pimple, and other times, it causes those hideous clogged pores.
Many of us start our lifelong fight against acne from the very first time we step into puberty. Treating these bad bumps can be a demanding job. Because preventing acne requires prolonged skin treatment regime.
We can always take help from over the counter medications. But some natural supplements like green tea provide effective ways to reduce acne.
Why does acne or other skin inflammations occur?
We have microscopic exocrine glands, sebaceous glands underneath the upper layer of our skin. This gland secretes lubricating oily substance, sebum. This sebum maintains the natural lubrication and moisture of our skin.
Acne occur when these sebaceous glands excrete excess sebum. This excess sebum accumulates in pores along with pollutant substances and causes swollen, red bumps.
Many other factors also causes acne, like: hormonal imbalance, poor diet, and pregnancy. Sometimes use of certain medication like those of epilepsy and depression also cause acne.
Green Tea – The Best Tea for Clear Skin
Modern science has proved numerous health benefits of green tea. Weight managements, stress reduction, less depression are only a few of them.
Green tea doesn’t come from a different type of tea plant. Every type of tea comes from the exact same plant, Camellia sinensis. It’s the oxidation process that makes all the difference.
Green Tea is the less processed and less oxidized tea leaves. Thus, so it contains effective antioxidants and polyphenols.
What are the skin benefits of green tea?
Due to its antioxidant properties, green tea is the best natural solution for acne. Along with fighting acne problem, green tea has many other beneficial effects on your skin, like:
- It reduces skin damage caused by free radicals.
- Green tea cream helps to prevent premature aging. In a 2000 study conducted by CWR University showed that green tea protects against sunburn and in long run provides protection against premature aging.
- A study performed in 2003 by Dr. Stephen Hsu of the Medical College of Georgia Department of Oral Biology has revealed that green tea is able to rejuvenate old skin cells.
So, how exactly green tea for acne works?
For Acne, green tea is a boon. Regular consumption of green tea can make your skin produce less sebum.
Less Sebum means less skin inflammation. This skin inflammation is one of the main reasons behind those hideous scars, including acne scars on your skin.
Regular consumption of green tea fights all underlying causes of acne, including hormonal imbalance. Green Tea also purifies the blood, as unpurified blood is the main cause of various skin related issues.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG): Effective Antioxidant To Prevent Acne
You probably have read enough articles about green tea’s significant antioxidant properties. So you might also have heard of ECGC.
ECGC is the most potent antioxidant. And more or less every type of green tea has this antioxidant as a predominant one.
How Does ECGC Help To Cure Acne?
High level of IGF-1 clogs skin pores and causes skin inflammation. This IGF-1 is a special kind of protein which results in producing excess sebum.
ECGC reduces the level of IGF-1 and thus dampen chances of skin inflammation. Candida fungus causes infections and a compromised immune system and thus more acne. ECGC is effective against Candida fungal infection also.
How Green Tea Lowers Fasting Blood Sugar?
Studies suggest that green tea improves insulin resistance. High Insulin resistance when get combined with high sugar intake, can result into:
- Excess Sebum Production
- Clogged Pores
- Inflammation, redness and swelling
- Glycation, which ends up with wrinkled and aged skin.
How to use Green Tea for Acne?
Skin Toner To Lighten Acne Scars
- Add few fresh leaves of organic green tea in a quarter cup of purified water.
- After boiling for 10 minutes, let it cool down and then apply it all over your face and neck.
- Wash it after ten minutes of applying.
- You can also apply this toner before bed and leave it overnight.
- You can store this toner for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Green Tea Face Mask for Acne
- Mix quarter cup green tea with the juice of 1 lemon.
- Apply the mixture on affected areas.
- Leave at least for 10 minutes, preferably overnight.
- Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat once daily.
Green Tea with Honey Mask
- Dip a green tea bag in boiling water for 3 minutes.
- Let the bag cool. Then take out boiled leaves
- Mix with organic good quality raw honey.
- Wash your face before application.
- Apply the paste on affected areas.
- Leave for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat regularly.
Green Tea and Egg White Mask
- Dip a green tea bag in boiling water for 3 minutes.
- Let the bag cool. Then take out boiled leaves.
- Mix in 1 egg white.
- Wash your face.
- Apply the paste on acne affected areas.
- Leave until dry.
- Rinse with warm water
- Repeat two times in a week.
Green Tea with Yogurt
- Dip a green tea bag in warm water for few minutes.
- Let the bag cool. Then take out boiled leaves.
- Clean your face.
- Rub wet leaves all over affected skin for 5 minutes.
- Apply full fat yogurt over teas leaves.
- Leave for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove with face towel soaked in lukewarm water
- Repeat daily.
Who should consume green tea regularly?
We all have more or less skin related problems, and as green tea, has blood purification properties and abundance of antioxidants, it can be consumed by everyone. But some of us need it urgently.
- People, who have oily skin, or people whose skin, produce more sebum than others.
- Green tea products should be used mostly on cheeks and forehead as these areas produce the most oil.
- Pimple-prone Asian and Mediterranean Skin, that tends to get acne spots.
- People who have dry skin, they are more likely to be sunburned and thus should use green tea product to get back a tan free skin tone.
- Sunscreen should be used on a regular basis. But the great advantage of green tea products or green tea extract is they work even after the skin has been burned.
What to consider before start having green tea for acne?
So now we know enough about this magic drink. Calling it magic drink is probably apt, as it has some wondrous beneficial effects on us. But then like any other herbal drug, green tea too has some side effects. To avoid them, we should take some precautions.
Never overuse it. 2-3 cups (100ml) daily is more than enough. Before starting taking green tea, consult with your doctor. Some of us are allergic to green tea. Sometimes green tea contains some other ingredients which can cause allergies in us. So doctor’s consultation is mandatory.
If you have any of these following health problems, you should be cautious while start using green tea.
- Anemia (iron deficiency anemia)
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Heart problems (e.g., irregular heartbeat, recent heart attack or heartburn)
- Stomach/intestinal problems
- Liver problems
- Mental/mood disorder (e.g., anxiety, panic attacks)
- Low levels of calcium in the blood
- Bone problems such as osteoporosis
Lactating or pregnant women should consult their GP before using this drug. Liquid preparation of this drug can contain sugar and/or alcohol. So if you are diabetic, or have alcohol dependency, consultation with doctor is must.
Side Effects of Overusing Green Tea for Acne
When we talk about caffeine, we naturally tend to imagine a steaming cup of coffee, but green tea also contains some caffeine. Excess consumption (3-5 cups a day) of this beverage can also cause some serious side effects.
Followings are few of them:
- Insomnia
- Excessive urination
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Fast/irregular heartbeat
- Frequent mood swings (e.g., nervousness, confusion)
- Trouble sleeping
- Restlessness
- Seizures
- Allergic reaction: Although serious allergic reaction is very uncommon. However seek medical guidance if you notice any of the following reactions.
- Rashes
- Itching/swelling (in face-tongue-throat area)
- Severe dizziness
- Trouble in breathing
Some Tips to Remember
- Always try to use organic green tea.
- At the time of buying over the counter green tea medication or ointments, always consult your physician.
- To avoid side effects like insomnia, dizziness, loss of appetite, always use decaffeinated green tea.
- Pregnant women: Consult doctors before start using green tea products.
- Loose leaf and powdered green tea has more ECGC in them. So these are more effective.
- Don’t add milk to green tea, it will lessen antioxidant properties of green tea.
- For better result, drink green tea at least 3 times a day.
- Don’t store green tea for long. As pure organic green tea, doesn’t have long shelf life.
Have you ever tried using green tea to reduce your acne spots? We hope these tips will help you. After following these tips share your experiences with us in the comment section below.
