Hey girl, this post contains affiliate links.
Is Green Tea Good For Acne?
So I have recently gotten into finding natural remedies for acne. One of the remedies I came across in my research was applying green tea directly to your face. That led me to ask the question, “Is green tea good for acne?”
Natural remedies have worked really well for me in the past for other ailments. Growing up in my household meant there was a natural remedy for just about everything. The crazy part was, they actually worked!
However, acne has been the one ailment that I had yet to explore with a homemade remedy, until now.
IN A HURRY?? >> FIND SOME GREEN TEA SKINCARE PRODUCTS HERE!
My Search For A Natural Remedy For Acne
My search to answer the question, “Is green tea good for acne?” started back in July of 2018. I experienced one of the worst acne breakouts I had ever had. Don’t get me wrong, I have always been prone to acne, but it had never been this severe. My dermatologist explained my acne was considered grade 3. For reference, there are 4 grades.
View this post on Instagram
My acne was mainly concentrated on my chin and it seemed like it sprouted from one day to the next. It wasn’t just little pimples. It was cystic and it was painful. I counted about twenty-five active cysts on my chin at one point.
The dermatologist wanted to put me on oral antibiotics, but I refused. I was devastated, and out of my frustration came the motivation to find a more natural remedy. So I started to research, and green tea was the first item on my radar.
Related Article: How To Cover Cystic Acne With Makeup
Does Green Tea Help Clear Acne?
I first came across the green tea/good skin connection from a viral post on Twitter. The post showed the before and after photo of the young lady’s acne results using only green tea and honey.
Came a long way .. before and after ✨ trust the process 🤞🏼 pic.twitter.com/TlVPlCfl3F
— HPR ✨ (@hildapazrobles) February 3, 2018
I quickly did some research and discovered that there are a lot of success stories about green tea helping to reduce acne. Based on these success stories, it would appear that green tea does help to clear acne. However, that is all anecdotal. Is there actual scientific evidence to back up these claims?
Related Article: DIY Green Tea Honey Face Mask For Acne
Why Is Green Tea Good For Acne?
Luckily, there is some scientific evidence for these claims. We know that most acne is caused by p. acnes bacteria and some forms of acne can be inflammatory. Green tea contains antioxidant molecules called polyphenols. These polyphenols have both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
You could then hypothesize that because of these properties, green tea could potentially attack acne on two fronts – killing the bacteria and reducing the inflammation. But hey I’m no scientist, so let’s see what the studies actually show.
According to some studies, there is evidence that suggests that topical application of tea polyphenols could be beneficial in the treatment of acne. One particular study’s objective was to look at the effectiveness of topical application of a 2% green tea lotion for mild to moderate acne. The green tea lotion was applied twice daily for 6 weeks, and the results were quite astounding.
After six weeks, the total number of pimples went down by 58.33% and the severity of the pimples was also significantly reduced (sources listed below). This would suggest that there is truth behind the claims!
Related Article: The Best Mineral Foundation For Acne Prone Skin
Green Tea Acne Treatment
There are many skincare products for acne on the market that contain green tea nowadays. You can usually find face washes, face scrubs, lotions, and masks containing green tea as one of the main ingredients.
DETOX FACE SCRUB with Green Tea By Teami
St. Ives Blemish Control Gel Cleanser, Green TeaBest Green Tea Matcha Facial Mud MaskGarnier SkinActive 3-in-1 Face Moisturizer with Green Tea
If you are looking to try a more simple and natural green tea acne treatment, you can make your own green tea beauty products at home. This DIY green tea face mask works wonders!
View this post on Instagram
Conclusion: Green Tea Could Be Beneficial For Acne
It seems that there is some evidence that suggests topical application of green tea could be a good alternative for the treatment of acne. It is definitely worth a shot in my opinion. I will say that I definitely notice a difference when I use my green tea mask consistently.
Hope this helps!
*Disclaimer* Information presented is based on my opinions, personal experiences, and interpretation of my research. I advise you do your own research before trying any new products and natural remedies.
Sources:
Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK. Green Tea and Other Tea Polyphenols: Effects on Sebum Production and Acne Vulgaris. Antioxidants (Basel). 2016 Dec 29;6(1). pii: E2. doi: 10.3390/antiox6010002
Elsaie ML, Abdelhamid MF, Elsaaiee LT, Emam HM. The efficacy of topical 2% green tea lotion in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. J Drugs Dermatol. 2009 Apr;8(4):358-64.
Greger M, (2017, June 16). Natural Treatment for Acne & Fungal Infections. Retrieved from https://nutritionfacts.org
Leave a Reply