Table of contents:
- Green tea at a glance
- Revealing the benefits of green tea for acne
- 1. Reducing skin inflammation
- 2. Against acne-causing bacteria
- In general, further research is needed
Tea has been used as an herbal medicine for centuries to treat a variety of health problems. One type of tea that is most famous for its properties is green tea. The high content of antioxidants such as catechins, polyphenols, and other natural compounds makes this tea has many health benefits, including for the skin. Yes, green tea is often used as a natural acne remedy. However, how effective is green tea for acne? Check out the full review in this article.
Green tea at a glance
Basically, all kinds of tea - green tea, black tea, oolong tea, come from the same plant. Camellia sinensis. However, what distinguishes one type of tea is how it is processed. This is what makes each type of tea have a different distinctive color and taste.
Green tea is processed by steaming and drying in a very fast process to prevent the leaves from turning brown. Among the three types of tea, green tea is said to have the best health potential because it has the highest polyphenol antioxidant content.
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, green tea is used as a stimulant, diuretic medicine, to help accelerate wound healing. In addition, green tea is also often used as a natural remedy for flatulence, controls blood sugar levels, helps digestion, and improves cognitive abilities.
Revealing the benefits of green tea for acne
Green tea is rich in polyphenol antioxidants that can protect the skin and body from free radical damage. Here are the benefits of green tea for acne on the face.
1. Reducing skin inflammation
Green tea is rich in polyphenols called catechins. Simply put, polyphenols are compounds in plants that have health benefits for humans. Catechins themselves are antioxidants and also anti-inflammatory. Well, the catechins contained in green tea are very effective in reducing skin inflammation.
A study conducted by researchers from National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan in 2016 stated that acne-prone women who took decaffeinated green tea extract supplements were known to have less acne in the T-Zone, which is around the nose, mouth, and chin.
Even so, this green tea extract supplement does not completely clear up acne. Even between the two groups (those taking supplements or not) there was no significant difference in the number of acne breakouts.
From the results of these studies, the researchers stated that the use of green tea for acne only helped reduce inflammation slightly, especially in the T zone. So, not getting rid of acne as a whole.
2. Against acne-causing bacteria
Several studies have shown that the antibacterial agents in green tea can fight acne-causing bacteria, such as propionibacteria acnes, propionibacteria granulosum, and staph.
Unfortunately, the existing studies have only been conducted in vitro. This means the research is carried out in a laboratory and not on human skin. In addition, bacteria are not the only cause of acne. There are many other factors at play including excess oil and buildup of dead skin cells on the face.
In general, further research is needed
The health benefits of green tea are not in doubt. However, don't rely solely on green tea for your acne treatment. The reason is, the evidence that the efficacy of green tea extract for acne still needs to be reviewed further. Even so, this is a good step to start further research in order to deepen the benefits of green tea for skin health.
What must be understood, the key to successfully treating acne prone skin is to avoid all kinds of things that can trigger acne. So, it is highly unlikely that just drinking a cup of warm green tea will clear up your acne. Always remember that the wrong facial treatment is the main factor why acne does not go away.
