Green Tea for Acne: How Effective?

Have you tried all sorts of anti-acne medications but still have not found success?

Why don’t you try using a natural remedy for a change?

Natural acne remedies like green tea have been found highly effective in combating this common skin problem.

Using green tea can give you a smooth, blemish-free skin that will make you feel great about yourself.

In this article, you’ll find out more about:

• What acne is, and what’s causing this prevalent skin problem?
• How acne can negatively affect your life?
• How effective is green tea for treating acne?
• How to use green tea for acne treatment and acne prevention tips

What is Acne?

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The skin has small holes called pores that can be plugged with oil, sebum, bacteria, dirt, and dead skin cells [1].

The result is acne.

The American Academy of Dermatology reports that acne is the “most common skin condition in the United States” with up to 50 million people suffering from it.

Actually, it is widely prevalent all over the world.

This problem is more than just about having pimples.

It’s also about having other types of blemishes, which include:

• Blackheads
• Whiteheads
• Papules
• Pustules
• Cysts
• Nodules

These blemishes can appear not only on the face but also on other parts of the body such as back, neck, chest, buttocks, arms and shoulders.

What are the Negative Effects of Acne?

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Apart from affecting one’s physical appearance, acne can also take a toll on one’s emotional well-being.

It can cause negative effects such as:

• Low self-esteem – People who have acne find it difficult to feel confident about their skin. This makes them feel embarrassed, and even socially withdrawn.
• Stress and anxiety – Acne can also cause stress and anxiety, which can worsen the acne condition even more.
• Depression – It has been reported that there have been cases in which people who have acne succumb to depression, and even have suicidal tendencies [2].

Apart from clogged pores, bacterial infection is also a possible cause of acne [3].

When bacteria get trapped inside the pore, it causes the skin to inflame and that’s when acne occurs [3].

While it’s not a life-threatening disease, acne can cause great distress, and negatively impact one’s quality of life.

It’s imperative to do something about it before it causes any serious harm.

Making use of green tea can help avert such problems.

Properties of Green Tea

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One of the most widely consumed beverages in the world is green tea.

Green tea is a favorite tea in Japan, China, Middle Eastern countries, and some countries in North Africa [4].

It’s not only the flavor and aroma that are much-loved by tea drinkers but also is the fact that this tea is loaded with all sorts of health benefits.

This drink is in fact packed with polyphenols and catechins that have many profound pharmacological effects [4].

Its primary components, which include epicatechin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate, have been confirmed to have potent anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties [5].

Probably the most widely known benefit of green tea is for aiding in weight loss, which is why many of those who desire to lose weight have made it a habit to consume green tea daily.

It has become one of the most popular weight loss remedies in the world.

This is just one of its many valuable effects on human health.

The catechins in green tea are said to ward off heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and many other ailments [6].

Making it a habit to drink this tea will improve your overall health, and even help you achieve the weight that you’ve always desired.

Now, if you’re having problems with your skin blemishes, this is one of the best solutions that you should try.

Why Use Green Tea for Acne Treatment?

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There’s a long list of ways by which green tea fights acne, and some of these include:

• It reduces sebum production by up to 50 percent.
• It kills the bacteria that trigger onset of acne.
• It prevents cellular damage on the skin caused by free radicals.
• It regulates blood sugar levels and maintains hormonal balance.
• It prevents formation of acne scars.
• It contains skin beneficial nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E.
• It protects the skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
• It inhibits the release of the stress hormone called cortisol, which worsens acne breakouts.
• It has anti-inflammatory properties that tone down swelling caused by acne.

It’s important to know that most of these claims are backed by scientific research.

In a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 20 patients with acne were asked to apply green tea twice a day for six weeks [7].

A reduction of nearly 60 percent in the total count of lesions were observed by the time the clinical trial was over, indicating that green tea is a cost-effective way to treat acne cases [7].

In 2010, researchers from Pakistan probed the effects of green tea in the production of sebum on the skin of healthy individuals [8].

After using green tea extract for eight weeks, it was shown that sebum production was reduced significantly [8].

A team of Korean scientists, meanwhile, were able to confirm through a laboratory experiment that green tea indeed inhibited the activities of acne-causing bacteria [9].

Both Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to green tea’s inhibitory effects [9].

Green Tea Home Remedies for Acne

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Use the following remedies to take control of acne before it affects your self-confidence and emotional well-being.

#1. Drink Green Tea Daily

Drinking green tea daily will provide your skin with nutrients that can help combat acne and other skin issues.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves
• 1 cup of hot water

Recommended Directions:

1. Steep green tea leaves in hot water.
2. Strain the mixture.
3. Drink the tea four to six times a day for one to two weeks, and once a day after that.

#2. Apply Green Tea on Your Skin

Cleansing your face and skin with green tea can help get rid of dirt, excess oil, and other impurities that cause acne.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 green tea bag
• 1 cup of warm water

Recommended Directions:

1. Dip a green tea bag in a cup of warm water.
2. Let it cool.
3. Soak a cotton ball and apply it generously on your acne-ridden skin.
4. Repeat procedure daily until acne is gone.

#3. Mix Honey and Green Tea

Honey has always been known for its valuable skin benefits. It’s also a great way to combat acne and keep the skin moisturized.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves
• 1 cup of hot water
• 1 tablespoon of honey

Recommended Directions:

1. Steep green tea leaves in hot water.
2. Let it cool.
3. Get one tablespoon of green tea liquid.
4. Mix it with honey.
5. Spread a thick layer on your skin.
6. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off with cool water.
7. Pat it dry with a clean towel.
8. Do this everyday for up to one month.

#4. Use Green Tea and Lemon Juice as Facial Mask

Lemon juice is an efficient way to cleanse the skin and boost skin regeneration.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of green tea
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Recommended Directions:

1. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to newly brewed green tea.
2. Let it cool a little before applying on your skin.
3. Use a cotton pad to apply on your skin.
4. Repeat remedy once or twice a day.

#5. Apply Green Tea and Tea Tree Oil Mixture

With its antimicrobial properties, tea tree oil can help combat acne and infection.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of green tea
• 4 drops of tea tree oil
• 3 drops of lavender oil

Recommended Directions:

1. In a cup, mix green tea, tea tree oil and lavender oil.
2. Soak a cotton ball into the mixture.
3. Apply this evenly on your skin.
4. Do this procedure once a day for two to three weeks.

#6. Combine Green Tea and Cinnamon

An antibacterial spice, cinnamon can be combined with green tea to bust acne and get rid of this problem once and for all.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of green tea
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder
• 1 teaspoon of honey

Recommended Directions:

1. Add cinnamon powder and honey to a cup of green tea.
2. Mix well.
3. Apply mixture on the face using a cotton pad.
4. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Rinse your face with cool water.
6. Repeat process twice a day for one to two weeks.

#7. Pair Green Tea with Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera’s ability to heal lesions can come in handy for skin conditions like acne.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of green tea
• 2 drops of tea tree oil
• 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel

Recommended Directions:

1. Dissolve aloe vera gel in green tea.
2. Add tea tree oil drops into the mixture.
3. Spread a thin layer on the affected skin using a cotton ball.
4. Leave it on for 30 minutes.
5. Do this technique once a day for one to two weeks.

Bottom Line

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There’s no need to panic about a skin condition like acne.

However, since it can cause great stress and anxiety on your part, it’s only right that you make the move to get rid of acne once and for all. Use green tea for treating acne at home without any risk of side effects.

Let us know your experience of using the home remedies discussed in this post. Write in the comment section below.