Benefits of Green Tea for Your Skin

People in different countries worldwide consume green tea for its numerous health benefits particularly for skin care.

Various studies including the one at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland show that green tea’s antioxidant property from polyphenols is the key to its skin-protective qualities. The polyphenols in green tea are mainly the type called catechins that include gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and the most abundant and active epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

In addition to the anti oxidants, green tea also contains enzymes, amino acids, Vitamin B, folate, manganese, potassium, magnesium and caffeine that enable it to provide the following skin benefits,

Treats Acne

Green Tea Skin BenefitsAccording to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, one of green tea’s catechins, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), helps treat acne by fighting bacteria that cause it. Catechins also help in regulating hormonal imbalance, one of the causes of acne.

In addition, anti-inflammatory property of green tea helps reduce the redness, swelling and inflammation brought about by acne. Aside from drinking 4-5 cups of green tea daily you can apply brewed tea bags on acne to remove toxins and kill bacteria that caused swelling and inflammation.

A study by the American Academy of Dermatology compared skin creams with 3% green tea extract and benzoyl peroxide solutions as acne treatment. Both were effective in treating acne but the result also showed that another advantage of using green tea is that it had fewer side effects and did not exhibit dryness and flaking of skin found in acne treated by benzoyl peroxide.

Fights signs of aging

Polyphenols in green tea help delay skin sagging, age spots, wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of skin aging by neutralizing the harmful free radicals that speed up skin aging.

Prevents Skin Cancer

Green tea’s polyphenols slow down or prevent the growth of two proteins that are known be tumor cell growth promoters — Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Green tea also heals keratosis, the scaly, pre-cancerous skin problem caused by too much sun exposure.

Helps prevent allergies

EGCG in green tea prevents allergies by blocking the production of histamine and immunoglobulin E (IgE), the compounds that react to pollen, pet dander, dust and other allergens.

Natural Sunscreen

green tea skin benefitsGreen tea is a natural sunscreen that protects the skin against free radicals and other harmful effects of exposure to UV rays from sunlight.

Green tea can be combined with zinc oxide-based sunscreens without any chemical reaction because zinc oxide is inert. You can prepare a sunscreen solution by boiling for 5 to 10 minutes a half cup of green tea leaves in two cups of water. Use a cotton ball to apply the sunscreen solution to the skin.

Taking green tea

The University of Maryland Medical Center’s website, recommends taking daily 2 to 3 cups of boiled tea or 100 to 750 mg per day of green tea extract.

Precautions

  • Green tea is not recommended for children. Pregnant women and those under mediation should not take green tea without their doctors’ approval.
  • Don’t add milk to green tea as it reduces the anti-oxidant properties that treat acne.
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