How Green Tea Can Benefit Your Skin

How Green Tea Can Benefit Your Skin

The Power of Green Tea

Most of us know the benefits of green tea when consumed orally range from boosting brain function to promoting weight loss. But green tea may go beyond the benefits that improve the mind and body; It can also benefit the skin, which is why it’s often included as an ingredient in many types of beauty products.

Made from the lightly steamed fresh leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, green tea has been used for medicinal purposes in some parts of the world for thousands of years.  The active components of green tea are polyphenols (also called catechins) that are believed to benefit the skin due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) is the best-studied catechin and is used both orally and topically for its many potential health benefits.  Green tea also contains caffeine and tannins, which work by shrinking blood vessels and decreasing puffiness in the skin. 

How Green Tea Benefits the Skin

  1. Protects against skin cancer

Green tea contains polyphenols and six different types of catechins, with Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) and Epicatechin Gallate (ECG) having the most potency. These compounds contain powerful antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants are molecules that have the ability to fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals are compounds that can harm your health, and your skin if their levels get too high. They can cause cellular damage, and have been linked to many diseases, including cancer.

According to a 2010 study, the antioxidant power of EGCG can help repair DNA damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. This, in turn, can help protect you from nonmelanoma skin cancer.

  1. Fights premature aging

A 2003 study showed that the antioxidant EGCG, which is abundant in green tea, has the ability to rejuvenate dying skin cells. By protecting and repairing your cells, this antioxidant can combat signs of aging and make dull skin look healthier.

The vitamins in green tea, such as vitamin B2, can also keep your skin looking more youthful. Vitamin B2 has the ability to maintain collagen levels, which can improve the firmness of your skin.

  1. Reduces redness and irritation

Green tea also has anti-inflammatory properties, due to the tea’s high content of polyphenols.

Green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce skin irritation, skin redness, and swelling. Applying green tea to your skin can soothe minor cuts and sunburn as well.

The anti-inflammatory properties, also found in topical green tea, may be an effective remedy for many dermatological conditions. It can soothe irritation and itching caused by psoriasis, dermatitis, and rosacea, and it may also be helpful for treating keloids.

  1. Acne treatment

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties in green tea may make it an effective treatment for acne and oily skin, as well.

According to research, the polyphenols in green tea, when applied to the skin, help reduce sebum secretion (oil), which can lead to acne.

The polyphenols in green tea also have the ability to fight against infection by damaging bacterial membranes. This means that green tea can be a useful tool for controlling bacterial growth that can cause acne.

  1. Moisturizes skin

Green tea contains several vitamins, including vitamin E, which is known for its ability to nourish and hydrate the skin.

In one study, participants applied an experimental formulation of green tea extract to their forearm for 15 and 30 days. At the end of the study, the researchers found that the participants had increased skin moisture and a reduction in skin roughness.

How Green Tea Can Benefit Your Skin

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When used consistently as part of your regular skincare regimen, green tea extract can have a phenomenal impact on skin health. By increasing your skin’s ability to retain moisture over time and reducing inflammation, you will see subtle improvements in your skin complexion within the first few weeks of use. Harnessing the power of green tea extract for your skin with skincare, and including drinking green tea or taking green tea supplements, can make a big difference for your skin health!

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