Green tea is one of the most consumed and healthiest beverages in the world. There is no doubt that it has so many benefits and uses whether it’s in the kitchen or as a part of your skincare routine. In this post, I will be sharing the 6 top skin benefits of green tea.
Green tea is prepared from the Camellia Sinensis plant’s leaves. It’s the same plant that gives us some other teas like white, oolong, and black.
Approximately 6000,000 tons of green tea is consumed every year globally; that’s about 1/5 of the total consumption of all kinds of tea.
Let’s find out what is it that makes green tea so beneficial for your skin.
Also read: The Secret of Green tea for a Healthy and Shiny Hair
How does green tea helps the skin?
The skin is the largest organ in your body, which protects your internal organs against the harmful effect of environmental agents. It works as a physical barrier between your internal body system and the outside world.
Research has shown that green tea has been associated with many benefits for the body and as well as for the skin. Many skincare products use it as a special ingredient for healthy skin.
It’s a rich source of powerful antioxidants like caffeine, catechins, EGCG, and tannins that helps to repair your skin from the inside out.
Air pollution, UV radiation, smoking, and a poor diet all create free radicals in your body. Still, the antioxidants present in green tea help you fight these free radicals.
Also read: 11 Best Types Of Green Tea For Every Tea Lover
They also help prevent premature ageing, acne, and sunburn and lighten the skin tone.
Drinking green tea is a great way to receive benefits. However, applying directly to your skin is another great way to provide nutrients to your skin.
Now, let’s cover the 6 top skin benefits of green tea.
6 Skin benefits of green tea
1. Green tea protects against skin cancer
Malignant melanoma is one of the worst and deadly forms of skin cancer. It’s the leading cause of skin cancer death due to its aggressive nature.
According to the research, the sun is the primary source of UV radiation. Prolonged exposure to these radiations of our skin is one of the major causes of developing skin cancer, including nonmelanoma.
The UV radiations cause DNA damage and genetic mutations in our bodies, leading to skin cancer.
Green tea is rich in phytonutrients called polyphenols. These polyphenols have been shown to protect our skin from UV radiation, resulting in helping us fight skin cancer. It can also repair damaged DNA in our bodies.
2. Green tea fights premature aging
Delaying premature ageing is one of the best skin benefits of green tea. It has anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sun damage on the skin.
The presence of free radicals in your body damages skin cells, causing wrinkles and a loss of flexibility. Research suggests that free radical damage to cells leads to the changes associated with ageing.
The antioxidants present in green tea help to neutralize free radicals and slow down the ageing process. A daily dosage of 300-400mg of polyphenols is essential to reduce skin damage.
3. Green tea treats acne
Acne is the most frequent skin condition that people face. The acne problem mainly arises due to the excess production of sebum.
Sebum is an oily substance found on the skin. Although sebum is beneficial because it keeps your skin hydrated and protects it from germs and fungal infections.
However, the excess production of sebum can lead to acne due to the appearance of oily skin.
Recent research suggests that polyphenols found in green tea can treat acne and reduce sebum production in the skin. Use a green tea face mask for treating your acne.
4. Green tea protects against the sunburns
Sunburn is a situation of red, painful skin that usually appears within a few hours after too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or other artificial sources.
Due to high exposure to UV radiations, your skin begins to lose rigidity, elasticity and appears rough to touch.
Growing evidence suggests that polyphenols present in green tea can be used to prevent sunburns as they decrease the damaging effect of UV radiations on the skin.
However, current studies are limited, and robust research data is necessary to evaluate the results.
5. Green tea treats dark circle around the eyes
Dark circles under the eyes are common among people. They can be formed due to many reasons, like fatigue, stress, or sleep deprivation. It can be hard to get rid of dark circles, but green tea can ease this process.
Green tea’s brownish color comes from the tannin it contains.
Tannin is a natural compound that is helpful in the prevention of stroke or brain injury-related damage. It has an anti-inflammatory effect that helps in reducing dark circles and tightening the skin.
Research has shown that using cold green tea bags over dark circles can reduce its appearance.
6. Green tea helps moisturizing the skin
Green tea is also high in vitamins in addition to antioxidants. It contains vitamins E and B2, which are known for the ability to hydrate the skin. Vitamin E aids in the body’s battle against free radicals.
We mostly get Vitamin E from our diet, but it’s also available in the form of skincare products. Using it on our skin is a great way to keep our skin healthy.
Also read: 6 Simple Tips To Make Green Tea Taste Good + 3 Recipes
FAQs
Yes, It’s possible that for some people it can actually cause irritation on the skin. It is more likely to happen with those people who have hypersensitive skin.
Green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can help you reduce many skin problems including skin irritation. it is safe to apply green tea to your skin as it can soothe minor cuts and sunburn.
No, drinking green tea empty stomach in the morning is not good as it contains caffeine and tannin which may cause bad effects on your liver.
Green tea contains caffeine and L-theanine that can enhance alertness and attention in your body. Drinking it before exercising may help you in fat burning or reducing muscle damage.
Due to the presence of tannin, drinking green tea before sleeping helps in improving the quality of your sleep. However, it may have some downside too. Green tea contains caffeine; consuming it in excess amount may interfere with your sleep quality at night.
It is best to drink this beverage during the day and early evening hours.
Yes, green tea does whiten your skin over a period of time.
Other articles related to green tea you may like:
- Is Green Tea Acidic or Alkaline? Here’s The Truth!
- Black Coffee vs Green Tea: Which is Better for you?
- Green tea vs Black tea: Which is Better to drink?
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