Green tea has long been cherished in the Asian nations for both health and taste reasons. Green tea has numerous health benefits which have now become apparent to the western world and the medical community. Green tea is a fat burner, can lower cholesterol levels, helps digestion and is also a powerful antioxidant which can aid in the growth of healthy cells and also prevents cancer.
The main polyphenol in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and EGCG is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to rejuvenate dying skin cells and this provides many benefits for the skin. Green tea is known to act by strengthening the immune system, and cleansing your body from toxins and viruses which can cause acne and skin infection. Green tea has also proved to be anti-bacterial that reduces inflammation, capable of killing the potentially deadly Staphylococcus aureus and the bacteria that cause bacterium acne.
Green tea is quite unique as compared to other teas in that it is not fermented and is instead steamed quickly after it is harvested in order to keep all of its active ingredients intact. It has been found to have positive effects in the management of acne and eczema. Some women suffering from acne Rosacea have reported that switching from coffee to drinking green tea extract has helped improve their acne skin condition. For acne, this tea makes a great, cheap alternative to expensive toners or astringents. Green tea has been proved to be equally effective as a 4% solution of benzoyl peroxide without doing the same damage as this solution in terms of drying the skin and being harsh on the skin.
Simply rubbing a green tea bag on the skin has shown to prove beneficial for acne sufferers. Often, it can be combined with ingredients to make a concoction that can be applied with a cotton ball to clean skin. Drinking tea is also known to decrease acne eruptions, although you do have to be wary of increasing the intake of caffeine in your diet, which has been linked to an increase in the incidence of breakouts. Most regimens recommend up to 8 glasses of green tea each day until the skin clears. This is most effective if the tea is freshly brewed and sugar-free. If you don’t enjoy the taste of green tea warm, you should try your green tea iced. Also, green tea facial mask and topical facial green tea ointment can really improve acne as well as give the skin a tight youthful appearance.
Thus taking green tea for acne is a win-win situation. It has beneficial properties which promote good all-round health with little or no known side effects and is a wonderful herbal treatment for acne as well.
