The health benefits of green Tea (Camellia sinensis) has long been valued in China and India for thousands of years. Its high level of antioxidants, make it very helpful in treating acne, eczema, and rosacea.

Some of the factors that makes green tea so attractive in treating acne is that it has few if any side effects, is all natural and is less expensive than many other types of acne treatment. 

A blend of green tea and honeysuckle called “Pimple Tea” is popular in many Asian countries for treating skin infections and disorders like acne.

Green tea contains high levels of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, which work to neutralize free radicals and toxins that damage cellular tissue.

Polyphenols are considered as the most effective and powerful of all antioxidants. Studies have demonstrated that green tea has significant antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.

A facial cream containing green tea has been developed by a dermatologist at the University of California at San Francisco. A study involving a group of 60 patients has shown that women treated with a cream containing 2% green tea extract resulted in a 70% reduction in rosacea compared with those patients in the control group.

When green tea is drunk regularly it helps to regulate hormones which is one of the underlying causes of acne breakouts.

Using Green Tea Bags on your Face or Skin to Treat Acne

There are lots of benefits to using green tea, applied directly to your skin. In fact The positive effects of green tea on acne are higher when applied topically. A solution of green tea is soothing to the skin and acts quickly to reduce inflammation and redness.

It's gentle exfoliation and astringent properties are also very beneficial in treating acne. Besides being a great natural cleanser, the strong anti-bacterial properties of green tea are very effective in killing acne bacteria and preventing new outbreaks.

One of the simplest ways to use green tea as an acne treatment, is to drink 3 or 4 cups a day then wipe your face with the warm tea bag. This is an excellent acne tea and will immediately make your face feel fresh, remove excess oils and reduce irritation.

Green Tea Natural Moisturizer

To make a green tea moisturizer, infuse 2 or 3 tea bags of green tea in 1/2 a cup hot water for 5 minutes then add 1 tablespoon of Glycerin. When the mixture has cooled, pour it into a bottle and shake well. Gently massage the moisturizer onto your face once or twice a day. This mixture will last around one week if you keep it in a cool place.

Best Acne facial

Green Tea Natural Facial Mask.

For this excellent green tea face mask you will need a tea bag (green tea), Tea tree oil and some grape seed oil. Break open the contents of the tea bag and grind the tea into a fine powder with a mortar and pestle.

Add 2 or 3 drops of tea tree oil and just enough grape seed oil to work the mixture into a smooth paste.

Smear the green tea paste gently over the affected areas of your face, making sure you avoid getting too close to your eyes. Leave the mask on your face for around 10 minutes then wash off with warm water.

Notes: If you don't have a mortar and pestle, you can use one green tea supplement capsule . Just break open the capsule and add the other ingredients as above.

If you are sensitive to tea tree oil you can use lavender oil instead. You can also substitute jojoba oil or aloe vera gel for the grape seed oil.

Green Tea Side effects

Green tea is known to have few or any side effects when drunk in moderation (3 or 4 cups per day). The caffeine content of green tea is somewhere between 8 and 30 miligrams per cup which is less than half of the caffeine in a cup of black tea.

If you are sensitve to caffeine, consider taking green tea supplements instead as they contain far less caffeine that brewed tea.

Green Tea facts

A recent study demonstrated that a cream containing 3% green tea extract was as effective at reducing acne as a solution containg 4% benzoyl Peroxide.

Antioxidants (polyphenols) found in green tea are at least 100 times more effective than Vitamin C and 200 times more effective than Vitamin E at fighing free radicals.

Green tea significantly increases the effectiveness of sunscreen.

Green tea reduces the level of estrogens circulating in the body.