Drinking a delicious 2p drink can help banish adult hormonal acne
You could banish your hormonal adult acne by drinking one delicious beverage every morning.
If you've noticed spots popping up around your jaw, chin, or lips then you may be battling hormonal acne - even if you're no longer a teenager. The spots can be caused by hormonal fluctuations, and many adults suffer from a resurgence of acne in later life, or can even experience the skin condition for the very first time when they're older.
While some cases of hormonal acne can be treated with over-the-counter topical treatments, there is also research to suggest that mild acne can also be remedied using "natural" ingredients - including one drink that costs less than 2p per cup.
According to Sk:n Clinics, hormonal acne can result in whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts, and they explained to The Express that the spots are caused when hormonal changes "aggravate acne inflammation by increasing the production of an acne-causing bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes".
The experts also said that "in some cases, mild acne can also be addressed using natural remedies," one of which is green tea, which has anti-inflammatory properties that could help calm down acne inflammation.
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'It's worth noting that there currently is not enough evidence to validate the efficiency of green tea against hormonal acne, but Dr Cynthia Cobb, who specialises in aesthetics and cosmetics, verified that green tea is a natural, non-chemical way to treat breakouts.
A 2016 study into the effects of green tea in the prevention and treatment of acne found that some people benefited from drinking the beverage every day to improve lesions, redness and irritated skin caused by acne.
It's thought that green tea works to ease the symptoms of acne because it contains catechins, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. The tea is also rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which Dr Cobb confirmed is anti-androgenic, meaning it is effective at reducing oil secretions in the skin.
Due to a lack of research in the area, there is no recommended amount of green tea to take daily to help with hormonal acne, but Dr Cobb said that two to three cups per day should suffice. Green tea can be bought at most supermarkets, and Asda stocks a box of 50 teabags for just 80p, making each bag cost 1.6p.
Loose green tea is generally regarded as better quality than green tea bags, but it is also more expensive. According to BBC Good Food, green tea also boasts a range of other health benefits - including boosting metabolism, reducing the risk of heart disease, having a beneficial effect on blood sugar control, and protecting the body against disease.