Are caffeine and acne related? Will giving up on caffeine clear off acne from the skin? Read on to find the answers…
Coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, energy drinks, chewing gums – you would be surprised to know that all these foods and beverages contain caffeine. There has always been a lot of speculation whether intake of caffeine results in acne breakouts. To be fair, none of the studies done in this respect have arrived at conclusive results. So it is still not sure whether it has a direct effect on the skin or not. Nevertheless, one fact that cannot be denied is that excess caffeine does cause sleeping problems and stress, which can result in skin problems such as acne.
Relationship between Caffeine and Acne Breakouts
Most of the people in America are addicted to drinking coffee, especially in the mornings. Caffeine does help in eliminating drowsiness and keeping tiredness at bay. It acts as a stimulant, keeping a person energetic and alive, at least for a while. That’s why, tea and coffee are the favorite beverages of people working in offices.
As mentioned earlier, intake of excess caffeine increases the stress hormones in the body. It is a known fact that a person under stress is prone to getting acne. So, in a way, it does influence acne, as it increases the stress levels in a person. Another effect of taking caffeine in excess is that it increases the production of sebum. Sebum and oil clog the skin pores and hair follicles, thus causing an outbreak of acne on the skin. Thus, it can be said that caffeine, if taken in excess, can cause pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, etc. due to its ability to stimulate sebum production.
Then there are certain effects of caffeine on the body, such as, it can lead to dehydration. When there is lack of water in the body, the condition of the skin can deteriorate and acne might show up too. It is also a known fact that excess caffeine causes sleeplessness, that’s why people who need to stay awake during the night, keep on taking tea or coffee at regular intervals. However, the drawback of this is that sleeplessness can cause physical stress and thus, lead to acne.
Tips to Reduce Caffeine Effects on the Skin
In order to ensure that the skin remains acne free, give up on caffeine foods and beverages. Instead, adopt a healthy lifestyle, by taking a balanced diet and exercising every day. Your diet should mainly comprise fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. There are some foods that you should discard completely from your diet, such as, red meats, sugar, refined carbohydrates, dairy products, fried foods and junk. Make it a point to drink a gallon of water everyday, as it will keep your skin hydrated and glowing. Also, undertake stress management, by engaging in meditation, breathing exercises or yoga, as stress is one of the major contributors to acne.
Adopting a regular skincare regimen is important too. So, wash your skin with a face wash everyday, twice a day. Keep the skin moisturized by applying a lotion or a cream which is suitable to your skin type. If you’re going out in the sun, apply sunscreen and keep your face covered in a scarf. Lastly, do not use any products with strong chemicals on your face. As far as possible, stick to natural, herbal products.
As you can see, although caffeine and acne are related, yet, in order to clear acne from your skin, besides giving up on caffeine, you need to adopt a holistic lifestyle. As it is known to cause a number of health problems in the body, such as, increasing toxicity of liver and blood, intensifying PMS in women, constipation, high anxiety, to name a few, if you give it up and make the above suggested changes in your lifestyle, your body will remain free from such disorders and stay acne-free and healthy forever!
