Y A DA M R A U H A US DS B E
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veryone loves a cup of coffee to start their day. It’s
nothing to be ashamed of — in fact, studies show that caffeine consumption in moderation is a good thing, promoting feelings of well-being, alertness and
sociability. However, four or more cups of either tea or coffee per
day lead to symptoms such as jitteriness, migraines, nervousness and sleep cycle interference. More importantly, excessive caffeine consumption can affect your skin. Did you know that cutting down on your caffeine consumption can significantly improve certain forms of acne? Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea cause your body to produce cortisol, the stress hormone, which leads to increased acne outbreaks even if you drink your caffeinated beverage without sugar or milk.
CAFFEINATION: FRIEND OR FOE? While caffeine doesn’t directly cause acne, it does everything to make it worse. Caffeine causes your body to produce extra quantities of cortisol, the stress hormone, which in turn stimulates your sebaceous glands. These glands begin to overproduce sebum oil, the excessive quantities of which clog pores, trapping germs and bacteria in the process. Your body sends white blood cells rushing to the area to fight perceived infection threats. This is called inflammation, which results in pimples. One study showed that a stressed person who consumed caffeine had a cortisol increase of 211%! Not only is the stress produced from excess caffeination bad for your mental health, but it can also send your sebum production through the roof, burying your pores in unneeded oils.
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