Green Tea and the Skin
You'll find numerous products on the market that are made from natural products. Some of the most popular botanicals used in skin care products include:
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Ginger
• Green Tea
• Lemon
• Grapeseed
• Echinacea
Since products of this nature are largely unregulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, claims on the products are sometimes largely unsubstantiated. In most cases, we just have to try these products out and see for ourselves.
However, one of these products, green tea, does have some evidence to back up its claims of rejuvenating the skin and preventing aging. Several studies have shown that green tea's anti-oxidants are beneficial to the skin in several ways.
The first important fact about green tea is that its anti-oxidants act as scavengers on abnormal or damaged skin cells. This may be very important to helping protect us from skin cancer. If we can eradicate skin cells damaged by the sun immediately, they are less likely to develop abnormal qualities. Many doctors are now recommending that you wear a green tea moisturizer under your sunscreen. The sunscreen will protect your skin from most of the sun's rays, but any that do get through can be mitigated by the green tea.
However, other research has shown that green tea may even be an effective treatment for those who already have cancerous or pre-cancerous skin lesions. One study, performed on mice, showed that not only did green tea seem to scavenge the abnormal cells on the mice that did not have skin cancer, but it also concluded that green tea, whether given orally or topically, slowed the progression of the cancer. In addition, scientists theorize that green tea may be able to actually kill off some of the cancer cells.
Another recent study showed that green tea may also have the ability to provide short term improvement in the skin's appearance. The study suggested that green tea's anti-oxidants actually have the ability to rejuvenate skin cells resting on the epidermis that are dying. The green tea helps bring the cells back to life for a period, reducing that dull and lifeless appearance skin can have.
It is believed that green tea also has the ability to reduce aging over the long term. Such claims are difficult to prove, because it requires human trials over many years. However, based on the fact that research has shown that green tea's anti-oxidants have the ability to scavenge abnormal and dying skin cells, it stands to reason that using green tea regularly over a period of many years would produce a cumulative effect that would be positive for the skin's condition and appearance.
Many other botanicals that are used in skin care products do have the ability to perform some helpful functions on the skin. For example, all of the natural ingredients listed above do have anti-oxidants, so they likely are good for the skin, at least to some degree. And many are suited for specific skin ailments.
For example, lavender is calming, and can be helpful in soothing redness and rashes. Lemon is an effective astringent, and is sometimes helpful for especially oily skin. The UK Tea Council published a report outlining the effects of many botanical products and their potential to protect and treat the skin.
But, most of the products containing these ingredients have not been through strenuous laboratory testing, so their effects are undocumented. In addition, some botanical products may not require regulation by the Food and Drug Administration, so they may not meet federal health standards.
Because of the attention that green tea has received due to its likely ability to prevent cancer and other diseases, it has been more widely tested than many other botanicals. It has been widely tested for topical application to see if it has the potential to prevent or treat skin cancer, for example.
So, it's perfectly ok to use botanical products to help with any special skin conditions you're trying to treat. Most botanical products are safe, as long as you don't have an allergy to them. And, they may be helpful at treating some skin conditions and at keeping skin moisturized.
But, if you're looking for the best be in botanical products for the skin, it's likely that green tea has the most potential. It has been more widely tested than other botanicals, and is likely to be of significant benefit, both in improving skin's appearance and in preventing aging and skin cancer.
However, since, like other botanical products, green tea products may not have fallen under FDA guidelines, be sure to examine the list of ingredients carefully. You should ensure that green tea products actually contain active anti-oxidants, such as EGCG and theaflavins, before you purchase. Without these important ingredients, the products will likely not provide the benefits you're seeking.
So, give green tea a try for your skin. You may see smoother and brighter skin in the short term, and you may be preventing skin cancer and aging in the long term.
Related Tags: health, anti-aging, tea, green tea, anti-oxidant, wu-long tea
Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Collagen Vs. Aging: Which One You Like?
For some people, growing old does not only mean wisdom and experience, but also wrinkles and lines o - Can Hgh Supplements Make You Younger?
Medical science has discovered several reasons why people grow older and then die and two of the mai - Shopping For a Natural Skin Cream?
You really need to be sure that the natural skin cream you are thinking of purchasing truly contains - How To Look Younger When You Are Getting Older
As well as the natural affects of aging, skin is constantly exposed to weather damage, pollution and - Tips For Your Anti-Aging Needs
Smoking and drinking became part of a great number of individuals lifestyle nowadays. For decades, m - Three Anti Aging Skin Care Steps to Your Most Youthful and Beautiful Facial Complexion
As time marches on, you can begin to see the effects of aging on your facial skin. Your most youthfu - 2 Simple Questions to Ask About the Best Wrinkle Remover
You won't find the best wrinkle remover on sale here at this website. But, if you read this article, - A Unique Wrinkle Cream Comparison
Here's a wrinkle cream comparison that's unique. Most reviewers compare brand names based on arbitra - Easy Tips to Preserve Your Youthful Look-Why Beauty Isn't Always Skin Deep
When you were young, you couldn't wait to get old. Now that you're getting old, you want to stay you - Is Solar Genesis Effective?
Before trying to figure out whether solar genesis would work, let's try to understand what solar gen
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Anti-Aging FAQ: Skin Care And Anti-Aging
* Can diet and exercise prevent wrinkles? Yes! Besides overexposure to sun, unhealthy habits like e - Antiaging Skin Care Tips
It's a fact of life, no matter how much we try to deny it - as we get older, our body ages. It cann - How Much Do You Know About Aging And Long-term Care Insurance?
While aging individuals aren't the only people who find themselves in need of long-term care, indivi - Searching for the Ultimate Antiaging Skincare Product
It may seem unbelievable but in my search for the secret to the best antiaging skincare product, I f - Baby Boomer, Babies No More
All you can hear are voices, and everything seems to be going too fast. You slowly see a bright ligh - Alternative To Botox
However, you will want to make yourself as knowledgeable on each Botox alternative as you can, so th - Stop Wrinkles - Wear Your Frownies
A while back I was standing in a store checkout line waiting my turn when I spotted a magazine featu - Toward Berry Good Aging
As Canadians live longer and pay more attention to diet and healthy lifestyles, those in middle to u - The Anti-Aging Diet
As we age, we are faced with a reduced metabolism, memory loss, wrinkles, increased risk for chronic - Is Anti-Aging Action In Red Wine And Resveratrol Real?
Results of various studies have indicated that daily consumption of three to five glasses of red win