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Is Your Morning Coffee Habit Affecting Your Skin?

For many people, coffee is the first drink they consume in the morning. It’s a part of their daily routine, one that gives them the energy to kickstart the day. With its distinctive taste and comforting aroma, coffee drinkers feel more relaxed and productive. Others prefer to get their caffeine ‘hit’ and burst of energy from a cup of tea.

However, there is some debate around whether or not tea and coffee are good for the skin. While both beverages are a source of enjoyment and pleasure for millions, many argue that the caffeine in them can cause problems on your skin. So, while coffee and tea addicts point to the antioxidant-rich contents of their favourite drinks, others believe coffee and tea can exacerbate dry skin conditions and acne. Continue reading to find out what your morning coffee habit does to your skin and how to combat its adverse effects.

How Caffeine Affects The Skin

Caffeine in moderation isn’t bad at all. Several studies have shown that it benefits our well-being, alertness, sociability, focus and happiness. But how you take your coffee, and the amount of caffeine you consume, makes all the difference.

Caffeine And Skin Dehydration

You probably know that the skin must be well-hydrated to appear plumper, younger and healthier. Proper hydration also helps rejuvenate the skin, making it feel soft and smooth.

Unfortunately, caffeine can dehydrate your skin. Experts consider it a diuretic that causes your body to generate more urine and, therefore, to lose more water. Losing water from your system in this way can cause your skin to become dehydrated.

Coffee And Acne

Coffee does not cause acne directly, but it can make breakouts worse. That’s because large amounts of caffeine can increase stress hormones or cortisol levels in your body. When your cortisol levels rise, your skin’s sebaceous glands produce more oil or sebum than usual. This overproduction of natural oil on your skin can cause your pores to clog and make you prone to breakouts.

Moreover, people often reach for another cup of coffee when they are stressed, leading to a damaging circle of caffeine, cortisol and sebum.

Your Coffee Habits And Other Skin Issues

How you indulge in your morning coffee habit may also impact your skin. For example, if you’re not into plain black coffee and like your hot drink to be sweet, your cup will likely contain sugar.

Excess sugar can kick your insulin into overdrive and combine with proteins, weakening elastin and collagen in your skin. When these significant building blocks become compromised, your skin becomes less elastic, duller and drier. As a result, signs of ageing, such as sagging, wrinkles, dark spots and fine lines become more noticeable.

If you want to add milk or creamer to your cup, you might have to reconsider that, too. That’s because several studies have linked the casein and whey found in dairy products with skin issues like acne and inflammation.

3 Ways To Counteract The Negative Effects Of Caffeine

For coffee and tea lovers out there, here’s the good news! You don’t have to stop drinking these beverages altogether to maintain a healthy and blemish-free complexion. As we mentioned, caffeine can be beneficial to your body when consumed in moderation. So, here are some things you can do to enjoy your hot drinks while ensuring your skin remains young-looking and radiant.

Drink Lots Of Fluids

If you like to have more than a cup or two a day, make sure you compensate by drinking enough water to combat dehydration. As a rough guide, it’s a good idea to add two cups of water a day for every cup of coffee you consume.

Maintain A Skincare Routine

Cleanse your face regularly to remove excess sebum, dirt and product buildup that may clog your pores and cause acne. Besides drinking water, hydrate your skin from the outside by applying a moisturiser to keep it soft and supple.

Cut Back On Sweetener And Creamer

If you’re already dealing with breakouts or are prone to acne, drink black coffee or, at least, reduce the use of any sweetener and creamer. If you don’t like the idea of keeping your coffee black, a splash of plant-based creamer may alleviate some of the consequences associated with coffee drinking.

Conclusion

Caffeine may have some negative effects on your skin, but you don’t have to give it up altogether. The antioxidants in caffeine are a good enough reason to keep drinking your morning tea or coffee. Just be sure that you maintain a healthy skincare routine, drink plenty of water and minimise the amount of dairy and sugar in your hot drinks.

Regular aesthetics treatments are an excellent way of restoring lustre and shine to your skin. Get in touch with Vinci Aesthetics to secure your free skincare consultation and boost your skin’s appearance!

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