Three Herbal Teas for Acne Relief

Green tea isn’t the only tea that is reputed to help those suffering from acne. A myriad of herbal teas can help clear skin as well.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea, otherwise known as “red bush” tea, is a tea popular in South Africa. Rooibos tea is full of antioxidants, is caffeine free, and is also a lesser known remedy for acne. Rooibos tea has many of the antioxidants found in green tea yet it is conveniently caffeine free, perfect for those who are sensitive to stimulants.

Rooibos tea has been used traditionally in South African culture as a natural treatment for acne and other skin conditions for many years. The well known tea company The Republic of Tea has caught wind of the skin healing benefits of rooibos tea and created a rooibos blend called Get Gorgeous Herb Tea for Clear Skin which has has been supported by many glowing reviews on websites like www.acne.org. Of course you don’t have to buy a special rooibos tea marketed toward acne sufferers as any good quality rooibos tea will suffice. Rooibos tea is growing in popularity and can be found at most grocery stores. Celestial Seasoning’s sells a pleasant, inexpensive version.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is one of the most popular herbal teas available. Commonly used as a mild sedative, gentle sleep aid, and mood enhancer, the benefits of chamomile also extend into the realm of skincare.

Chamomile’s naturally soothes not only your nerves, but your skin as well. Applied externally, it is good for reducing inflammation, which is a big component of acne. Chamomile may also help acne indirectly by reducing stress, a big cause of breakouts. Chamomile also may have blood sugar controlling properties, making it an exciting component of any anti-acne diet as unstable blood sugar has been linked to an increase in acne. Chamomile is a pleasant, mild tasting tea that can be consumed on its own or blended with other herbs. It is cheap and available at most any grocery store.

Licorice Tea

Licorice is a less conventional herbal tea ingredient that demonstrates some promise in the treatment of acne. According to a study done at the University of Padua in Italy, licorice has been shown to reduce testosterone levels. This is beneficial because an excess of testosterone has been shown to contribute to the development of acne. Licorice is found in popular tea blends such as Yogi Tea’s Egyptian Licorice which can be purchased at select major grocery stores and most health food stores.

All three of these teas have a delicate, almost sweet flavor, making them suitable for drinking alone or combining with other stronger teas. For increased benefit, one could even combine all three to make an especially effective acne fighting brew. You could start off drinking one cup a day of any of the above herbal teas (or try a blend if you are inclined) and see how how your skin reacts. If that’s not enough, maximal benefit might be derived from drinking multiple cups per day.