Green Tea and Skin Rash

The relationship between green tea and skin rash is complex. Tea tannin and caffeine can cause allergy. But green tea may cure it.

While green tea contains caffeine and tannins that may cause skin rash, it also contains antioxidants that have been shown to combat allergy and inflammation.

A skin rash is a change in the color and/or texture of the skin. It can result from many different factors, including allergic reactions, friction, exposure to heat and moisture, infections, medications and contact with chemicals or other irritants.

In some cases, a patient will come into contact with an irritant or allergen that causes the skin to react. In other cases, an underlying medical condition – such as infection, infestation with parasites or disease – causes a rash to form on the surface of the skin.

Skin rash usually involves reddened skin that may be inflamed with blisters, bumps or pimples.

They are sometimes itchy and may flake, scale, peel or weep fluid. Some may be painful or cause a stinging sensation. In severe cases, the rash may crack or bleed.

If you are concerned about green tea and skin rash, bear in mind of the following:
  • Individuals who are allergic or hypersensitive to caffeine or tannin should avoid drinking green. Skin rash has been reported with those who consume caffeine.

  • Individuals with severe liver disease should also be careful with green tea. This is because the caffeine content in green tea may build up and last longer.

How Green Tea Help

The anti-inflammatory properties of green tea has been reported in many studies. A 2000 literature review conducted by the Case Western Reserve University concluded:

Analysis of published studies demonstrates that green tea polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. These effects appear to correlate with the antioxidant properties of green tea polyphenols.

Although more clinical studies are needed, supplementation of skin care products with green tea may have a profound impact on various skin disorders in the years to come.

Drinking green tea may not have enough impact on the skin, said Dr. Zigang Dong from the University of Minnesota, who conducted a study involving rat skin and UV light.

"Drinking tea may help, but you'd have to drink a large amount to accumulate in the skin, perhaps as many as 10 cups a day.”

"It's easier to concentrate it in a cream form, and it's probably more effective."

However, exercise caution if you buy a green tea cream. Further studies about green tea and skin rash are needed. Dr. Dong said creams were already available, but were unlikely to have undergone testing.

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References

Green tea and skin. Katiyar SK, Ahmad N, Mukhtar H.. Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Archives for dermatological research. 2000 Aug;136(8):989-94.

Tea lotion could stop skin cancer. BBC news. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3090190.stm.

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