You know the feeling: you stumble into the kitchen, finally motivated enough to face the day properly. You need coffee. No matter how you ingest it, it’s an integral part of your routine. But is drinking coffee bad for your skin?
Coffee is the basis of many trendy creations that double as snacks and drinks, including your favourite frappuccino. The nation is so devoted to their morning cup of Joe that over 300 million cups are consumed daily. It might look harmless, but there are potential side effects, some of which may affect your skin.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that absorbs into the bloodstream and can prompt your body to release cortisol, a stress hormone. If it’s released in high doses over long periods of time, it can trigger a cascade of effects that can lead to premature aging in your skin. This includes wrinkles, dark circles, and chronic redness. The dehydrating element of coffee can play a role as well, with long-term drinking potentially leading to dehydration and an increase in wrinkles.
Furthermore, if your daily intake of coffee is more than the recommended amount it may result in an interruption of the skins natural cycle of exfoliation and breakouts may occur.
Although a lot of people suggest drinking more water and less coffee, some research suggests that can be just as bad. Studies have found that over-hydration of your skin can also lead to sagged and aged appearance, as well as dark circles and puffiness.
Regardless, there are many ways to help combat the potential side effects of drinking coffee, even if you can’t cut it out entirely. One great way is to replace some of your caffeinated beverages with decaffeinated. This significantly lowers the amount of stress and strain on your adrenal gland from caffeine. Drinking more healthy liquids such as smoothies is also a fantastic way to get the nutrition you need in a more natural form.
Also, it’s important to treat your skin with the care and attention it deserves. This includes exfoliating, moisturizing, and wearing sunscreen. Make sure you use products suited to your skin type, particularly one that caters to mature skin if wrinkles are already an issue. Be sure to only use gentle and natural products so you don’t further damage your delicate skin while trying to improve it.
Overall, the dangers of drinking coffee on your skin depend on how much you’re drinking. Every individual is different and can handle different levels of coffee. Everyone has a unique skin type and should use the advice of a dermatologist to discuss the clarity and radiance of their skin. If coffee is your beverage of choice, moderate yourself to prevent any side effects from taking effect.
Topical Treatments
So you’ve found out that too much coffee consumption can be bad for your skin – however, there’s no shortage of products on the market to combat the effects. Ultimately, topical treatments are often the best way to get rid of wrinkles, dark circles, and skin dehydration. This can include anything from eye serum to collagen creams. With so many of these products promising amazing results, however, it can be hard to know which ones to choose.
Consequently, seeking advice from a dermatologist is key. With their help, you can make sure you get the best advice and products for your skin type and condition. Although you can still buy products from stores and pharmacies, discussing your skin with a professional will be the best way to make sure you’re getting sure-fire results. Professional treatments such as chemical peels are also available and should be considered as a last resort due to the ‘fire and forget’ approach many of them involve.
Also, there are many natural ingredients you can use that can rival premium years in terms of results. Natural products such as cucumber and fruit extracts are known to contain elements that can boost skin health, whilst also being gentle on other areas of the face. Subsequently, you don’t have to fulfill your shopping cart with expensive products in order to gain access to optimal results.
Once you’ve followed a professional’s advice and picked up your treatments, it’s important that you carry out regular application. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “fail to prepare, prepare to fail”, this is definitely the case here: to have the desired effect on your skin, your topical treatments must be applied religiously to the affected areas. Only then in the products be able to make a difference.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that topical treatments work in conjunction with other treatments and processes. You’ll have to combine topical treatments with good lifestyle habits and a balanced diet to achieve the best results. Without these, the topical treatments may be rendered obsolete and prove not to be as effective as you originally hoped.
Sun Care
Although you may associate the need to wear sunscreen with summertime and swimming, it’s important to remember that the sun’s rays can affect your skin all year round. As a result, it’s imperative to ensure that you include a regular sunscreen in your daily skincare routine.
The number one ingredient of any sunscreen is zinc oxide, which is renowned for being the best natural sun blocker. With this in mind, it’s important to read sunscreen labels carefully, as many brands contain fewer than 0.3% zinc! To ensure optimal sun protection, look for body sunscreens that contain at least 15% of the mineral.
The SPF (sun protection factor) rating is also important to consider. Generally, anything with a 15+ SPF label will block around 97% of UV rays and offer you a broad spectrum of protection. However, if you have particularly fair skin and are planning to spend a lot of time out in the sun, it’s a good idea to opt for a 30+ SPF label. Pay particular attention to the expiry date, as sunscreen becomes less effective over time.
We’ve been reminded of the benefits of sun protection many times. Not only can it protect your skin from premature aging and wrinkles, but it can also reduce your chances of developing skin cancer. Furthermore, it’ll protect your skin against the harmful UVA and UVB rays, which can cause deeper skin issues and significantly worsen existing ones. Therefore, make sure regular sun care is included in your skincare routine and you won’t have to worry, whatever the weather.
Long-Term Care
Over time, everyone’s skin will start to show signs of wear and tear. This can affect anyone, regardless of their lifestyle and daily skincare habits. As a result, proactive long-term care is essential for avoiding skin issues in the future.
Firstly, it’s important to buy higher quality face creams, with appropriate ingredients for your skin type. Many people opt for the ‘one size fits all’ approach with face creams, which can often lead to skin problems and problems in the long run. Furthermore, lower quality creams won’t have the same performance in terms of truly deeply delivering the active ingredients you crave; consider it a shallow dip versus a deep dive.
Also, look out for retinols and AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) in creams and lotions, as they can be beneficial to those with mature skin. Retinol helps your skin to reduce lines and wrinkles, while AHAs gently exfoliate the top layer of skin and help reveal the younger cells beneath. These ingredients can improve the texture and smoothness of your skin, as well as reduce spots and wrinkles. Even though natural ingredients may be ideal in many cases, synthetic ingredients can not be dismissed outright. In certain cases, synthetic or chemical ingredients can outperform natural alternatives.
It’s also recommended that you attend regular facial treatments. This doesn’t have to mean expensive spa treatments, as the majority of treatments can be done from the comfort of your home. Treatments such as hydrating masks, face peels and deep cleansing can particularly beneficial. Combined with regular hydration and skincare habits, these treatments will help to maintain a more youthful glow.
Good Sleep Habits
As the saying goes, beauty sleep is real. It’s been proven time and time again that lack of sleep or poor quality of sleep can have a severe effect on your skin’s appearance. As a result, it’s wise to make good sleep habits part of your skincare routine.
For starters, make sure to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This helps to build your body’s natural rhythms, as well as helping your skin to build a routine. Also, avoid technology for at least an hour before bed, as this will reduce the amount of blue light your body produces. Blue light can be harmful to your body if you’re exposed to it just before bedtime.
It’s also important to remember to remove any make-up before going to bed. Makeup can cause skin issues such as breakouts and premature aging if left on overnight. The best way to avoid this is to use gentle cleansers; try some containing natural oils such as coconut oil or shea butter. Such ingredients, unlike many chemical based alternatives, will effectively remove makeup and dirt, whilst also nourishing your skin.
Also, where possible, try to avoid dehydration. When your body is dehydrated, which many are unintentionally, it will cause your skin to become dry and tight, leading to wrinkles and premature aging. Drinking 2 to 3 litres of water per day can work miracles for your skin, as can maintaining a balanced, low carbohydrate diet. Once your body has the necessary vitamins, minerals, and hydration, the signs of aging such as discolouration and wrinkles will reduce noticeably.
