How to Use Green Tea to Calm Your Rosacea

That refreshing cup of green tea can also refresh your skin's health.

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that causes the face to flush red and break out in clusters of small bumps, mainly across the nose and cheeks. While a doctor could prescribe antibiotic ointments or capsules, the catechins (an antioxidant) in green tea can calm and soothe the skin without a prescription. A University of San Francisco study showed that using green tea extract on people with rosacea led to a "significant impact" over four weeks. However, these extracts, either purchased online or at a local health food store, can be expensive. But you can achieve decent results for a lot less by using green tea bags.

Things You'll Need

• Several bags of green tea (organic, if possible)
• Boiling water
• Teapot or mug
• Small, clean glass bottle with tightly fitting cap
• Cotton balls

Instructions

1. 

   Place two bags of green tea in a mug or three in a teapot. Pour boiling water over the tea bags. If using a mug, cover with a small plate.

2. Steep for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature.

3. Pour the brewed tea into the small glass bottle, cover tightly and refrigerate.

4. 

   Try to find organic cotton balls, if possible.

   Two or three times a day, wet a cotton ball with the refrigerated brewed tea and smooth over the face.

Tips & Warnings

• Drinking green tea will also help your skin's health. Integrative health professionals like Dr. Andrew Weil suggest up to four cups a day. Enjoy it plain or sweetened to your preference. Honey, in particular, is good for your skin in small doses.

• You can also use the spent tea bags as a skin toner, with a bonus exfoliation treatment from the tea bag's texture.

• If stored in your refrigerator, the toner will only keep for two or three days. After that, dump it out, clean the bottle and brew more tea to avoid bacterial contamination.

• If using the tea bags directly as a toner treatment, do not scrub hard. This can both irritate already tender skin as well as break the bag open, leaving wet tea leaves all over your face.

• If you're drinking the tea, follow package directions for brewing times. Strongly brewed green tea may taste bitter.

• Some people feel a slight queasiness when they drink green tea on an empty stomach. If this happens to you, drink the tea with a meal or snack.

References

• About the University of San Francisco study
• About rosacea
• Dr. Weil's endorsement of green tea

Resources

• How to boost benefits of green tea