Coffee acne on the face: why it appears and what to do

The tonic effect of coffee is explained by caffeine, which is the main component of the drink. The body’s reaction to it is natural: the production of the hormone cortisol. In excessive amounts, caffeine increases the functioning of the sebaceous glands. And they, in turn, secrete excess sebum. As a result, pores become clogged and acne appears on the skin.

Coffee rashes are common in oily and acne-prone skin. It has been established that instant coffee increases skin oiliness. Conditions appear for the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. Can coffee cause acne if it is brewed according to all the rules? Of course yes, and the reason for this is individual intolerance to the drink. If allergies, itching, peeling and redness of the skin, or small pimples occur, it is necessary to avoid contact with the allergen.

So, we can draw certain conclusions. Caffeine acne appears for the following reasons:

Against the background of hormonal imbalance in the body;
Disruption of the sebaceous glands;
From an impressive amount of chemical additives.

Why do acne happen?

So, what can cause skin rashes on the face? There are many negative external and internal factors that provoke their appearance. The most common ones are:

Allergic reactions appear quickly, but once you interrupt contact with the allergen and remove it from the body, they immediately disappear.
Endocrine disorders - cause excessive activity of the sebaceous glands, which become clogged and inflamed.
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract lead to the fact that the body does not absorb nutrients normally and does not get rid of waste and toxins in a timely manner.
Insufficient blood supply - in certain areas of the skin it causes oxygen starvation, cell death and the appearance of acne.
Increased sweating - if the skin is not cleansed in time, it becomes irritated by the salt and toxins in the liquid and becomes covered in a rash.

You will be very surprised, but all the reasons listed above can actually be provoked by excessive consumption of the invigorating drink beloved by many. So coffee and acne may well be related.

Coffee scrub for acne

The grounds from brewed natural coffee can be used to prepare an excellent scrub that helps get rid of acne if there is a large amount of it. To do this, after preparing the drink, the liquid should be carefully drained and the grounds should be dried. For better application and enhanced effect, you can mix the dry substance with different components.

Very often, natural honey, egg yolk or white, strawberry or raspberry puree, and milk are added to the coffee grounds. You can simply dilute the mixture with warm water or a decoction of herbs to cleanse your face of dead cells. However, adding other components not only cleanses the pores, but also provides the skin with important components.

It is easy to use such scrub-masks. To do this, you need to wash the skin, steam it over a decoction of herbs, apply the prepared composition, leave for 2 - 3 minutes, then thoroughly massage the skin and rinse with warm water.

It is important to remember that you do not need to force yourself to give up such a drink, but for the health of your skin and the whole body as a whole, you should drink coffee in moderation, paying attention to its quality. Experts recommend avoiding any type of instant coffee, preferring a natural drink.

Don't drink too much coffee!

The effect of coffee on the body

So, what happens in the body when we enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee? Under its influence, the production of the hormone cortisol is accelerated. It increases heart rate, increases blood pressure and increases the activity of the sebaceous glands. Consequently:

body temperature rises slightly, which the body compensates by increased sweat production;
the pores expand, and the skin becomes covered with a rather dense layer of fat, which mixes with salt and toxins and begins to irritate the epidermis;
with constant repetition of the situation, the pores become clogged, acne and blackheads appear on the face;
clogged ducts provide excellent conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora, so bacteria quickly expand colonies and provoke inflammatory processes.

As a result, after a while, coffee can actually cause acne to appear on your face. This period can be from several months for dry skin to several weeks for oily and problematic skin.

Treatment of rashes

Taking medications will be effective only after an accurate diagnosis and tests have been completed. Prescribing medications on your own is dangerous for your health. But there are folk recipes that should be used carefully, carefully monitoring your condition.

Coffee acne can be dried with tar soap. For those with oily skin, it is recommended to wash your face with this product twice a day. For everyone else, once is enough.
Tea tree oil is good for getting rid of acne. This product can be bought at a pharmacy. A small amount of oil should be applied once or twice a day to the inflamed area and left for two hours. If the skin becomes too dry when using the product, then water should be added to the oil in a one to one ratio.
A popular folk method in the fight against skin rashes is to use calendula tincture. It has a disinfecting and drying effect. Apply directly to acne. If the area of the rash is large, then the tincture must be diluted with clean water before use.
If coffee causes acne, there is a simple way to relieve inflammation and dry the skin. To do this, take two or three aspirin tablets, crush them and mix with water. Apply the resulting paste to the rashes and wait until it dries. After this, rinse off the product with water. The action of such aspirin paste is similar to the action of a soft scrub, as old skin cells are exfoliated.

You must always remember that any rash appears for a reason. The nature of rashes and acne can be different: an allergic reaction to foods, hormonal imbalances, or from excessive amounts of coffee. Attempts to squeeze or pick at unpleasant rashes can lead to worse consequences: scars will remain, the number of acne will increase, and dirt may get into the inflamed area. The use of aggressive creams and scrubs is also not recommended. Therefore, if you suspect that acne is caused by coffee, you should stop drinking the instant drink and if your skin gets worse, remove coffee from your diet.

Factors provocateurs

Now that the connection between coffee and facial acne has become obvious to you, I want to tell you even more interesting information. There are provoking factors due to which rashes can appear quite quickly even with moderate consumption.

Sugar

Sweet coffee speeds up the process of acne formation as it activates insulin production. The load on the endocrine system increases. Accordingly, sebum secretion also increases. Pores clog faster, and an overloaded liver causes a rash.

A little better is the sweetener, which many consider an erroneously healthy dietary product. Typically sodium cyclamate is used as a sweetener. If you take more than 4-5 tablets a day, it overloads the kidneys, provokes allergic reactions and the appearance of edema.

Milk

Adding a small amount of skim milk to your coffee will not harm your skin. But usually this is not the end of the matter. More often, coffee is drunk with cream, and its fat content ranges from 10 to 40-45%. Or with condensed milk, which contains a huge amount of fat and sugar. Whipped cream is also not the best option, especially from a can, since it also contains chemical additives.

Excess fat overloads the liver and also provokes the formation of acne. A sweet drink promotes the production of the pleasure hormone serotonin, so it is more addictive than unsweetened black coffee. Its use is gradually increasing, and with it the risk of skin rashes.

Cigarettes

A cup of coffee and a cigarette in the morning is a classic of the genre and a bad habit for many people. This “explosive mixture” is especially dangerous if taken on an empty stomach. You know that, in fact, coffee and cigarettes are antagonists. Caffeine dilates blood vessels, and nicotine provokes sharp spasms. Imagine the burden that falls on an organism that is not properly awakened!

In addition, cigarette smoke contains a huge amount of toxins. Thanks to the increased heart rate under the influence of coffee, they spread throughout the body much faster, and it simply does not have time to neutralize them. With regular use of this “sweet couple”, the appearance of acne on the face and body is simply inevitable.

Medicines

First of all, these are antibiotics and hormone-containing drugs, including oral contraceptives. I will not convince you that taking them without a doctor's prescription is simply irresponsible. I’ll just tell you how they can interact with coffee.

The action of antibiotics is aimed at eliminating pathogenic microflora. But, alas, it has not yet been possible to create effective highly specialized drugs. Yes, this is impossible due to the diversity of pathogens. Therefore, along with the harmful ones, the beneficial ones that live in our gastrointestinal tract also die. This disrupts normal bowel function and impairs the elimination of toxins.

Hormonal pills directly affect the functioning of the endocrine system. And it regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands. Coffee also affects it to some extent. Accordingly, the risk of increased skin oiliness and acne when taken simultaneously increases significantly.

Cosmetics

Regular use of low-quality decorative cosmetics contributes to clogged pores and the appearance of rashes. Especially if these are silicone makeup bases or foundations with a prolonged effect. Under the influence of coffee, the pores expand and actively secrete fat, and it simply has nowhere to go under a thick layer of cosmetics.

It's even worse if you don't have the habit of thoroughly cleansing your skin before going to bed. Rubbing only with tonic or cosmetic milk is completely insufficient in this case. After removing makeup, be sure to wash your face with lukewarm water with a small amount of gel and apply moisturizer. This will save your face from dehydration and prevent acne from appearing.

What to do if coffee causes acne

First, you need to rule out any health problems that could cause coffee acne. Therefore, you need to consult a specialist, check the endocrine system and gastrointestinal tract organs. If all organs are normal, then you should stop drinking instant drinks, because they are more likely than others to cause acne. The best solution to the problem is to drink only ground and natural coffee. It is advisable to grind the grains immediately before preparing the drink and limit its quantity. This is the only way to forget about coffee blackheads forever.

Advice! You should not mix coffee with sweet syrups and other additives, because this will increase the number of acne.

If you are sure that coffee is to blame for the appearance of acne, then you should refrain from drinking it for several weeks. During this period, you can notice that the condition of the skin has improved significantly and the acne is slowly disappearing. In addition, it is advisable to remove all provoking factors that can cause acne. It is imperative to avoid stressful situations and get plenty of rest.

Dosages are individual for all people; for some, one cup is enough to disrupt the functioning of the sebaceous glands. Some people experience acne only after 5-6 cups a day. If it’s hard to imagine your morning without invigorating coffee and it’s impossible to refuse it, then you should drink no more than one small mug of grain drink. You should not drink coffee on an empty stomach or brew it very strong, as this can harm your stomach.

How to get rid of acne from coffee:

Do not squeeze purulent rashes. If you squeeze a pimple, it can end with much worse consequences: scars will appear, the rash will increase in size, dirt will get into the inflamed area and the healing process will take a longer time.
It is recommended to cleanse the skin daily and use creams and ointments to help clear up the rash. You need to rub them in with precise movements; it would be useful to use ointments that contain an antibiotic. It helps eliminate inflammation and prevents the proliferation of bacteria.
If the skin is very oily, then tar soap helps dry it. Dermatologists recommend using it, it helps perfectly in the fight against acne, will remove existing lesions and prevent the appearance of new ones.

Tea tree essential oil may help. It can be bought at almost any pharmacy. The oil should be applied to the pimple with a cotton pad several times a day and left for a couple of hours. If the product dries out the skin, you can dilute it with plain water.

Calendula tincture is one of the most popular drying and disinfectants. It helps with many skin problems, coffee acne is no exception. Rashes are cauterized pointwise; to treat large areas of skin, it is better to dilute the tincture with water in a one to one ratio.

A mask of several aspirin tablets will help remove hated pimples. You need to crush the capsules and mix them with water. The resulting mask must be applied to the lesions, wait until it dries completely and rinse off. The effect of this aspirin product is identical to that of a gentle scrub because it exfoliates old skin cells.

Attention! Before using any medicinal or cosmetic product, you must find out whether you are allergic to them.

Coffee is an essential drink; in moderation, it acts like a medicine: it helps improve mood, making people feel more active, efficient, productive and cheerful. If you abuse it, its effect will be the opposite: the nervous system will be depleted, your health will worsen and acne will appear. As with everything in life, you need to feel in moderation. One small cup a day will bring many benefits if there are no contraindications. But the subsequent ones will bring only harm.

What to do

What should those who cannot give up their favorite invigorating drink do? First, listen to my advice to minimize its negative effects on the skin:

replace instant coffee with natural coffee - it contains less chemicals and more antioxidants;
preference should be given to a black drink, without added sugar or cream;
do not combine coffee and cigarettes, especially in the morning on an empty stomach;
make it a habit to compensate for dehydration - for every cup of coffee, drink a glass of clean still water;
while taking antibiotics or hormone-containing drugs, reduce coffee consumption to a minimum;
use only high-quality cosmetics and cleanse your skin well before going to bed;
do not abuse your favorite drink, allowing yourself no more than 1-2 cups a day.

If you notice that even after following the measures listed above, the number of rashes on your face is not decreasing, be sure to consult your doctor. It is quite possible that they are provoked by other negative external or internal factors.

Is it possible to drink coffee if you have problem skin?

The norm for drinking coffee is 2-3 cups per day. We are talking about natural coffee without sugar or additives. Of course, sweets and snacks that accompany the drink are not taken into account. It is sweet coffee-based drinks: raf, cappuccino with whipped cream or marshmallows, coffee with honey (which is itself an allergen), alcohol, syrup or ice cream - that can cause acne on the face, mainly due to the large amount of sugar.

Limit the amount of additives in your coffee. Please note: maybe it is not he who causes the rash, but the desserts that you eat as a bite without even noticing? Fat donuts, macarons, creamy tiramisu or eclair with buttercream...

Summing up

As you can see, the answer to the question whether acne can result from excessive coffee consumption is obvious. Therefore, you will have to moderate your appetites and drink coffee little by little. Then the skin condition will begin to improve rapidly. You can verify this by comparing photos before and a month after the restrictions were introduced. By the way, a coffee scrub with salt and soda helps get rid of acne faster, the recipe for which you can find in another article on our website.

According to my clients, one morning cup of aromatic freshly brewed drink will not harm your face. But it is better if her companion is not a cigarette, but a piece of hard cheese, which compensates for the loss of calcium provoked by coffee. And the predecessor is a glass of clean water, drunk immediately after waking up. This will allow you not to deny yourself pleasure and preserve the youth and beauty of your skin.

What do you think about this? Share your opinion and feedback in the comments.

How to treat?

Here are the main points of treatment:

if the cause of acne is still coffee, then from the beginning you need to switch from instant to natural ground coffee;
Antibiotic ointments should be applied to pimples, which will quickly eliminate inflammation and inhibit the growth of bacteria;
for faster healing and pacification of inflammatory processes, you should wash your face with tar soap;
Do not squeeze pimples;
in case of a rash without characteristic inflammation, masks and scrubs selected for the skin type are suitable for treatment;
if there is inflammation, then scrubs are strictly prohibited. First you need to eliminate inflammation. To do this, you can spot-apply calendula or make aspirin masks;
You can also help your body with a balanced diet.

Coffee scrub for acne treatment

You can fight rashes with the same coffee:

To prepare the scrub, you need to brew strong black coffee, let it brew for a couple of minutes and then drain the liquid, leaving only the grounds. Apply the thickener to the face with massaging movements. Leave for five to fifteen minutes, rinse with warm water and wash with gel or foam;
You can make a coffee scrub with the addition of oils and brown sugar. You need to combine the butter you like with coffee in a 1:1 ratio, add 0.5 sugar and salt on the tip of a knife. To stir thoroughly. If desired, you can also add a little cinnamon;
to additionally saturate the top layer of skin with vitamins, you can combine the grounds with fruit puree;
nut-coffee scrub can be prepared from a mixture of coffee grounds and walnuts ground in a blender in a 1:1 ratio;
You can also prepare a curd and coffee scrub in a 1:1 ratio.

Useful video about making a coffee scrub: These simple tips will help you quickly and easily get rid of all kinds of rashes. We are waiting for you on the pages of our website!

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