Written by: Ellis Schroeder
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Lohi Pratti
Image Source: Healthline
Coffee: the world’s pride and joy, the one thing keeping many eyes awake, our one true love. Caffeine is the chemical driving than buzz we feel from coffee, and it’s what can make it so addictive. Caffeine is a stimulant drug, increasing activity in the nervous system. After a cup of joe, you may find yourself more alert and focused, and that’s thanks to the impacts of caffeine. While many of us enjoy drinking coffee, how does it affect the skin? Is it helpful? Harmful? In this article, we will explore how coffee impacts the skin.
The World Health Organization actually recognizes caffeine as an addictive substance, but when consumed moderately (<400 grams daily), caffeine can be safe and beneficial to some, helping them feel less sleepy. Caffeine impacts the skin by constricting blood vessels, leading to less blood flowing to the skin. Coffee has been linked to decreased face pigmentation in Japanese middle-aged women (Fukushima et. al). One study found caffeine intake and coffee consumption have associations with a decreased risk of rosacea. Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by broken and inflamed capillaries. However, coffee can also be a trigger for rosacea due to the temperature of the drink (if you drink it hot), which causes vasodilatation or manufacturing byproducts of coffee that lead to the trigger. It is important to note that the temperature of the drink can cause the flair, not the caffeine (Searle et. al). Additionally, evidence has shown that drinking coffee is associated with a longer life (Kistler et. al) and decreased risks for some cancers (Pauwels et. al) and type 2 diabetes (Carlstrom et. al).
Coffee doesn’t just contain caffeine, however. It contains antioxidants, thanks to polyphenols, which can be helpful in skin health by eradicating free radicals that may damage the skin. Free radical damage is associated with many of the problems people experience with photoaging, and antioxidants help to prevent that. Additionally, the polyphenols found in coffee may reduce hyperpigmentation. Dermatologist Dr. Dray said on her YouTube channel, “Getting antioxidants in your diet helps your skin out a lot [by stopping that free radical damage]...coffee may actually help out these [problems] in the long run because of these antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory compounds.” However, just because there are benefits does not mean it is healthy to have tens of hundreds of cups of coffee a day. After all, the poison makes the dose. Drinking too much coffee (more than just a few cups) can lead to things like an increase in anxiety and stress responses, leading to an increase in stress hormones (like cortisol) that can increase insulin levels, resulting in more inflammation and oil production in the skin. Too much sebum in the skin can clog pores and lead to acne. Thus, too much coffee could possibly negatively impact the skin.
It’s also important to consider how someone takes their coffee to understand how it affects the skin. Adding lots of sugar and dairy to one’s coffee could make it worse for the skin, resulting in insulin spikes, and as a result, inflammation and oiliness again. The sugar in many coffee drinks can contribute to the development of acne. Facialist Angela Caglia said for W Magazine, “Most people add dairy or sugar which can spike insulin and trigger acne and change your hormone levels.”
Coffee can impact the skin in ways other than drinking, too. The topical application of spent coffee grounds (residue after the extraction of coffee from beans) can lead to protection of the skin from UV damage (Cavinato et. al). Caffeine in cosmetics also increases local blood circulation to the skin and stimulates the growth of hair on the scalp, for when caffeine is being used in shampoos and hair serums (Herman).
Coffee has been proven to offer some benefits, mostly thanks to the fact that it is rich in antioxidants, however, like anything, there can be negative side effects. Too many of even the best things for us can be bad. More research needs to be done to understand the full extent of the benefits coffee provides, specifically if there is any causation. However, there is still promising evidence of coffee being beneficial to the skin in moderate amounts with little added sugars.
References:
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Carlstrom M, Larsson S. “Coffee consumption and reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes: a systematic review with meta-analysis.” Oxford Academic Nutrition Reviews, 26 February 2022, https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/76/6/395/4954186. Accessed 3 December 2022.
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Karger S. “Coffee Consumption and Cancer Risk: An Assessment of the Health Implications Based on Recent Knowledge.” NCBI, 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8562048/. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Kistler P. “Coffee drinking is associated with increased longevity.” ScienceDaily, 26 September 2022, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220926200838.htm. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Li S, Chen M. “...” ... - YouTube, 17 January 2019, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2707780. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Lieberman M, Burbridge R. “Is Drinking Coffee Bad for Your Skin?” W Magazine, 20 August 2021, https://www.wmagazine.com/beauty/drinking-coffee-effect-skin-health. Accessed 3 December 2022.
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Shmerling R. “Coffee may help your skin stay healthy.” Harvard Health, 2 November 2018, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/coffee-may-help-your-skin-stay-healthy-2018110215295. Accessed 3 December 2022.
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