Can Drinking Spearmint Tea Help Clear Acne? Dermatologists Weigh In
Stocksy
Reviewed by Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD
Can drinking spearmint tea help clear acne? Some experts say yes. In fact, clinical dermatologist Carl Thornfeldt says drinking two cups of spearmint tea daily can clear up acne faster than prescription remedies. Naturally (no pun intended), I had to put it to the test. Read on to learn what happened when I tried drinking spearmint tea for clear skin. Plus, get expert advice from Dr. Thornfeldt and board-certified dermatologist Lucy Chen, including what makes spearmint tea so effective at clearing acne and who can benefit from the minty skincare solution.
Meet Our Expert
Carl Thornfeldt, MD, is a clinical dermatologist and founder of Epionce Skincare. Dr. Thornfeldt has used his over 30 years of experience to publish a book, The New Ideal in Skin Health, which is about debunking skin care myths.
Lucy Chen, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology. She is based in Miami.
Spearmint Tea v. Regular Mint Tea
"It has been documented that spearmint is the most potent of the different mints in killing skin disease-causing bacteria and yeasts, Thornfedlt notes. "In addition, spearmint has the most anti-inflammatory activity of the mint varieties." And the health benefits don't stop there.
Benefits of Spearmint Tea
Apart from wielding anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, a study by the Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that spearmint tea is also high in antioxidants, notes Dr. Chen. Overall, spearmint tea:
Kills bacteria
Is anti-inflammatory
Is high in antioxidants
Can Spearmint Tea Clear Up Acne?
It likely depends on the person, but there are promising signs that drinking spearmint tea can help clear acne. In a 2015 study by the American Academy of Dermatology, two cups of organic spearmint tea ingested daily reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 25 percent after one month and by 51 percent after three months, notes Dr. Thornfeldt. "When compared with 100 milligrams of prescription Minocycline taken once daily, after three months of use, Minocycline reduced the number of acne lesions by 52 percent, but it caused side effects in about 20 percent of the patients. Spearmint tea induced no side effects," Dr. Thornfeldt says.
Dr. Chen adds, "Research proposes that spearmint tea has anti-androgenic properties, meaning that with acne, the effects of anti-androgens include reduced sebum production." This can be a good thing for those with acne-prone skin since excess sebum can result in clogged pores, oily complexions, and you guessed it: breakouts.
How to Use Spearmint Tea for Clear Skin
I decided to put the herbal remedy to the test. If I was going to commit to weeks of drinking the same flavor of tea twice a day, I wanted to make it enjoyable. I got set up with a big canister of spearmint tea from David's Tea, a handy infuser, and a travel mug for my commute and the office. At first, I was worried that so much mint would be too much to tolerate (probably because of my aversion to mints after once eating an entire bag of spearmint Lifesavers and getting a huge bellyache), but surprisingly, it was totally fine and quite enjoyable. Oddly enough, the spearmint energized me during the day, yet helped soothe me to sleep when I sipped it before bed. It was the best of both worlds.
The Downsides
Despite anecdotal evidence and early research, Dr. Chen admits that there's still more to be discovered if we're to understand exactly how spearmint tea affects the skin. "I would say that research indicates some health benefits associated with drinking spearmint tea, however, additional research is needed into some of its properties to claim if drinking spearmint tea is the be-all-end-all remedy for acne," she says.
And while spearmint tea may be less effective than prescription acne medication, it's also far less likely to cause side effects. This is a pretty safe option, and it probably won't hurt you to give it a shot as a supplement to your regular skincare routine. Of course, see your doctor if you have any concerns.
The Final Takeaway
There's more research to be done to prove definitively whether or not spearmint tea is a cure for acne, but current studies show promise. It's also a much gentler alternative treatment than some others, so if you enjoy drinking two cups of spearmint tea a day, then go for it.
In my case, I'm happy to report that drinking spearmint tea helped clear my skin. I didn't use any acne cream or cleansers the entire month that I tested the tea and kept my diet the same as usual. Even during the week of my period (which is when I break out the most), I barely had so much as a blemish. During a visit home, my mom noted that my skin looked like "porcelain." I hadn't heard her say that in ages, and with that, I happily (and smugly) sipped my tea.
Read the original article on Byrdie.
