How Does Caffeine Affect Skin?

Caffeine comes in many forms; coffee, diet pills, chocolate bars, and tea. Most of us consume some form of caffeine every day. Have you ever stopped to wonder how caffeine affects your skin?

Over half of Americans over the age of 18 drink coffee every day. That is over 100 million U.S. daily coffee drinkers, according to statisticbrain.com. Caffeine dilates our blood vessels, creating a faster blood flow through our bodies, raising our heart rates and bringing more oxygen to our brains. No wonder so many people like it enough to start each day off with a cup of coffee!

Although coffee is an American favorite, caffeine has some drawbacks. Other than being a great pick-me-up, it is also a diuretic. Diuretics cause our bodies to release fluid and can become dehydrated if too much caffeine is consumed. Dehydration can be very hard on your skin, drying it out before you even realize what is happening.

Dry skin can loose its elasticity and become saggy. Your skin can appear thinner and wrinkly with an ashy appearance. Changes can happen gradually if too much caffeine is consumed daily as part of a regular routine and you may not realize it is the caffeine consumption creating the changes.

Too much caffeine can affect your sleep, which in turn will affect your skin’s appearance. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies feel the stress. The stress hormone, called cortisol, can make skin more oily and prone to acne breakouts. Lack of sleep can also create dark circles around the eyes and wrinkles. If you are having issues with sleeping a whole night, examine your caffeine consumption habits.

So, how much caffeine is too much? The answer varies, depending on the person. We are all affected by caffeine differently, so it is important to keep caffeine consumption to a minimum and listen to your body. If caffeine is an important part of your morning routine, simply remember to drink extra water during the day to counteract the diuretic effect and keep your skin hydrated and beautiful.

Resouce: Today.com