When you drank your coffee this morning, you probably didn’t give much thought about what that cup of joe was doing to your skin. Yet, everything we put into our bodies has the potential to affect our skin, some of them in good ways and the others in not-so-good ways. Where does coffee fall into the spectrum of helping or hindering the health of your skin? There seems to be a lack of agreement from the scientific community on that issue.
Does Coffee Protect You Against Skin Cancer?
Researchers have already linked coffee to a lowered risk for other types of cancer and even heart disease, but the latest studies show there could also be a tie between the morning brew and basal cell carcinoma. According to the study, as reported via NBC News, “women who drank more than three cups of coffee daily were 21 percent less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma, compared with women who drank less than one cup per month.” How big is the risk reduction? An impressive 10 percent, making that choice for an extra cup seem more practical.
The report goes on to explain that the key to this link is the natural caffeine found in coffee. That means your decaf option won’t help you prevent skin cancer at all. While too much of a good thing is never a good idea, this news is reason enough to drink your daily java and feel good about how it’s helping your skin! Just don’t make the mistake of thinking you can drink coffee and skip sunscreen, instead.
Does Drinking Coffee Age Your Skin?
Some argue that coffee has negative effects for your skin, however. According to an article from Today Beauty, coffee (specifically the caffeinated variety) could be dehydrating and ultimately aging your skin. In the body, caffeine serves as a diuretic that prevents you from holding onto water and leaving your skin more prune-like. Overtime, and without proper rehydration, your skin gets dry and pale from the lack of water. The good news is that this doesn’t mean you have to give up coffee altogether. Rather, limit the number of cups you drink each day to a reasonable amount (1-3 cups will do it!) and be sure to drink enough water to counteract it.
And no, just because coffee is brewed in water does not mean it counts as a serving of water for the day!
Is Coffee a Natural Skincare Product?
From the outside, coffee grounds can be an amazing treatment for your skin. Mixing them into some natural homemade remedies can reap very big benefits for your skin. Try these creative ways to use coffee grounds in your beauty routine:
- Get softer, shinier hair by massaging gritty coffee grounds through it before you shampoo. They’ll strip away any product buildup and leave hair glossy and smooth.
- Mix coffee grounds with wine, tincture, ginger extract, seaweed extract, and sea salt to create a cellulite-removing scrub for your body.
- Use coffee grounds as a natural exfoliant to get a great scrub from head to toe. Add olive oil to soften the scrub if you need to.
- Mix coffee grounds with cocoa powder, yogurt, and honey into a deep-cleaning facial mask. Apply it to your skin for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it away for clean pores and smoother skin.
Considering all these facts, coffee seems to be more helpful than harmful to your skin. So tip back that last sip of java and start your day knowing you’ve already done something good for your body!
References:
NBC News. Coffee may help protect against skin cancer
Organic Authority. 4 Ways to Use Coffee Grounds in Your Beauty Routine
Today Beauty. Your daily cup of coffee may be aging your skin
Related Content:
- Does Hot or Iced coffee stain your teeth more?
- Natural Remedies for sunburns
- Beauty benefits of a good night’s sleep
