Does Caffeine Cause Acne Breakouts?

It's a big question for people taking care of their skin - does caffeine affect breakouts on your face? There are no solid studies on the subject, so no one can say for sure whether your morning cups of joe are taking a toll on your skin. But there's something to be said about an intake of caffeine due to external factors such as stress or diet that can lead to breakouts any time. Caffeine had been linked to hormonal fluctuations, but more importantly too much caffeine can lead to other lifestyle elements that lead to breakouts. Fortunately, there are options beyond caffeine-packed foods and beverages.

Make Sure You're Getting Sleep and Not Awake Because of Caffeine

Sleep deprivation causes stress, which absolutely contributes to acne breakouts in the form of stimulating over activity in the hormonal glands that produce androgens. Androgens are the hormones that are linked to the overproduction of skin cells that ultimately clog pores and cause the build up of bacteria that creates acne breakouts. Not being able to sleep because of caffeine intake is no joke - tossing and turning means a stressful and a not very restful night of sleep. Caffeine is just like any other drug in that it has what doctors call a "half-life," meaning the amount of time it takes to flush out of your system. For the average healthy adult, it should take about 3-4 hours before caffeine is flushed out of your body, so be aware of what you're drinking, particularly in the latter part of the day. If you're reducing the amount of caffeine you're drinking, the last thing you want to do is go cold turkey! You'll end up with headaches from the withdrawals, which can add to the stress. Make sure you're decreasing the caffeine and upping the water intake.

Chocolate, Our Old Friend (And Enemy)

Another side effect of stress (for women especially) is a need to eat chocolate to relieve symptoms brought on by menstrual cycles or general stress in their lives. Doctors are starting to see a correlation with cow's milk and the iodine in it to hormonal changes in humans - which could mean that those milk chocolates could really add up to some serious breakouts down the road. However, dark chocolate (the real dark chocolate kind, not the "just darker milk chocolate kind") is full of antioxidants, which are actually quite healthy for your skin. See, not all chocolate is unhealthy! However, whenever you can eat a piece of fruit rather than a chunk of chocolate, you are ahead of the game.

Of course, as with everything, caffeine should be consumed in moderation. It can be hard, but clear skin is worth it! Instead of drinking coffee or diet soda, try switching to green tea - not only does it contain less caffeine, it's also loaded with great antioxidants and helps give your body a boost. It also helps your liver get rid of toxins, which caffeine hampers!