The good, the bad, and the caffeine

Food entrepreneur Jennifer Irvine asks if a daily coffee habit is affecting your patients’ skin

Coffee is a subject that usually raises a lot of questions with my patients. Does coffee dehydrate you? Is it good for your health? Is coffee bad for your skin? According to a recent survey conducted by the British Coffee Association, the average Brit drinks approximately three cups of coffee per day.

When it comes to skincare, caffeine has received mixed reviews due to it being a diuretic that can cause dehydration in the skin. However, in recent years, research has shown that, when consumed (or applied topically) correctly, caffeine can significantly improve skin.

CAFFEINE: THE PROS AND CONS

The benefits:
Caffeine is an antioxidant that can detoxify the skin and increase circulation. This makes caffeine particularly useful for people with inflammatory skin conditions, such as rosacea, as the vasoconstrictive properties of caffeine can help to reduce redness. Caffeine can also help to reduce puffiness around the eyes by boosting circulation.

Additionally, many of us will be aware that caffeine can be effective in treating cellulite when applied topically. There are numerous products on the market that use caffeine as a primary ingredient to increase blood flow and stimulate the circulation of fat cells, while firming the tissues covering fat deposits.

The downsides:
Although caffeine has its benefits, it can also have negative effects on the skin. As a diuretic, caffeine causes the body to lose water, which can lead to dehydrated skin. Consuming caffeine throughout the day can also disrupt sleep patterns, which can negatively impact the skin’s ability to rejuvenate and promote cell turnover.

Sleep deprivation can also stimulate the production of cortisol, a stress hormone that can cause acne. To maintain a well-rested complexion, it’s important to ensure that your patients get enough sleep each night and limit caffeine intake to the morning hours.

Additionally, the results of drinking too much caffeine can cause the skin to wrinkle prematurely and become laxer with time. These changes give the skin a more aged appearance than in people who do not consume caffeine.

Consider how your patients take their caffeine

Most people in the UK get their caffeine fix from coffee. Equally as important as how much caffeine our patients are consuming is how they consume it. One factor to consider is the sugar and dairy that are often added to coffee. When we consume excess sugar, it can lead to inflammation in the body, which can show up on our skin in the form of breakouts, dullness, and premature ageing. Additionally, dairy products can be inflammatory for some people, leading to skin irritation and acne. Advising patients simply to cut back on the added sugar consumed in their daily coffee could be hugely beneficial to their skin.

Another factor to consider is the temperature of the coffee. Hot beverages can cause dilation of the blood vessels, leading to redness and flushing in the skin. This can be especially problematic for individuals with rosacea or sensitive skin. To avoid this, consider advising patients to let their coffee cool down a bit before drinking it, or opting for iced coffee instead.

Can the effects of too much caffeine be reversed?

The good news is recent research has shown that healthy skin in individuals under 50 can usually see a reversal of any of coffee’s bad effects on their skin within two to three months. More mature skin types may take three to six months to reverse the ageing effects of chronic coffee consumption.

Once you limit your intake your patients should notice fewer wrinkles, more hydrated, plumped skin, and a brand-new glow. This is because more open-dilated blood vessels are providing essential nutrients and collagen-building proteins to the skin.

Achieving a healthy balance To get the most out of caffeine’s benefits for the skin, it’s important to find a healthy balance. I often advise my patients to try these tips:

• If you need more caffeine to stay alert, try to drink more water as well.

• Consider adding nootropics like lion’s mane into your daily coffee. This mushroom contains compounds called erinacines and hericenones, which stimulate the growth of nerve cells in the brain. By combining the caffeine in coffee with the neurotrophic properties of Lion’s Mane, you can create a powerful drink that not only provides an energy boost but also promotes brain health and naturally aids focus.

• Gradually decrease caffeine intake to minimise its dehydrating effects. For example, switch from a double shot latte to a single shot.

JENNIFER IRVINE

Jennifer Irvine is the founder of The Pure Package, The Wellness Awards and Balance Box.. She is the author of two books and regularly publishes articles on practical ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Irvine designed the Leiths Nutrition in Culinary Practice course in 2014 to celebrate healthy ingredients, cooking methods and putting nutritional education first. jenniferirvine.orgleiths.com/professional-courses/nutrition-in-practice-the-accreditation