Green Tea and

Anti-Aging

Green tea, a minimally oxidized version of tea made of Camellia sinensis. It originates in the country of China but largely associated with many other cultures in Asia and the Middle East.

Extracts have been gaining popularity as key ingredients in skin care preparations designed to treat skin as an anti-aging compound. Green tea polyphenolic compounds have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and recent studies suggest that these extracts help mediate ultraviolet radiation damage

Does Green Tea Help as an Anti-Aging Aid?

When evaluated, the effects of a combination regimen of topical and oral supplementation on the clinical and histologic characteristics of photoaging indicate that it has a net beneficial influence on the effects of aging.

Specific Study Results & Anti-Aging Qualities

Our primary study was done with 40 women with moderate "photoaging" and these women were randomized to either a combination regimen of 10% green tea cream and 300 mg oral supplements twice-daily or a placebo regimen for 8 weeks. The participants of this study were carefully monitored and the results of their experience documented in an effort to learn the real effects on aging skin.

What Our Study Results Described

At the end of the study when the results were reviewed, no significant differences in clinical grading were found between the treated and placebo groups, other than higher subjective scores of irritation in the treated group.

Histologic grading of skin biopsies did show significant improvement in the elastic tissue content of treated specimens. Participants treated with a combination regimen of topical and oral green tea showed histologic improvement in elastic tissue content.

Green tea polyphenols have been postulated to protect human skin from the cutaneous signs of photoaging, but clinically significant changes could not be detected.

Longer supplementation may be required for clinically observable improvements

What Our Results Mean?

This means that the often talked about benefits of green tea on the skin is not something that this study can validate. While the results do not show that a strong benefit exists they also do not clearly refute the possibility of a benefit. The only firm conclusion that can be drawn from this is that more studies must be done that are setup to measure the longer term effects.

Annie Chiu, MD is a general and cosmetic dermatologist in Beverly Hills.

She specializes in cosmetic skin rejuvenation with multiple techniques including botox, fillers, peels and lasers. 

Dr. Chiu also practices a full range of medical dermatology including a multidisciplinary approach to acne, skin cancer diagnosis, and surgical treatments for benign and malignant skin growths.