Turns out spearmint tea is excellent for clearing adult acne

 We’d  like to preface this article by saying that we mean no disrespect to peppermint tea, (and excuse our inner Kanye coming out) but, spearmint tea has some of the greatest skin healing properties of all time. 

The leafy green has recently gained attention from dermatologists and internet forum users alike, describing this member of the mint family as ‘magic’ for cystic acne.

Nutritionist, Asha Dillon, explains that this so-called magic might also be referred to as (big word coming up) ‘anti-androgens’.

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And while using mint in the treatment of cystic acne isn’t earth-shatteringly new, the benefits of ingesting spearmint for hormone stabilisation is news to us: “The anti-androgenic properties in spearmint are responsible for reducing the level of hormones called androgens within the body,” Asha tells.

In short, this means that it reduces the male hormones present in all of us, which can contribute to acne within females. High androgen levels can also cause excessive hair growth, irregular or absent periods. You know, all the stuff us ladies just love, right? So spearmint is a stellar ingredient in this arena too.

Sound too good to be true? Well, there’s even further science to back it up.

According to this study,  during a 30 day trial, participants who drank two cups of spearmint tea for one month experienced significantly reduced testosterone levels, proving spearmint to be an effective way to stabilise acne-inducing hormones. 

But wait, we’re not done impressing you with all the #facts.

According to a study done in 2015 by the American Academy of Dermatology, two cups of organic spearmint tea a day reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 25 per cent after 30 days and by 51 per cent after three months. 

Image credit: @royalalbertengland

And even if you don’t see miracle results after a few months of sipping on spearmint tea, you will still gain other benefits such as hydration and overall skin health.

So, next time you’re faced with the decision of peppermint vs spearmint tea when you’re at the supermarket, remember that spearmint has the most anti-inflammatory and potent skin healing properties of all its mint family members. We love the one from Planet Organics.

Have you ever tried spearmint tea before?