Skin & Hair Last updated on 2021-02-26 20:39:23

Does Drinking Tea Make Your Skin Darker?

Ms. Smitakshi Guha
3 Min Read

Remember how your mother would stop you from drinking from her cup of tea when you were a kid, saying you will become dark if you have tea? Well, call it just an excuse to keep kids away from tea, a lot of us still continue to think that drinking tea every day indeed makes us dark. So, is it true? Well, let’s find out—

What determines your skin colour?

There’s a natural pigment in your skin known as melanin, which determines your skin colour. Melanin is genetic. There’s no scientific evidence that links consumption of tea with darkening of the skin. So, in case the myth is still engraved in your mind, it’s time to let it go for good.

The benefits of drinking tea

Tea in all forms contains a lot of antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that are good for the body.
Antioxidants help protect our cells against free radicals and decrease our risks of developing heart disease.
Studies say that certain teas like chamomile tea and hibiscus tea have the potential to fight certain health concerns. While the former is linked with fighting diabetes and kidney damage, the latter has been linked with lowering hypertension.
Research also suggests that certain types of tea help with weight loss and also have some strong anti-cancer properties.

The downside of drinking too much tea

Despite being a beverage, over-consumption of tea can lead to dehydration and when you’re dehydrated, your skin automatically looks d. This is often confused with skin darkening.
Although tea contains fewer amounts of caffeine than coffee, too much tea can lead to the general side-effects associated with caffeine. These include headaches, stress, insomnia, and dizziness.
When you drink large amounts of tea on an empty stomach, chances are rife you may experience some nausea.
Having too much caffeine during pregnancy may lead to low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction.

What causes darkening of the skin?

While you must be relieved to know that drinking tea on a regular basis has no connection with skin darkening, what you should know is factors that can.

Environmental factors

Let’s start with the environmental factors: Sun exposure: When you step out in the sun without necessary precautions like sufficient clothing and a sunscreen with SPF 35 or above, you subject yourself to the risk of tanning. Sun exposure increases the melanin production in your body, which then makes your skin tone get darker than normal. Pollution: Cigarette smoke, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other toxins in the atmosphere can induce oxidative stress on your skin. This disrupts the balance between the free radicals and antioxidants in your body and can cause skin damage like premature ageing, hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin), etc. drinking tea environment factors mfine

Hormonal factors

Some of the hormonal factors that can cause skin darkening include conditions like:

Pregnancy
Hyperthyroidism, a condition when the thyroid gland becomes overactive
Intake of oral contraceptives
Addison’s disease, wherein there’s a decrease in the production of hormones, caused by adrenal glands
Cushing’s disease, wherein there’s an over-circulation of corticosteroids

In some cases, sudden darkening of some areas of skin in the body, a condition known as Acanthosis nigricans, can be an indication of an underlying health condition like diabetes, hypertension, and even PCOS in women. If you’re worried about your skin suddenly getting dark, expert care is just a tap away. Download the MFine app and consult top dermatologists from city’s best hospitals online.

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Comments

MFine

4 Mar 2021

Hello. Thanks for reaching out.

Neha Priya Sahay

13 Feb 2021

Can you tell me how to keep my skin healthy and suppul at the age of 37 I drink lots of Milk , Tea, my Son drink Coffee, my daughter drink milk and I drink lots of water and Nariyal paani. to keep myself hydrated Can you give me diet for weight loss and diet for Osteoarthritis.and diet for good skin and hair. Thanks Neha Priya Sahay.

Neha Priya Sahay

9 Feb 2021

After consuming too much of Tea and Coffee Or Milk is still ok for me.but my skin get dry my skin is already dry and rough. What to do? How to maintain my skin nice and supple Thanks Neha Priya Sahay.

Neha Priya Sahay

26 Jan 2021

Milk and Tea most consummation in my place sometimes coffee Mostly Milk and Tea consumption. Thanks for knowing that Tea ua aalam good for health.. Milk and Tea in most consumption at our place some times Coffee. Good to know tea I am also good for health. Is caffeine good for health my Son wanted to drink Coffee I told him to drink milk he drink milk and coffee when he get up in the morning for studies he wants Coffee and than milk I give milk to my daughter also is it safe for children because for studies he want Coffee in the morning and after 2 hrs ago he want milk so I give milk to My Son and daughter both. Thanks Neha.

Mahipalreddy

20 Feb 2020

Good

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