Long
touted for its health-promoting properties, green tea might be an effective
treatment for acne, a study suggests.
Green tea has
been shown to fight bacteria, reduce inflammation and decrease hormone
activity -- three characteristics that make the ancient tea an excellent
candidate for an acne therapy. "This study showed that 3 percent green
tea cream is comparable to 4 percent benzoyl peroxide in the treatment
of moderate to severe acne," said lead author, Dr. Jennifer Gan-Wong, with
the Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines.
Gan-Wong presented
her team's findings at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.
Researchers from tested the promising candidate -- in the form of a 3 percent
green tea extract cream -- vs. the leading treatment for acne, 4 percent
benzoyl peroxide cream.
A computer randomized
a group of 108 subjects into one of two treatment groups. One applied benzoyl
peroxide cream twice daily for 12 weeks and the other used green tea extract
cream twice daily for the same period. Patients received identical bottles
of cream and were unaware of the type of treatment they were assigned.
Subjects were
examined and photographed each week by dermatologists, who also were unaware
which treatment each patient had been given.
The researchers
noted the green tea cream seemed to lighten patients' skin color and improve
the overall appearance of their complexion.
Green tea therapy
might be appealing to consumers because conventional wisdom holds that
natural products are less toxic and have fewer side effects than other
drug products, the researchers said.
The preliminary
data suggest green tea extract cream causes fewer side effects than benzoyl
peroxide treatment. Patients in the green tea group reported fewer cases
of dry skin, itching and allergic responses.
The findings,
while promising, are not yet substantial enough to change clinical practice,
Dr. Azucena Arguelles, a private practice dermatologist from Mountain View,
Calif., told United Press International.
"My sense is
that for this to be out on the market and adopted by the medical community
the results will need to be repeated," she said.
The finding
could be relevant to the millions of Americans who suffer from acne breakouts,
a condition which affects nearly 85 percent of the U.S. population and
has a detrimental affect on self-esteem and well-being.
--
Copyright 2003 by United
Press International.
All rights reserved.
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