Kombucha and acne: advice

Kombucha has many health benefits, uses and applications.

One of them is acne.

Anecdotally, some people have said that drinking kombucha improved their acne.

Others have said that using SCOBY masks or kombucha soaps has also helped clear up their acne.

We'll explore the supposed effects, pre-use considerations, expert medical advice, how to consume, DIY soaps and face masks.

This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied upon.

"If you are worried about your health, consult your family doctor immediately."

What is acne?

People often think that acne is a disease reserved for teenagers and that it will disappear quickly with age.

For many of them, this is far from being the case, leading them to move from one medical expert to another without ever finding a solution.

More recently, many online health advisors have been looking for alternative treatments and remedies - kombucha has been used in an attempt to treat acne.

The official definition :

"Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become clogged with sebum and dead skin cells.

It often causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples, and usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders."

Kombucha is a sweet, slightly effervescent fermented tea drink.

It is thought to have originated in China over 2000 years ago.

Often touted as a healthy drink, it has become very popular in Europe, the United States and now around the world.

Does kombucha help acne?

This question is disputed, as there is no medical evidence to prove that kombucha helps or cures acne.

Therefore, we're going to look at the living part contained in kombucha and SCOBY - and breaking down how it has been claimed to help with this condition.

How can kombucha help acne?

Live cultures - Raw, unpasteurised kombucha contains bacteria.

When kombucha is brewed, the living cultures cause the tea to ferment.

Therefore, when consuming kombucha for its health benefits, it is essential that you only purchase raw, unpasteurized kombucha.

This ensures that live crops are contained.

Live cultures contain many different strains of bacteria and yeast.

This is the part that is sought after by those seeking the health benefits of kombucha.

Probiotics - Probiotics are contained in a living culture. Probiotics is the technical term for bacteria that support and improve intestinal health. In raw kombucha, they are contained in the "live" culture.

The intestine - There is an unsubstantiated theory that good skin starts with the gut.

If you have good gut health, it is believed that you will also have good skin.

Proponents of this theory advise a diet rich in good yeast and bacteria.

They recommend foods and drinks such as raw kombucha, raw apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut and kefir, to name but a few.

Similar studies - Fermented foods are said to help improve acne.

In a Korean study, participants consumed fermented dairy products and saw a reduction in acne of up to 40 %!

You can find out more about this study here : Korean study on fermented milk products.

How can kombucha be used to treat acne?

Drink

When drinking kombucha, we recommend that you do not drink more than 2 litres per day.

If this is your first time drinking kombucha or if you're looking to experiment, we recommend that you drink less than 2 litres.

Try small quantities for 5 to 14 days before evaluating the results.

As this is a natural remedy, don't expect miracles!

SCOBY face masks

SCOBY DIY masks have started to become very popular.

You can make one from your old SCOBY leftovers, which makes them free and super easy to make!

Kombucha and SCOBY soaps

Add your favourite drink, your SCOBY and your fragrance to create a soap with a unique scent.

People looking for their own dose of probiotics for the body, a new skincare product and artisanal production have made their own soaps.

Kombucha acne before and after

There are many stories on the web claiming positive results after drinking kombucha, even for short periods.

We have chosen some of the most popular ones to share with you.

Kristen from Total Beauty wrote an entire article about how she had severe acne that kept getting worse.

After a long period of time, numerous visits to her beautician, trying every make-up product and extensive research, she had an extremely serious acne outbreak.

During this crisis, her beautician recommended that she start taking probiotics.

That's when Kristen discovered kombucha.

After two weeks, she wrote the article below, and included before and after photos to show the difference.

Her acne improved and diminished dramatically.

There are many similar stories on the internet.

You can always try, it won't hurt anyway!

Common questions about Kombucha and acne

Can kombucha cause acne?

Kombucha is unlikely to cause acne.

If you're worried that it might cause acne, then we suggest you only consume small amounts and see how your body reacts.

The recommended amount of raw kombucha per day is no more than 2 litres, which means you can experiment with small quantities first.

Does kombucha cause skin rashes?

We were unable to find any medical or anecdotal evidence that kombucha worsens the condition of the skin prior to consumption.

However, it is possible for your body to 'detoxify' and for this to have negative side-effects.

Can taking probiotics cause skin rashes?

As with the previous question, we were unable to find any specific evidence that probiotics worsen skin conditions.

In almost all cases, it is written that probiotics help the skin.

Can I put kombucha on my face?

You can spread the raw kombucha on your face, although it is a liquid that may run.

If you are looking to include kombucha in your skin care routine, you may want to use a SCOBY face mask or kombucha soap.