Does Drinking Too Much Coffee Cause Wrinkles?

Though a venti latte works wonders at killing a headache and giving you the power to make it through the morning, too many cups of coffee can have a side effect on your skin particularly if you're concerned withanti-aging.

Though a venti latte works wonders at killing a headache and giving you the power to make it through the morning, too many cups of coffee can have a side effect on your skin — particularly if you're concerned with anti-aging.

Caffeine can cause your blood vessels to constrict; as a result, the vessels at the surface of your skin won't deliver as many antioxidants and nutrients to promote collagen production.

In case you didn't know, collagen is important because, according to Harvard Health Publishing, it helps "to maintain skin elasticity, volume, and moisture." Not having enough collagen leads to skin appearing more wrinkled and less moisturized.

"The results of drinking too much coffee can cause the skin to wrinkle prematurely and become more lax with time," said Dr. S. Manjula Jegasothy. "These changes definitely give the skin a more aged appearance than in people who do not consume caffeine."

Meet the expert

So, how much is too much? Below, we get into the damage caffeine can cause to your skin and how to avoid the damage in the first place.

How Much Coffee Is Too Much Coffee

As with anything, moderation is key. Dr. Jegasothy suggested that one to two cups each day is fine, but anything over that limit is overkill. Drinking too much coffee dehydrates skin, and that's also a concern for anti-aging skin care regimens.

As beauty aficionados, we've noticed there are tons of topical products that tout caffeine as an ingredient that's really good for your skin.

Then, why isn't it good for your skin when you drink it?

Per Dr. Deanne Mraz, when you consume caffeine (rather than apply it on your skin), the body doesn't send those antioxidants to the skin. Instead, Dr. Mraz noted, "the body will process a cup of coffee through the digestive system."

The Effects of Drinking Too Much Caffeine

Dehydrated Skin

Typically, dehydrated skin appears leathery and not as plump as hydrated skin.

"Coffee is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production — which, of course, can lead to dehydration, a dull complexion, and compromised skin barrier," said Dr. Mraz. 

Think of raisins or dehydrated grapes as an example.

Dull Complexion

If you're drinking too much coffee, you may also notice that your skin isn't as bright as you want it to be. That's because caffeine can slow down the rate at which your skin cells turnover. 

"When you're dehydrated, your skin will not shed its outermost layer frequently enough, leading to a layer of build-up of dead skin cells at the surface and a dull complexion," explained Dr. Mraz.

Redness and Irritation

Dr. Mraz added that having too much coffee can also increase the stress hormone called cortisol. This can cause inflammation and exacerbate certain skin conditions, including rosacea and psoriasis.

On the plus side, that myth about coffee triggering more acne outbreaks has been busted.

"There are no studies to show whether caffeine or coffee consumption impacts acne-prone skin, but because of the vasoconstrictive effect of caffeine and the potential antioxidant effects of the coffee berry, I would hypothesize that the effect of coffee on acne-prone skin is net neutral," Dr. Jegasothy said.

Puffy Eyes

Your body is constantly trying to maintain a balance of its fluids. 

"If you're dehydrated," said Dr. Mraz, "your skin may be prone to holding onto fluid." 

If that's the case, the main area this will happen is under your eyes.

How to Prevent Skin Damage from Caffeine

The obvious solution would be to cut coffee out — or at least dial back your consumption.

You can usually notice the negative effects of caffeine reversing in two to three months if you're under 50 and have healthy skin, according to Dr. Jegasothy. 

"Older, more mature skin types may take three to six months to reverse the aging effects of chronic coffee consumption," she said.

Once you limit your intake, Dr. Jegasothy suggested you'll notice fewer wrinkles, more hydrated, plumped skin, and a brand-new glow. 

"This is because more open-dilated blood vessels are providing essential nutrients and collagen-building proteins to the skin," added Dr. Jegasothy.

However, many of us rely on coffee to wake us up. Some of us even hail it as part of our morning ritual. In those cases, it's not realistic to completely avoid caffeine. If that's you, Dr. Mraz recommended also drinking half your body weight in ounces of water. Yes, every day.

So, there you have it. You don't have to give up your morning (or afternoon) cup of joe for your skin's health. However, you do have to make sure that you're also drinking your cups of water.

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