Green tea and skin

Objective: To discuss the current knowledge of polyphenolic compounds prese nt in green tea as antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic in s kin. Data Sources: References identified from bibliographies of pertinent articl es, including our work in related fields. Study Selection and Delta Extraction: Articles were selected based on the u se of green tea or its polyphenolic constituents for prevention against inf lammation and cancer in the skin. Also discussed is the possible use of gre en tea to treat various inflammatory dermatoses. Data Synthesis: The polyphenolic compounds from green tea were tested again st chemical carcinogenesis and photocarcinogenesis in murine skin. These gr een tea poly-phenols were found to afford protection against chemical carci nogenesis as well as photocarcinogenesis in mouse skin. A few experimental studies were conducted in human skin in our laboratory. Analysis of publish ed studies demonstrates that green tea polyphenols have antiinflammatory an d anticarcinogenic properties. These effects appear to correlate with antio xidant properties of green tea polyphenols. Conclusions: The outcome of the several experimental studies suggests that green tea possess anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic potential, which c an be exploited against a variety of skin disorders. Although more clinical studies are needed, supplementation of skin care products with green tea m ay have a profound impact on various dskin disorders in the years to come.