Spearmint Tea for Hormone Balance: Does it Work?

Spearmint tea as an acne treatment is one of the more recent skin care fads to pop up in the last few years. The internet has a lot to say about it. Many Reddit users swear by it. There have even been a few studies confirming its effectiveness. So how does it work?

androgens & androgen rebound

Dr. Jolene Brighten, a naturopathic practitioner who I would consider to be an expert on hormonal acne, writes about androgens and androgen rebound in her book Beyond the Pill. Androgens are a type of sex hormone– the most common of them is testosterone. In her article “Acne After Stopping Birth Control & How To Treat It” on DrBrighten.com, Dr. Brighten writes, “Hormonal contraceptives suppress your natural hormones, including testosterone. When you discontinue them what is known as an “androgen rebound” can occur. Or in other words, your body kicks into high gear creating more testosterone. The elevated androgens cause an increase in sebum production, which is why oily skin is common, and acne follows.”

High levels of androgens is also a characteristic of people with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS. This is why sufferers of PCOS experience male features such as male-pattern balding, irregular/absent periods, and of course, acne and oily skin. Since spearmint has anti-androgenic properties, studies have shown that drinking two cups a day can reduce androgen levels.

spearmint tea studies

According to the National Library of Medicine, there was a study of people experiencing Hirsutism (excess hair in male patters, also a symptom of PCOS) in which “Forty two volunteers were randomized to take spearmint tea twice a day for a 1 month period compared with a placebo herbal tea. (…) Free and total testosterone levels were significantly reduced over the 30 day period in the spearmint tea group.”

In another study done in 2015 by the American Academy of Dermatology, BeBeautiful.In writes, “two cups of organic spearmint tea ingested daily reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 25% after one month and by 51% after three months.”

benefits

As you can see, there is evidence that spearmint tea can reduce androgens and decrease acne and oily skin. I used to drink two large cups every day, however, as my skin cleared I scaled it back to just 1 large cup a day. Aside from the effects it has had on my skin, it also keeps me hydrated, is caffeine free, and is a great substitute for less healthy drinks. Instead of pouring yourself a second glass of wine after dinner, drink a cup of spearmint tea, and I promise your skin will thank you!

Sources: https://drbrighten.com/acne-after-stopping-birth-control/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19585478/

https://www.bebeautiful.in/all-things-skin/skin-concerns/benefits-and-how-to-use-spearmint-tea-for-acne