These Drinks Will Clear Your Acne, According to Derms

As beauty editors, we love trying out any product we can get our hands on, be it a cult-classic moisturizer or the latest serum. But when it comes to acne, we'd rather take more of a holistic approach, especially for those of us who fall victim to the drying effects of spot treatments and cleansers.

So, when we recently learned that spearmint tea is a remedy for acne (tea is the Magic Eraser of pimples), we decided to research some other beverages that aid in a clearer complexion, sans skincare products. We reached out to the experts for more on how to sip our way to smooth skin.

Keep reading for the best anti-blemish beverages, below.

Water

This may seem like a no brainer, but drinking water certainly improves your overall health as well as the health and hydration of your skin. "The immune boost and better hydration that drinking water provides may help with acne," says dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose.

Matcha Tea

Along with a bevy of other incredible health benefits, this trendy drink is chock-full of antioxidants, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), to help counteract the sebum production and oxidation that occurs before acne forms. Ingesting antioxidants also helps to reduce signs of inflammation from the inside out. Matcha has 137 times more antioxidants than plain old green tea, so you can rest assured you're getting a hefty dose with each drink.

Turmeric Tea

Curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric, is widely known for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and antifungal properties. While there is no firm data to suggest that drinking turmeric tea can improve acne, it is possible that the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of curcumin could help with acne. "Some studies have shown curcumin to defend against some strain's pf P. acnes, a common acne-causing bacteria," says Murphy-Rose.

In Ayurveda, turmeric it's used for medicinal purposes to heal a wide range of internal and external maladies and conditions. While today, turmeric is a popular DIY mask ingredient, you can also add one teaspoon to hot water to drink as tea for similar acne-healing benefits.

Spearmint Tea

According to dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, spearmint tea has been shown to help reduce breakouts, "particularly hormonal breakouts, as it is thought to have anti-androgen properties, in addition to antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties." However, she notes that more research is needed to determine the full benefits of spearmint tea for acne treatment.

Murphy-Rose adds that "drinking two to three cups daily may improve hormonal breakouts and could also help with hormonal hair thinning."

Kefir

Gut health is greatly connected to your skin health, which is why ingesting probiotics from sources like kefir is good for counteracting bad bacteria and reducing inflammation. The protein lactoferrin gives kefir extra blemish-fighting power. In one study, participants who drank fermented milk with 200 milligrams of lactoferrin daily saw an almost 39 percent decrease in inflammatory acne lesions over 12 weeks.

"Kefir can improve gut health, which may decrease inflammation—and we know inflammation is a key part of the pathogenesis of acne," says Murphy-Rose of the drink, which contains “good bacteria" that improves the gut biome.

Organic Tart Cherry Juice

While tart cherry juice may be tough on the palette, it's packed with antioxidants and vitamins A, B, C, and D, and helps balance your skin's pH. It's also anti-inflammatory and even has melatonin, which is a great sleep aid. Be sure to drink the real thing and not cherry juice cocktail, which is loaded with sugar.