Efficacy and Side Effects of Green Tea Extract on Facial Skin Aging: A Systematic Review

Background There has been an increasing demand for natural cosmeceuticals that can be used for their anti‐aging effects. Green tea extract (GTE) is a powerful antioxidant making it a promising candidate for combating photodamage and skin aging. Aims To establish the effectiveness and side effects of using topical GTE on the face to improve skin appearance and photoaging. Methods This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies were excluded if they did not utilize the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) component of GTE, did not focus on facial skin aging, were not controlled trials, used a green tea beverage exclusively, or if the full text was unavailable. Results Four hundred eighty‐one studies were identified, from which seven were extracted. Five studies measured skin elasticity which all found some degree of improvement after treatment with GTE. Four of the five studies looking at wrinkles reported a decrease in fine line wrinkles. The effect of GTE on skin irritability (erythema, inflammation, and dryness) was debated. Other notable effects include an improvement in skin tone, texture, radiance, scavenging ability, firmness and density. Conclusion GTE shows potential as an anti‐aging compound for facial skin, but more studies are needed as the literature is varying and sparse. Trial Registration PROSPERO: CRD42024610718