Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDoes Coffee Cause a Flare Up?Causes of Flare UpsCan Coffee Makes It Better?Finding Your Triggers

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Table of Contents

Does Coffee Cause a Flare Up?

Causes of Flare Ups

Can Coffee Makes It Better?

Finding Your Triggers

There is no strong evidence that coffee and eczema are linked or that drinking a cup of your favorite espresso, latte, or cold brew can trigger this common and sometimes distressing skin condition.

Although some people report a worsening ofeczema symptomsafter drinking coffee, the research supporting such claims is mixed. On the other hand, there are studies suggesting that coffee (orcaffeinein coffee) can help easeinflammationand make eczema better.

Which is true?

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Overhead view of a person holding a cup of coffee

Can Coffee Cause Eczema to Flare Up?

Despite hypotheses like these, no study to date has yet been able to confirm a direct link between coffee and eczema flares.

With that being said, a number of related studies may provide an alternative explanation as to how a cup of coffee could potentially cause an eczema flare in some people.

Heat Exposure as a Cause

In a 2018 study inJAMA Dermatology, researchers reported that caffeinated coffee helped relieve symptoms of an inflammatory skin condition, calledrosacea, that causes redness and pimple-like bumps on the face.

However, in some study participants, the very act of drinking hot coffee had the opposite effect. According to the researchers, the exposure of the skin to intense heat caused a transient worsening of symptoms around the mouth, nose, and cheek.

As hot temperatures are a known trigger for eczema, this might explain why some people experience a flare soon after drinking coffee.

It is also important to note that caffeine hasdiuretic effectsthat promote urination and increase the risk of dehydration.As dehydration is a common trigger for eczema, it is possible that coffee is not so much the cause as the diuretic effects of coffee.

Allergy as a Cause

With respect to allergies, coffee allergies are exceptionally rare. The few reported cases were likely due to other ingredients in the beverage (like cow’s milk or the preservative sodium metabisulphite) rather than to the coffee bean itself.

However, there have been case studies, including one in 2014, in which coffee was reported to cause outbreaks ofhives (urticaria)soon after consumption. In this case, askin prick testfailed to confirm coffee as the cause, but anoral challenge test (OCT)with 50 milligrams of caffeine triggered symptoms within minutes.

As unlikely as it may be, it is possible that some people may experience an eczema flare due to an underlying caffeine allergy. With that said, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology does not list coffee or caffeine as a common food allergy.

What Things Can Trigger Eczema?

Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition that causes inflamed, itchy, and irritated skin. Eczema often appears behind the knees or elbows where skin rubs together and causes friction.

Eczema affects more than 30% of the U.S. population, primarily children and adolescents but also adults.The cause is poorly understood, but genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role.

What is known is that certain substances or conditions can trigger a worsening of eczema symptoms. According to the National Eczema Association, these include:

Can Coffee Make Eczema Better?

Rather than making eczema worse, numerous studies have suggested that coffee and caffeine may help relieve eczema symptoms.

A 2019 review of studies published in the journalSKINconcluded that caffeine has anti-inflammatory effects that can help temper the immune hyper-reactivity involved not only with eczema but also with theautoimmuneskin condition calledpsoriasis.

Based on the body of research, caffeine appears to increase levels of a compound called cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responsible for “turning down” inflammation. It also speeds upapoptosis(programmed cell death) of damaged skin cells, allowing them to be turned over faster and repaired.

Coffee itself may also have direct benefits. When applied to the skin, plant-basedpolyphenolsfound in coffee beans can ease skin dryness and improve skin repair due to theiranti-inflammatoryandantioxidanteffects.

How to Find Your Eczema Trigger

Identifying and avoiding eczematriggersis key to reducing flares. While certain triggers like stress or heat may seem obvious, those related to foods or medicines may be harder to pinpoint because the reaction is often delayed.

To help narrow the possible causes, keep an eczema diary and record everything you consume or come into contact with during the day. This includes additives you may not think of (likeartificial sweetenersor non-dairy creamers that you add to coffee).

Over time, you may begin to notice a pattern emerging, and try removing them from your diet to see if it is of any help. Also, check product labels for allergens orpreservativesthat you may be sensitive to.

If you believe that an allergy is involved, ask your healthcare provider for a referral to anallergistwho can perform skin and blood tests to confirm your suspicions.

With patience and perseverance, you’ll eventually find your eczema triggers along with ways to avoid them.

Summary

There is no strong evidence that coffee or caffeine is a trigger for eczema. In fact, coffee is more likely to be beneficial as it may help reduce inflammation and ease eczema symptoms.

If you don’t know what is triggering your eczema symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider. They may refer you to an allergist to see if an allergy is the cause.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Li S, Chen ML, Drucker AM, et al.Association of caffeine intake and caffeinated coffee consumption with risk of incident rosacea in women.JAMA Dermatol.2018 Dec;154(12):1394–1400. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3301Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes.BMJ. 2017;359. doi:10.1136/bmj.j5024ThermoFisher Scientific.f221 coffee.Tognetti L, Murdaca F, Fimiani M.Caffeine as a cause of urticaria-angioedema.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014 Dec;5(Suppl 2):S113–S115. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.146181Singh AM, Anvari S, Hauk P, et al.Atopic dermatitis and food allergy: best practices and knowledge gaps—a work group report from the AAAAI allergic skin diseases committee and leadership institute project.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2022;10(3):697-706. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.12.037National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).MedlinePlus.Eczema.Alashqar MB.Caffeine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis: a review.SKIN J Cutan Med. 2019;3(2):59–71. doi:10.25251/skin.3.2.38Fukagawa S, Haramizu S, Sasaoka S, et al.Coffee polyphenols extracted from green coffee beans improve skin properties and microcirculatory function.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2017;81(9):1814-1822. doi:10.1080/09168451.2017.1345614

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Li S, Chen ML, Drucker AM, et al.Association of caffeine intake and caffeinated coffee consumption with risk of incident rosacea in women.JAMA Dermatol.2018 Dec;154(12):1394–1400. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3301Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes.BMJ. 2017;359. doi:10.1136/bmj.j5024ThermoFisher Scientific.f221 coffee.Tognetti L, Murdaca F, Fimiani M.Caffeine as a cause of urticaria-angioedema.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014 Dec;5(Suppl 2):S113–S115. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.146181Singh AM, Anvari S, Hauk P, et al.Atopic dermatitis and food allergy: best practices and knowledge gaps—a work group report from the AAAAI allergic skin diseases committee and leadership institute project.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2022;10(3):697-706. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.12.037National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).MedlinePlus.Eczema.Alashqar MB.Caffeine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis: a review.SKIN J Cutan Med. 2019;3(2):59–71. doi:10.25251/skin.3.2.38Fukagawa S, Haramizu S, Sasaoka S, et al.Coffee polyphenols extracted from green coffee beans improve skin properties and microcirculatory function.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2017;81(9):1814-1822. doi:10.1080/09168451.2017.1345614

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Li S, Chen ML, Drucker AM, et al.Association of caffeine intake and caffeinated coffee consumption with risk of incident rosacea in women.JAMA Dermatol.2018 Dec;154(12):1394–1400. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3301Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes.BMJ. 2017;359. doi:10.1136/bmj.j5024ThermoFisher Scientific.f221 coffee.Tognetti L, Murdaca F, Fimiani M.Caffeine as a cause of urticaria-angioedema.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014 Dec;5(Suppl 2):S113–S115. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.146181Singh AM, Anvari S, Hauk P, et al.Atopic dermatitis and food allergy: best practices and knowledge gaps—a work group report from the AAAAI allergic skin diseases committee and leadership institute project.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2022;10(3):697-706. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.12.037National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).MedlinePlus.Eczema.Alashqar MB.Caffeine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis: a review.SKIN J Cutan Med. 2019;3(2):59–71. doi:10.25251/skin.3.2.38Fukagawa S, Haramizu S, Sasaoka S, et al.Coffee polyphenols extracted from green coffee beans improve skin properties and microcirculatory function.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2017;81(9):1814-1822. doi:10.1080/09168451.2017.1345614

Li S, Chen ML, Drucker AM, et al.Association of caffeine intake and caffeinated coffee consumption with risk of incident rosacea in women.JAMA Dermatol.2018 Dec;154(12):1394–1400. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3301

Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes.BMJ. 2017;359. doi:10.1136/bmj.j5024

ThermoFisher Scientific.f221 coffee.

Tognetti L, Murdaca F, Fimiani M.Caffeine as a cause of urticaria-angioedema.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014 Dec;5(Suppl 2):S113–S115. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.146181

Singh AM, Anvari S, Hauk P, et al.Atopic dermatitis and food allergy: best practices and knowledge gaps—a work group report from the AAAAI allergic skin diseases committee and leadership institute project.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2022;10(3):697-706. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.12.037

National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).

MedlinePlus.Eczema.

Alashqar MB.Caffeine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis: a review.SKIN J Cutan Med. 2019;3(2):59–71. doi:10.25251/skin.3.2.38

Fukagawa S, Haramizu S, Sasaoka S, et al.Coffee polyphenols extracted from green coffee beans improve skin properties and microcirculatory function.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2017;81(9):1814-1822. doi:10.1080/09168451.2017.1345614

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