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Turmeric For Skin: Health Benefits & Usage

Dr. Amy Yuan
Fact-checked by Marisa Garshick MD, Board Certified Dermatologist

Turmeric is a widely used spice in many households across the world. Additionally, it has numerous health benefits on the skin, since it contains certain antioxidant, microbial, and anti-inflammatory elements.

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Benefits of Using Turmeric

Many high quality studies show that Turmeric has major benefits for your body and brain. Turmeric’s natural advantage is that it contains bioactive compounds like curcumin() with powerful medicinal properties. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Curcumin is very anti-inflammatory and in some cases, has been tested to be more effective than some anti-inflammatory drugs, without the side effects.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Turmeric

Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind aging and many diseases. Curcumin has been shown to block inflammatory stimuli such as pathogens and also by helping wounds heal faster. The curcumin found in turmeric can help accelerate tissue and collagen production, as well as help wounds heal faster by decreasing inflammation at the molecular level.

Turmeric and Skin Types

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidant effects, which can benefit the skin in many ways. Turmeric has been reported to help with eczema, psoriasis, acne, and wound healing. However, like all ingredients, turmeric’s benefits can differ from skin profile to skin profile. Luckily, whether you choose to ingest turmeric or use turmeric topically, there are a myriad of proven benefits.

Skin prone to Sensitivity

Dermatologist Rachel Nazarian highly recommends turmeric for those with sensitive skin conditions like eczema or rosacea because turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties can provide much-needed relief during flare-ups. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory qualities can calm sensitive skin and reduce redness. If you have highly sensitive skin, like with all products, we recommend that you perform a quick skin test before fully committing to turmeric—apply a dime-sized amount of turmeric mixed with water onto your forearm and wait 30 minutes. If you experience itching or irritation, remove and avoid topical use. If, however, your skin looks and feels comfortable (if not better!), go ahead and try applying a turmeric mask mixture on areas that need soothing.

Skin Prone to Oiliness

Turmeric can be good for skin that’s prone to oiliness because it helps regulate the production of sebum. Research has also found early indications that Turmeric has the potential to treat acne caused by excessive sebum excretion. However, further studies on the topical application of turmeric for oily-prone skin are needed.

Skin Prone to Dryness

As mentioned before, turmeric contains antioxidants which are BFFs for dry skin. Turmeric can alleviate dry skin by removing dead skin cells quickly--revealing your healthy skin and allowing it to shine and glow.

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Sources
  1. Zaman, S. U., & Akhtar, N. (2013). Effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa Zingiberaceae) extract cream on human skin sebum secretion. _Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research_, _12_(5), 665-669
  2. Sumiyoshi, M., & Kimura, Y. (2009). Effects of a turmeric extract (Curcuma longa) on chronic ultraviolet B irradiation-induced skin damage in melanin-possessing hairless mice. _Phytomedicine_, _16_(12), 1137-1143
  3. Vaughn, A. R., Branum, A., & Sivamani, R. K. (2016). Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on skin health: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. _Phytotherapy Research_, _30_(8), 1243-1264
  4. Baliga, M. S., Venkatesh, S., Mrinal, S., Bala, N., & Palatty, P. L. (2013). Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) the Indian Golden Curry Spice as a Skin Care Agent: Validation of the Traditional Uses. In _Bioactive Dietary Factors and Plant Extracts in Dermatology_ (pp. 93-102). Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
  5. Arct, J., Ratz-Łyko, A., Mieloch, M., & Witulska, M. (2014). Evaluation of skin colouring properties of curcuma longa extract. _Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences_, _76_(4), 374
  6. Gupta, S. C., Patchva, S., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2013). Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials. The AAPS journal, 15(1), 195-218