Turmeric is an Indian spice that has many skin benefits, mainly because of its active ingredient known as Curcumin (diferuloylmethane). This chemical found in turmeric is what gives it the yellow color as well as most of the health benefits of turmeric on skin. The scientific name is Curcuma longa.
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Youtube video of how to make Homemade Turmeric Powder from fresh/raw roots
Turmeric Health Benefits on skin
How Turmeric Benefits the skin
Turmeric has many benefits to the skin; especially in helping the skin to glow naturally, whitening the skin, and also treating skin rashes. These effects are as a result of the active content in Turmeric known as Curcumin. This compound has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that help in skin whitening; it also makes your skin glow naturally because of the effect of the Curcumin.
Benefits of Turmeric on Skin diseases
Curcumin in turmeric is protective against chemicals and environmental pollutants that can damage the skin. It does this by neutralizing free radicals and inhibiting inflammation; all because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.
Turmeric powder effects on the skin when used externally
Side effects of turmeric on skin
- Turmeric has been known to cause allergies such as swelling and redness of skin in some people. It is advisable to use a minute amount and rub on your forearm to see if your skin reacts to it before using it.
- There are known food allergies associated with adding turmeric to food. If you are allergic to it when added to food, don’t use it on the skin either.
- Turmeric has a yellow color that can stain the skin temporarily.
Benefits of Turmeric on the Face – Turmeric Face mask Benefits
You can form a face mask and apply on the face using Turmeric powder, Honey, and Greek yogurt. This can be made by adding a tablespoon of yogurt to 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric powder and 1/2 tablespoon of honey. When you combine these ingredients, you then apply on the face and allow for at least 15 minutes before washing the mask off with clean water. A turmeric face mask can be used in treating skin acne and any associated scarring.
Benefits of Turmeric on skin acne
Inflammed skin acne and associated scarring due to collagen deposition can be reduced by applying turmeric face mask; this helps clear skin acne. You can make this by combining 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric powder with 1/3 tablespoon of honey. Rub it on the face and allow it to dry before rinsing with clean water.
Use of Turmeric for Itchy skin
Turmeric is effective in treating poison ivy rash, itchy skin, or insect bites by combining 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric powder with an equal quantity of aloe vera gel and rubbing on affected areas of skin; rinse with clean water when dried. It treats scabies and ringworm because of its anti-fungal and antibacterial property.
Turmeric benefits for skin whitening and lightening
The lightening or whitening effect of Turmeric is due to the inhibitory effect of curcumin on pigment cells in the skin. Curcumin inhibits pigmentation in the skin and therefore reduces the appearance of dark spots on the skin.
Mixing turmeric powder with lemon juice and applying it on the skin helps to lighten the skin because of the additional bleaching effect of lemon. The combination of 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of turmeric powder produces a mixture for skin lightening; you can then apply it to the skin and allow it to dry before rinsing with water.
Turmeric benefits for skin pigmentation
Do you have dark or hyperpigmented skin? Turmeric can do the magic of transforming your skin by whitening it and making it glow. Unbelievable? It is true! It does this naturally because curcumin in turmeric reduces the production of pigment cells that cause darkening of the skin, thereby lightening your skin and making it glow.
Importance of turmeric in treating scalp and skin hair loss
There is no proof that turmeric can prevent hair loss. Some people suggest mixing turmeric powder with an equal quantity of milk and honey; then massaging it into the scalp, the same way as the procedure for a turmeric face mask. You can rinse with shampoo and water. Some people believe this to prevent hair loss and promote regrowth of hair.
Turmeric health benefits for skin problems
- Combining neem and turmeric is very effective in treating scabies
- Turmeric inhibits the growth and progression of skin cancers such as Melanoma
- The anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin in turmeric inhibits scarring in Scleroderma; which reduces the proliferation of collagen-producing cells.
There are suggestions that turmeric may help with loss of hair, eczema, and other skin problems but these have not been proven yet. The use of turmeric in treating skin problems is growing and more scientists are researching this.
Turmeric benefits for skin psoriasis
Because of the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin in Turmeric, a study published in the National Library of Medicine has shown that curcumin can slow down the proliferation of inflammatory cells and also reduce their invasion into surrounding tissue. Curcumin does this in a safe and non-toxic way and is very helpful in various chronic inflammatory diseases such as skin psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and others. Curcumin is a recommended natural supplement by the National Psoriasis Foundation.
Skin psoriasis can be treated using turmeric oil or cream on the skin; adding turmeric powder to food as a spice; mixing fresh turmeric to your smoothie, or using it as a supplement.
Turmeric powder benefits on the skin when taken internally
Taking turmeric orally makes it less available for use by the body unless mixed with pineapple. This is due to the fact that curcumin in turmeric is not properly absorbed by the guts when taken orally. In fact the body metabolizes and excretes it out within a short time. Pineapple contains an enzyme called Bromelain that aids the absorption of curcumin and also enhanced its anti-inflammatory effects. It is because of this that turmeric products are combined with bromelain to potentiate its effects.
Turmeric milk benefits on skin
The milk of turmeric is often made for the treatment of cold or cough and also for the reduction of body pain but it is also beneficial for the skin too. It is prepared by mixing half tablespoon of turmeric powder with milk and boiling for a few minutes. When mixed with pineapple juice, the effect is potentiated and it becomes easily absorbed by the body; providing the same effect and benefit on the skin as the topical application.
Turmeric benefits for mouth ulcers and wound healing
Studies have found shown that excessive tissue collagen production following injury was significantly reduced by the application of Turmeric to the wound. This can reduce the formation of Hypertrophic scar and keloids during the wound healing process.
Turmeric is also used to reduce pain and discomfort associated with mouth ulcers. You can do this by adding a pinch of turmeric to a half tablespoon of coconut oil and mix with a tablespoon of water and apply it to the mouth ulcer. You can then gargle with water and pour it out of the mouth.