Turmeric Benefit On Skin

For hundreds of years, people around the world have linked turmeric to healing properties and cosmetic benefits. The bright, yellow-orange spice is related to ginger. It is available as a ground spice or in supplements and other beauty and dermatology products.

Turmeric gets its health benefits primarily because of curcumin, a bioactive component. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Modern scientific research is just beginning to study the positive impact of turmeric, but many believe it has several beneficial uses for the skin.

Turmeric contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components. These characteristics may provide glow and luster to the skin. Turmeric may also revive your skin by bringing out its natural glow.

Used as a key ingredient for making curries, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a plant native to southwest India and a member of the ginger family. Turmeric roots – or rhizomes – can be peeled and eaten fresh or dried and ground up into a fine powder.

Imparting an aromatic, earthy scent with a slightly bitter and peppery taste, turmeric has played a role in Chinese and Indian medicine for more than 4,000 years to treat stomach ailments, improve blood circulation, and heal skin wounds.

More recently, studies on the healing properties of turmeric have signalled that this potent herb may be a viable treatment and preventative for a variety of medical conditions. Curcumin – one of the most important active compounds found in turmeric – is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral powerhouse.

Beyond its spectrum of benefits for physical and mental health, turmeric has an amazing effect on skin as well. Curcumin – can do to enhance and beautify your skin while keeping your largest organ ever so healthy.

Helps Treat Psoriasis

As per researchers, turmeric might obstruct the inflammatory enzymes linked to psoriasis. It can also lower the levels of cytokines, which stimulate cell inflammation and might eventually lead to psoriasis. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric might have excellent benefits in treating psoriasis.

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities of turmeric may help your psoriasis by controlling flares and other symptoms. The National Psoriasis Foundation states that you can use it as a supplement or by adding it to food. Before you try it, the foundation recommends discussing proper dosage with a professional.

Aids In Acne Treatment

The antibacterial properties of turmeric aid in acne treatment. And its anti-inflammatory properties treat the inflammation caused by pimples. Turmeric can be used for oily skin as a face wash or a face pack.

The anti-inflammatory qualities can target your pores and calm the skin. Turmeric is also known to reduce scarring. This combination of uses may help your face clear up from acne breakouts.

Prevents Wrinkles

According to a Japanese study, turmeric can prevent the formation of wrinkles and melanin. It also prevents the reduction in skin elasticity caused by chronic UVB exposure.

Cures Stretch Marks

Turmeric works great for stretch marks. This is, again, because of curcumin – which penetrates the cell membranes. Curcumin is known to alter the physical properties of the cell membrane – and hence, it might cure stretch marks as well.

Soothes Burns

The anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of turmeric help soothe burns as well. Also, the burns (at least, most of them) won’t swell up when you use turmeric. You can also mix turmeric with other oils to enhance the treatment. Simply apply the mixture to the affected areas. The astringent and antioxidant properties turmeric help heal wounds and reduce scarring.

Treats Skin Pigmentation

The bleaching properties of turmeric can help treat skin pigmentation. The herb can also keep the skin free from infection. Turmeric also helps reduce tan. You can also use a turmeric night cream to improve your complexion.

Treats Hirsutism

This is the condition where facial hair gets excessive – and it is a result of hormonal imbalances. Topical application of turmeric helps in this regard. Even taking turmeric orally can treat hormonal imbalances that cause hirsutism.

Heals Cracked Feet

The astringent properties of turmeric help heal cracked feet as well.

Aids In Exfoliation

You can prepare a turmeric scrub that helps exfoliate your skin.

Heal wounds

The curcumin found in turmeric can help wounds heal by decreasing inflammation and oxidation. It also lowers the response of your body to cutaneous wounds. This results in your wounds healing more quickly. Studies have found that turmeric can positively affect tissue and collagen as well. The journal Life Sciences recommends applying curcumin as an optimized formula to best work on skin wounds.

An Anti-Aging Treatment

Because of its dynamic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, several studies have suggested curcumin can help counteract the effects of aging and age-related disease. One study observed that insects fed a diet of curcumin had a significantly longer lifespan. Another report, published in Immunity & Ageing, identified turmeric as a safe, beneficial spice that may be a prime ingredient for preventing the process of aging.

Clinical trials, too, have bolstered these findings. Two studies published in the March 2010 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that use of moisturizing creams containing turmeric twice daily for eight weeks had the effect of drastically minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; dark spots and changes in skin pigment were also reduced by nearly 15%.

Skin Cancer Prevention

Curcumin has also been recognized as an impressive anti-cancer treatment, able to selectively kill tumor cells while leaving the normal cells intact – a feat that traditional chemotherapy treatments are unable to accomplish. Moreover, it has been shown to stop pre-cancer from becoming cancer.

The effects of curcumin extract therapy for the treatment of the three types of skin cancer – namely, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma – has showed a lot of potential.

In a 1998 study, curcumin was able to induce apoptosis – or cell death – in basal cell carcinoma. Additionally, the study noted that curcumin acted as a chemopreventative for skin cancer, effectively preventing cancer cells from forming. Another study examined curcumin’s effects on melanoma and found it to stop the spread of cancer cells to surrounding tissue while inciting melanoma cells to die off. And lastly, a 2011 study on squamous cell carcinoma found that curcumin inhibited the size and progression of tumor growth.