Amazing Turmeric Benefits for Skin

Turmeric root has many health benefits for skin
Turmeric root has many health benefits for skin

What are the turmeric benefits for skin? What is turmeric good for? Turmeric also known as haldi in India is a favorite spice in India derived from the roots of the curcuma longa plant. A native to South Asia, this spice has over centuries grown to be a part of the Indian tradition as a herbal remedy, in weddings and to make curries and other Asian cuisines.

Uses of Turmeric for Skin

Turmeric benefits for skin
Turmeric benefits for skin

The turmeric plant belongs to the ginger family. If not used fresh, its rhizomes are boiled, dried and ground to make the fine turmeric powder which is deep-orange in color. It has a distinct warm bitter peppery taste with a mustardy smell. When not used to add flavor, turmeric can be used to add rich color to bakery, dairy products, cereals, butters and cheeses. Here are amazing turmeric benefits for skin care that will help you achieve healthy, glowing and flawless skin.

Turmeric is probably one of the richest and most effective natural supplement with a whole lot of studies being carried out to support its array of benefits in skincare and for the human body in general. Turmeric benefits for skin in Hindi and Urdu have been adapted and are now used in various parts of the world to achieve glowing and flawless skin.

Turmeric Powder for Wrinkles

According to Cheri Swanson, a senior scientist and Procter and Gamble Beauty and Grooming, the antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties of curcumin help fight some signs of aging making it an effective treatment for wrinkles. It protects the skin from formation of free radicals which cause damage to the cell membranes causing them to die off. The antioxidants are able to prevent and neutralize damage such as age spots, wrinkles and fine lines.

Many turmeric for wrinkles reviews and the promising abilities have prompted numerous studies which are now working towards how to purify turmeric into a colorless and odorless product that can be used in anti-aging creams to cure deep wrinkles. It can be used naturally as one of the ingredients to make home remedies for wrinkles.

Turmeric Paste for Stretch Marks

Does turmeric help stretch marks? How effective is turmeric on stretch marks? There are many products that are touted to help reduce the formation of scars and treat stretch marks. Turmeric is not only natural and effective, it is affordable and readily available. Simply make a paste by mixing turmeric with water. Apply this paste to the stretch marks twice daily until they fade away. To prevent stretch marks due to pregnancy, mix turmeric powder with coconut oil to make a paste. Apply and leave it on your skin for a few minutes before washing off with warm water.

Turmeric powder or haldi for skin
Turmeric powder or haldi for skin

Turmeric for Old Stretch Marks

Old stretch marks set in deep, change color and are very difficult to get rid of. Using haldi for stretch marks is more effective in treating newer stretch marks as compared to old ones. Here is how to use turmeric for old stretch marks;

  1. Mix turmeric with lemon juice and saffron
  2. Combine turmeric powder, gooseberry juice and sandalwood to make a paste
  3. Crush 5 tablets of soluble variety vitamin C, add in a few drops of water and a pinch of turmeric powder
  4. Use any of the above recipes to make a turmeric paste. Apply it onto the skin to lighten scars and fade of stretch marks

Note that, it is important not to let stretch marks grow old. Treating them as soon as they appear will fade them off faster.

Vicco turmeric cream contains among other ingredients; turmeric, sandalwood powder and rose water which are very good for skin care. The cream is multipurpose and can be used on the face and other parts of the body to treat, cuts, sooth irritated skin and prevent the appearance of stretch marks. It however does not give excellent results and therefore not commonly used for stretch marks removal.

Turmeric and Skin Cancer

Curcumin the main active ingredient in turmeric has strong anti- inflammatory and antioxidant properties that make it a potential natural cancer treatment. This has prompted a number of studies and clinical trials which have shown that curcumin has anticancer effects. According to the cancerresearchuk.org, turmeric seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has been found to have effects against breast cancer, stomach cancer, and bowel cancer and skin cancer cells.

An American study done in 2007 showed that combined therapy with chemo and curcumin helped to kill and stop the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body.

Turmeric Acne Treatment

Acne is a very common skin condition that affects most teenagers and some adults at some point in their life. Usually occurring on the face, chest and back, pimples cause development of spots on skin in form of blackheads and whiteheads. It can be severe and long lasting leading to formation of scars which can have a serious impact on one’s personal and social life.

Turmeric root has many health benefits for skin
Turmeric root has many health benefits for skin

While there are many prescriptions medications and over the counter acne creams which most of the times do not offer any results, you can choose to use natural, effective and readily available home remedies for acne which offer results. Note that this however depends on your consistency and patience. Natural remedies for acne such as turmeric have been known to treat acne, acne scars and other skin conditions without any side effects. Turmeric also contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which are both good in acne treatment. Here is how to use turmeric acne treatment

Turmeric Paste for Acne

  1. Mix 5 tablespoons of turmeric powder with 3 tablespoons of sesame oil or olive oil to form a paste
  2. Wash your face with warm water and mild soap to soften the skin
  3. Use your fingers to apply the turmeric paste on the affected skin and massage gently
  4. Leave it to dry overnight. Use old and dark bedding for this treatment to prevent staining
  5. Rinse off the dry face mask in the morning and use cotton ball dipped in mild toner to get rid of the yellow staining.

    Turmeric face mask for acne
    Turmeric face mask for acne

Alternatively:

  1. Mix ½ teaspoon of sandalwood powder with ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
  2. Add in 2 tablespoons of curd and mix to make a smooth paste
  3. Apply this onto pimples and allow it to dry on for at least 20 minutes
  4. Rinse off with warm water
  5. Splash on some cold water and moisturize your skin

Note that, it is always good to wash and clean the affected area with warm water and mild soap before any treatment. This helps to open up clogged pores for better results.

Turmeric Supplements and Pills for Acne

Turmeric Pills to Lighten Skin
Turmeric Pills to Lighten Skin

Turmeric can also be taken orally to treat cystic acne, skin boils and related skin problems such as rosacea. If not taken as a fresh food, turmeric is also available in forms of organic powder, capsules and pills. Since most people find drinking turmeric in smoothies, hot water and milk not pleasant, you can buy capsules at your local food store. This will however cost you a little more. Check for reviews and rating of various turmeric supplements online to find out which one works for most people. Some turmeric for acne supplements are sold under the name curcumin which is the active ingredient in turmeric- do not be confused.

Tip: Find a way of disguising turmeric in your food each day such as making green smoothies or using it to prepare foods such as pastry.

Turmeric Benefits for Skin Lightening

Does turmeric lighten skin tone and hyperpigmentation? Other than repair of free radicals, turmeric has been found to reduce skin pigmentation and discoloration making it a great natural remedy for skin lightening. There are a number of ways you can use turmeric to brighten the skin; by direct application, using it as a food supplement and ingesting turmeric pills.

Signs of aging such dark spots, wrinkles, fine lines and acne spots are one of the reasons why your skin may appear dark. Being rich in antioxidants, turmeric prevents and removes free radicals from the skin slowing down aging.

Turmeric has also been found to reverse the effects of excessive melanin production due exposure to the sun and tanning (studies have found that curcumin present in turmeric inhibits the secretion of melanin in skin). Skin discoloration due to suntanning can be effectively and naturally reversed using home remedies for whitening such as turmeric, lemon juice and aloe vera.

Here is how to use turmeric to lighten skin

Turmeric Powder to Bleach Skin

  1. Mix turmeric powder and lemon juice to make a thick paste
  2. Apply the paste on the pigmented or discolored area of skin
  3. Allow the turmeric face mask to stay on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with water
  4. Do this daily to remove dark spots, even out your skin tone and lighten skin

Mix turmeric powder with natural oils such as extra virgin olive oil and castor oil to make a more effective deep penetrating face mask for a longer lasting effect.

Benefits of Turmeric Milk for Skin

Turmeric and milk are both antioxidants with a wide variety of benefits for the skin. Turmeric milk helps to fight free radicals the damage the skin reducing its natural glow. Turmeric milk is one of the ways of using turmeric by taking it orally. It can be used as a soothing face mask or lotion for the skin to reduce redness, bruises and patches on the face and other parts of the body.

Benefits of turmeric Milk for Skin
Benefits of turmeric Milk for Skin

Use turmeric milk as a general body detox to remove impurities that lead to health problems such as diarrhea and indigestion.

Drinking Turmeric Milk for Skin

Other than applying it on your skin to get benefits, you can also eat or drink turmeric to get even better results. Did you know you can drink turmeric in hot water or milk to get rid of suntan and lighten dark skin? Drinking turmeric to lighten skin gives visible results and improves skin tone in 15-30 days.

Ingesting turmeric to lighten skin has become popular these days as most people have found that it is not only good for the skin but offers lots of other health benefits for the body in general. Also available are turmeric pills to lighten skin.

Note: turmeric is poorly absorbed from the bowels. It is for this reason that you should take it with black pepper or pineapple extract and fat. This can easily be done if you take turmeric at mealtimes.

What Is the Right Dosage for Turmeric For Skin Whitening?

The recommended daily dosage of turmeric is 0.5 -3g but dosages of up to 8g per day have been used without any side effects. Higher doses have been associated with GI effects. While no contraindications have been determined curcumin has been documented to stimulate menses and causes abortion.

Turmeric Side Effects for Skin

There are not many turmeric side effects for skin. The known and documented side effects involve the GI system; nausea and diarrhea. It may also cause increased stomach acid or interfere with antacid medication.

While there are no contraindications, there are some worries that turmeric may pose dangers in pregnancy. There is no evidence to this claim. It is however thought that curcumin might stimulate the uterus resulting in miscarriages hence should be avoided in pregnancy.

According to the National Institute of Health, turmeric has blood thinning properties and may slow blood clotting. Avoid turmeric if you are taking any anticoagulant medication or 2-3 weeks before any major surgery. Consult your doctor before taking turmeric if you are taking blood thinning medication such as aspirin and warfarin.

The most common and concerning side effect of using turmeric on skin is yellow staining. Turmeric is very yellow and can stain clothes, linen or skin. Be ready to clean once you use any turmeric recipe for skin. There are things you can do to make it easier to remove the stains.

Go for turmeric recipes that use oils as they are much easier to wash off with soap and water. Simply lather up and wash off your skin. You may have to do this several times.

Mixing turmeric with water or lemon juice, it leaves a yellow stain for several hours which may require that you wash several times to fade it off. Fingernails exposed to turmeric may have the yellowish tinge for some time. Use plastic gloves, a facial sponge or applicator.

If you are going to use turmeric on your skin overnight, use old and dark colored bedding. You can get rid of staining on clothes and linen by washing them and airing them out in the sun for a few hours- it works.

Where Do I Buy Turmeric?

Turmeric is easily and readily available in supermarkets and local food stores since it is also used to prepare many dishes and curries. Check the labels and go through the list of ingredients to make sure that you only buy turmeric powder or supplements with curcumin as the active ingredient. Some pre-packaged products contain a mixture of other spices used for cooking.

10 Comments

  1. Really a beneficial article as it is providing some really good tips for health benefits and the benefits of the turmeric milk. I will surely recommend everyone to go through this article and read the benefits of turmeric milk.

  2. Its really a great article!!! Turmeric is a wonderful remedies for skin.Its not only good for skin but also beneficial for many health problems.
    Thanks & keep Posting….

  3. Hi Devbabbar, Thank you. Visit our website for more great articles on skincare, beauty, and health.

  4. Its a very helpfulll and best article for health. As i read the benefits & usage of turmeric above, i can start from today.. Thnx Buddy..
    Keep posting..

  5. Hi Pasty. Happy 2018. Turmeric is generally considered safe for external use on babies skin. You can use it as a natural remedy to soften baby skin or help with common skin problems. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits. Mix it with milk or cream and use just before or while taking a bath to reduce blemishes and improve baby skin.

    However, in my opinion, baby skin is gentle, soft, smooth and fast healing. You do not need to apply turmeric at all. For common baby skin problems, it is best to consult a doctor. Cheers!

  6. Hi Lindsay,
    Turmeric is vary usefull for Skin and it has more health value.and this article is really helpful for me.Thanks for sharing this article.

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