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How Turmeric Can Prove to be Magical for Your Skin, Know From the Experts

Turmeric is gold if health is wealth. But really, the flowering plant in the ginger family is gold in colour and the turmeric benefits for skin—and health—are plentiful.

Updated on: 6 May, 2022 9:09 AM IST By: Laavanya Arya
Turmeric has been used as an anti-inflammatory and preventative health supplement for centuries, and has traditionally been used to heal wounds and treat pain.

Turmeric, a golden yellow spice that not only tastes good but can also provide significant skin benefits is indeed a hidden spice in your kitchen. According to dermatologists, Turmeric is one of the most popular skincare ingredients right now. Applying turmeric to your face can help calm skin rashes, lighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation, treat acne, and brighten skin tone.

About turmeric:

Turmeric is a ginger-related root plant that is widely used as a spice throughout the world, particularly in South Asia. Its bright yellow colour is due to the active ingredient curcumin, which is "a potent anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-neoplastic, and antioxidant which combats free-radicals and free-radical damage," according to experts.

Turmeric has been used as an anti-inflammatory and preventative health supplement for centuries, and has traditionally been used to heal wounds and treat pain.

 It's also a popular Ayurvedic skincare ingredient. "It is frequently applied to the skin of brides and grooms a few days before their wedding day to enhance their complexions and give the skin a glow.

What are the primary skin benefits of turmeric?

This spice can do it all, but its main benefit is that it gives you glowing, radiant skin. "It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties which help to treat acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and even pigmentation when ingested and/or applied topically," Wizemann says. The following are some of the specific ways:

Calms inflammation: Turmeric has "anti-inflammatory benefits and protection from environmental damage," says beauty experts. Because inflammation is the root cause of many skin problems, reducing it can help improve acne, rashes, and redness.

Treats acne: Turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin have been shown to improve acne lesions when consumed and/or applied topically, according to Wizemann. The expert also says that you can spot and treat pimples by making a paste of turmeric, water, and lemon (vitamin C) and leaving it on the pimple overnight.

Soothes skin rashes: In addition to treating skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis, "turmeric has also been used to heal scars, skin rashes, burns, and other uncomfortable skin conditions. "Turmeric is thought to aid in skin renewal, though it is not solely responsible for it."

Lightens dark spots: They believe that “topical turmeric helps with discoloration or hyperpigmentation if used over a long period of time".

Brightens skin: One of turmeric's most well-known benefits is its ability to brighten skin. "Turmeric has been used to reduce excess melanin production, which can brighten skin tone," experts explained.

What skin types can apply turmeric?

"Turmeric can be used on all skin types, but it's especially effective on dull, itchy, and/or sensitive skin," another expert said. "It is possible to have a turmeric allergy, and it is important to patch test to a small area before applying it to a larger area”.

He recommends performing a patch test behind your ear, and "if there is no redness or itching, then you can go ahead and use turmeric in your skincare."

Are there any side effects to using turmeric in skincare?

They claimed that there are no side effects of using turmeric as long as you are not allergic to it. "If used in a DIY mask, there may be some yellow staining on the skin, but skincare products available on the market have been designed to minimize that staining.

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