Turmeric and Acne

Turmeric is a root that looks much like ginger root. The actual root is sold at health-minded grocery stores such as Whole Foods and it is very expensive! However, it may be worth the price as it has lots of health benefits. It’s much more commonly found in a powdered spice form and you can get it in the spice aisle of just about any grocery store.  It is also available as a health supplement in capsule, powder or tea form.  Turmeric has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and wide ranging benefits. It is also a tasty herb.  Turmeric is valued for more than just its cooking uses. The herb has been used in the Ayurvedic healing tradition for centuries.  Curcuminoids found in turmeric benefit joints and other tissues by helping to neutralize free-radicals. Through its antioxidant mechanisms, curcumin supports colon health, exerts neuroprotective activity and helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

Turmeric is known to:

• Reduce inflammation. This is turmeric’s shining quality – it’s incredibly anti inflammatory. Acne is inflammation, so you definitely want this for your skin!
• Detoxify your liver. People with severe liver problems should consult a doctor before trying to take turmeric supplements.
• Fight free radicals. Free radicals disrupt and damage the sebum and cells in your skin.
• Sooth the digestive tract. Believe it or not many acne problems start with poor digestion.

As with any health supplement, if you truly want to get the medicinal properties out of turmeric, it’s best to use it consistently — at least a spoonful or two per day. It has a vaguely pungent bitter flavour, but the flavor is not overly strong. You can add it to your food whenever it makes sense. Since it has such a bright yellow color, it can make your food look much more fun and exotic! This is especially true of rice dishes.  Vegetarians like to mix turmeric with tofu to make fake scrambled eggs as the bright yellow color of turmeric lends itself perfectly to this.

Turmeric for Your Skin

If you want to, you can apply turmeric directly to your skin as a mask, and it can help with inflammation and acne scars on the face. You can mix it with a bit of honey and lemon juice, or perhaps aloe vera gel, and apply it to the skin — let it sit for a while, and gently wash it off. However one user reported:

I have to warn you though, this can turn your skin a bit yellow! I tried it once, and when I washed it off I thought I thought that I was in the clear on the yellow front… but the next day, in brighter sunlight, my mom asked me what was on my face. Knowing that she had more tact than to point out an acne blemish, I inquired further as to what she was talking about, and it turned out that ‘it look like I had jaundice’. Soo…. be careful! hahah … if you dare to venture into the world of turmeric masks, I would suggest maybe leaving it on for only ten to fifteen minutes as opposed to the half hour or so I had let mine sit.