Does turmeric help with skin rashes?

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.

Table of Contents

• Youtube video of how to make Homemade Turmeric Powder from fresh/raw roots
• Turmeric Health Benefits on skin
  • How Turmeric Benefits the skin
  • Benefits of Turmeric on Skin diseases
  • Turmeric powder effects on the skin when used externally
    • Side effects of turmeric on skin
    • Benefits of Turmeric on the Face – Turmeric Face mask Benefits
    • Benefits of Turmeric on skin acne
    • Use of Turmeric for Itchy skin
    • Turmeric benefits for skin whitening and lightening 
    • Turmeric benefits for skin pigmentation
    • Importance of turmeric in treating scalp and skin hair loss
  • Turmeric health benefits for skin problems
    • Turmeric benefits for skin psoriasis
  • Turmeric powder benefits on the skin when taken internally 
    • Turmeric milk benefits on skin
    • Turmeric benefits for mouth ulcers and wound healing
• Facts and questions about the use of Turmeric
  • Is turmeric hard on kidneys?
  • What drugs should not be taken with turmeric?
    • Anticoagulants (Blood-thinning medications)
      • Examples of some blood-thinning drugs affected by turmeric
    • Drugs that reduce stomach acid
      • Examples of drugs for treating stomach ulcer that is affected by turmeric 
    • Antidiabetic drugs (medications that lower blood sugar)
      • Examples of drugs for controlling blood sugar affected by the use of turmeric
    • Who should not take turmeric?
  • Is it safe to take turmeric every day?
  • What is the fastest way to remove turmeric from the face?
  • What should I look for when buying turmeric?
  • Can you drink turmeric powder?
  • How often should you take Turmeric?
• Turmeric containing products and forms

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.

Facts and questions about the use of Turmeric

Is turmeric hard on kidneys?

The curcumin in turmeric is an anti-inflammatory agent that can ameliorate chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, turmeric is not bad for your kidneys but rather protective to them when taken in the recommended dose.

What drugs should not be taken with turmeric?

The metabolism of the following drugs or medications are affected by Turmeric, be it in powder form or as curcumin containing supplement or compound. You should not take turmeric or any turmeric containing compound or curcumin containing compound while taking these drugs.

Anticoagulants (Blood-thinning medications)

The blood-thinning drugs are potentiated when you take them concomitantly with turmeric. This means the blood clots less more than the level at which it was intended to be; you then become predispose to bleeding easily that may be fatal.

Examples of some blood-thinning drugs affected by turmeric

• Warfarin (Coumadin)
• Clopidogrel (Plavix)
• Aspirin

Drugs that reduce stomach acid

Turmeric may interfere with the action of drugs that are intended to reduce stomach acid. These drugs are mostly used in treating stomach ulcer, hence if you are being treated for stomach ulcers, you should not take turmeric while using these drugs. Taking turmeric while taking these drugs will increase the production of stomach acid and worsen any intended treatment of stomach ulcers.

Examples of drugs for treating stomach ulcer that is affected by turmeric 

• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Nizatidine
• Famotidine
• Ranitidine (Zantac)
• Esomeprazole (Nexium)
• Omeprazole
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)

The above list is not exhaustive as any proton pump inhibitor or H2 antihistamine is affected by the use of turmeric in any form.

Antidiabetic drugs (medications that lower blood sugar)

Drugs used for controlling blood sugar in diabetes are affected by the use of turmeric. Their effects are increased when combined with turmeric, this makes the drugs drastically reduce the sugar level leading to low blood sugar that is fatal. You stand a risk of having hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you use these drugs with turmeric.

Examples of drugs for controlling blood sugar affected by the use of turmeric

• Albiglutide (Tanzeum)
• Alogliptin-metformin (Kazano)
• Bromocriptine mesylate (Cycloset, Parlodel)
• Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
• Ertugliflozin (Steglatro)
• Exenatide (Byetta)
• Glimepiride (Amaryl)
• Glipizide (Glucotrol)

Who should not take turmeric?

• Those with diabetes
• People with duodenal or stomach ulcer
• Those on blood-thinning medications
• People with iron deficiency as turmeric reduces the absorption of iron

Is it safe to take turmeric every day?

A teaspoon per day is safe while taking natural turmeric powder. Taking it in excess in whatever form either as a capsule or supplement could become detrimental to your health.

What is the fastest way to remove turmeric from the face?

You can get rid of the yellow stain of turmeric on your face by warming olive oil or coconut oil; then gently rub on your face for 1 minute. You can then use a cleaning cloth to wipe it away.

Another way of removing turmeric from the face is the use of sugar and lemon mixture to scrub on the face. Allow to dry and wash with warm water.

What should I look for when buying turmeric?

• Ensure it is fresh if you are buying the raw unprocessed turmeric roots
• If you are buying the dried roots, ensure it does not have molds growing on it
• When buying processed turmeric powder, make sure it has a yellow or slightly orange color and not dark-colored. A different color of means it’s adulterated
• Ensure proper storage or packaging of turmeric when buying
• If it is too costly, you can make yours at home, the process is easy. Just watch the youtube video above.

Can you drink turmeric powder?

People know the detoxification properties of turmeric and can leave you soothed; when drank every day. A simple daily detox turmeric recipe can be prepared by adding 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric, honey (to taste), and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in lukewarm water. Have it every day empty stomach in the morning.

How often should you take Turmeric?

When taking turmeric for any of the above-mentioned problems or benefits, just remember not to take in excess of the recommended daily dosage of a teaspoon per day; even if you have more than one problem, the dose should not be doubled.

Turmeric containing products and forms

There are different ways to take turmeric because it comes in different forms. These forms include:

• Turmeric tea
• Fruit juice such as pineapple juice with Turmeric
• Turmeric milk
• Supplements
• Turmeric essential oil
• Body creams containing curcumin
• Capsules

When making your own turmeric product such as juice, smoothie, tea, or milk; mixing the turmeric with pineapple aids the absorption and potentiates its effects more.

How do you use turmeric for rashes?

Can I apply turmeric on the itchy skin?

How long does it take for turmeric to work on skin?

How do you make turmeric paste for rashes?