Turmeric is actually the primary ingredient in curry.
Acne is caused when the pores on the skin are clogged by oil or dead skin. When bacteria get into those pores, the situation can turn worse, leading to swelling, redness and even puss. Turmeric can be used to treat acne, both orally as well as topically, applied directly to the problem areas on the skin. The only scientific research, however, to investigate the effectiveness of the herb for this purpose failed to find proof for its efficacy.
Acne
Acne is a problem that starts when the pores on the skin are clogged. The culprit may be dead cells, or oil that is either produced by your own body or contained in products you may apply to your skin. The situation is made worse by bacteria multiplying inside the clogged pores, leading to such symptoms as redness, swelling and puss, as well as the appearance of blackheads. During adolescence, acne is usually more common, as the hormonal changes that occur during this time lead to the production of more oil on the skin. Diet, however, is not a determinant of acne.
Turmeric Properties
Turmeric is a spicy plant and is the main constituent of curry (which is a mixture of spices, as opposed to a single plant). It is yellow and has a strong taste when consumed on its own. Turmeric is a strong anti-inflammatory, which means it has the ability to reduce symptoms associated with injury, such as swelling and redness. Turmeric is usually taken orally, although for certain skin conditions ayurverdic practitioners recommend topical application.
Turmeric in Medicine
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is often used in medicine for a variety of conditions including stomach ache, fever, infections, liver problems, fever, fluid retention, bloating (in the stomach as well as in extremities) and PMS-related pain.
Turmeric can be made into a paste by mixing the powder with a variety of liquids or other medicinal herbs, and applied directly to the skin to treat redness, inflammation, bruises, pain and acne.
Scientific Evidence
To date, there has only been one scientific study evaluating the efficacy of turmeric in treating acne. Although the work published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology did not find a direct correlation between turmeric use and acne, its methodology leaves much to be desired. Scientists only used a survey to determine the frequency of turmeric use in a sample population and tried to correlate the results with the amount and severity of acne observed on the skin of participants. A far more reliable research would involve the direct administration of a specific dose of turmeric and precise measurement in the change in acne levels in participants. Hopefully such a study will be carried out in the future.
Dose
For oral administration, scientific studies used 500 mg of turmeric administered four times per day, at which dose the substance was found to be effective in treating stomach upset. Since the potency of each extraction method can vary, read label instructions when using a supplement in pill form. No scientific study has evaluated an oral turmeric dose specifically for the treatment of acne. For direct application of turmeric on acne, ayurvedic medicine recommends turmeric paste mixed with neem leaves.
Tags: applied directly, pores skin, pores skin clogged, scientific study, skin clogged, swelling redness, turmeric acne