Turmeric for Acne

Turmeric is a perennial herb which has short and thick stem. Its multiple branches give out a fabulous aromatic smell. The stems of turmeric develop underground, and thus are called rhizomes. The scientific and colloquial name of turmeric are Curcuma longa and haldi respectively. It finds its usage in cuisines as well as many home remedies.

Turmeric is particularly more popular in the Indian subcontinent, where it is a must in any kitchen. However, it will be better if you know how turmeric can cure acne and remove its scars. Let's learn it first.

Is Turmeric Good for Acne

Sometimes, the pores on your skin gets filled with dead cells, natural oil and dirt. This deposition is prone to bacterial infection. The infection leads to inflammation, swelling and development of pus in the skin pores. Such a deposition in skin pores is called acne.

You can get rid of acne by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, reducing the inflammation and removing the deposition from the skin pore as a whole. All these are possible when you apply something on the acne that has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and soothing properties. Turmeric is one such substance which has all the above mentioned properties. Therefore, there's no doubt that turmeric is good for acne. To add to this, turmeric, being a herb, would not cause any kind of side effect to you if you use it properly and are not allergic to it naturally.

How to Use Turmeric for Acne

In addition to the properties mentioned in the above paragraph, turmeric is believed to have analgesic, antitumor, antioxidant, anti allergic, antispasmodic, astringent, appetizing, carminative, diuretic and digestive properties. Therefore, when you use turmeric on a regular basis, you derive a lot of health benefits, including acne treatment and acne control. You can take it both internally and externally to get great results for acne cure. There are several ways in which you can use turmeric. Some of them are described below.

Method 1: Take a glass of warm milk and mix a teaspoon of turmeric into it. Stir well so that the color of the milk turns yellow. Drink it once a day, preferably before bedtime. This will boost the immune system of your body. As a result, your body will be better able to fight bacterial infection, and hence cure acne fast.

Method 2: Use turmeric as an ingredient of dishes whenever possible. It is widely used in the cuisines of South East Asian countries. So, try out some of Indian and Sri Lankan recipes to increase the amount of turmeric in your diet. This will benefit you. In fact, it will greatly reduce the chances of acne development.

Method 3: You can apply turmeric directly on the acne and the skin surrounding it to treat it fast. This will also reduce the possibility of acne scars. Even if the scar forms, at least it would be of a comparatively lighter color. Here is one way by which you can use turmeric externally. Take one or two teaspoons of fresh milk and one tablespoon of turmeric powder. Mix both the ingredients well. The purpose is to give the mixture the consistency of paste. Apply it evenly on your face, covering the acne. Leave it on for 10 minutes, and then wash the turmeric mask off well with lots of plain water. You can apply an oil-free moisturizer afterward. Do it once a day to get rid of acne fast. Turmeric is believed to lighten the skin as well. Therefore, by using such a face pack made of turmeric, you should expect to enjoy a lighter skin tone over time.

Method 4: You can make a scrub with turmeric for acne scars. Take 2-3 teaspoons of turmeric powder, 1-2 drops of lemon juice and mix it with one or two drops of mustard oil. You can replace the mustard oil with olive, coconut, or jojoba oil to get similar results. Mix the oil and turmeric well to make a paste. Spread it evenly on the face. Make sure that you cover the acne. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Sprinkle a little amount of water on your face. Scrub your face gently with fingers, moving in a circular motion. You will be able to shed off the layer of turmeric and oil paste in a couple of minutes. Wash your face well with plenty of water. Do it once in two days. It will help in removing acne scars to a great extent.

External application of turmeric has a staining effect on your skin. Your face may appear a bit pale even after washing it off with water. Therefore, you should use a mild face wash, which suits your skin, while washing the face mask away. If you wish to have a natural remedy for turmeric staining of the skin, then rub a slice of lemon on your face in gentle circular motions. Wash your face with plenty of water later on. In this article, you have learned how much turmeric for acne to be used and how to use it in different ways. Do try some of the suggested methods of turmeric usage for acne control at home. You will notice the difference in yourself in a couple of weeks.