Natural Herbal Help for Skin Rashes & Chronic Skin Conditions

• How Can Turmeric Help?
• Won't Turmeric Turn My Skin Yellow?

Turmeric is prescribed in traditional medicine such as Ayurveda and Unani for different types of skin conditions, including acne, fungal infections (such as athlete's foot), and bug bites. Turmeric is also used to help treat hereditary, infectious, and inflammatory skin diseases. Most of these cause visible rashes, some with dry and itchy skin. ^(ix.1-6)

These traditional uses of turmeric have solid footing in modern research as well. Studies suggest that turmeric (by itself and with other herbal ingredients) and its compounds may relieve symptoms and help resolve skin conditions such as: ^{(ix.1-4, 7-9)}

• Atopic dermatitis
• Dry skin
• Eczema
• Ichthyosis vulgaris
• Impetigo
• Psoriasis
• Scabies

According to one clinical trial, taking an oral supplement of turmeric's curcumin compounds could even help people exposed to chemical warfare. Mustard gas causes a chronic skin rash that's extremely itchy. In the 4-week trial, curcumin significantly reduced pruritus symptoms in the patients who took 1 g/day of it (compared to those who took a placebo). The turmeric compound also decreased inflammatory proteins in the blood, which may explain its anti-itch effect. ^(ix.12)

How Can Turmeric Help?

Turmeric and its compounds have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihistamine effects that are important in treating skin conditions. Some of the specific compounds found in turmeric that are thought to be useful for skin conditions include: ^(ix.13-16)

• Caffeic acid
• Curcumin
• Ferulic acid
• Vanillic acid
• Vitamin C

In particular, curcumin has been well-studied. It is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. How can an anti-inflammatory help skin conditions? A primary example involves blocking activation of a protein called nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, or NF-κB for short. NF-κB is a type of protein called a transcription factor. It triggers genes involved in many diseases — including psoriasis and skin cancer). Turmeric's curcumin compounds blocks NF-κB and other pro-inflammatory proteins. ^(ix.3, 17)

Other compounds in turmeric, such as 1,8-cineole, help natural substances that don't dissolve well in water (such as curcumin) absorb into the skin better. Both human and animal studies show that turmeric and curcumin can help relieve symptoms of skin conditions and even help heal some of them. Turmeric may also help prevent scarring that some rashes may leave. ^{(ix.3, 14, 18)}