Study, Skin Care Turmeric for Hyperpigmentation and Wrinkles?

Today's Monday skin tip comes from Heathly Hair and Body. Turmeric and curcumin are usually associated with Indian cruisine and golden curry sauces, but both spices also have extraordinary benefits as anti-aging and inflammation reducing treatments.


I am subscribed to tons of YouTubers, and one of them is Farah.  She has several videos discussing the effectiveness of turmeric against hyperpigmentation.  While I have not tried her homemade mixtures (nor intend to anytime soon), I did view this is an opportunity to find any research on turmeric and hyperpigmentation. What did I find?

  • In one study, turmeric demonstrated effectiveness against hyperpigmentation and other UVB-induced skin damage in mice.  It specifically prevented the following: an increase in skin thickness, a reduction in skin elasticity, formation of wrinkles, and formation of melanin induced by chronic UVB exposure [1].  The mechanism by which turmeric accomplishes this is believed to be via the "inhibition of increases in metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression caused by chronic irradiation". 
  • Curcumin, an active component of turmeric, "protects skin by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation through the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B [2]".
SOURCES
[1] EFFECTS OF TURMERIC ON CHRONIC UVB-INDUCED SKIN DAMAGE (2009)
[2] SKIN REGENERATIVE POTENTIALS OF CURCUMIN (2013)

One of Farah's many videos on using turmeric for the skin:



Have you tried turmeric or curcumin for your skin?

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