Is the astonishing trick to glowing skin located in your spice cabinet? One of the most hyped skincare therapies right now is turmeric, a gold-brown spice that doesn't only taste yummy, it also delivers a number of major skin benefits — among them skin lightening.

What Is Turmeric (Curcumin)?

Turmeric (sometimes named Curcuma Longa) is a root plant similar to ginger, and is traditionally used as a spice around the world — in particular in South Asia. You will probably detect it by its intense golden yellow color. This spice has been used for over 1800 years in Ayurvedic medicine and as a preventative overall health supplement. Ayurveda is the all-natural platform of medicine that got its start in India.

The golden color of turmeric is from the active component curcumin. Curcumin is a highly potent anti-inflammatory (prevents inflammation), antimicrobial (hinders the growth of microorganisms), antineoplastic (obstructs the establishment of growths that could possibly turn into cancer) and antioxidant (elements that attack damaging free radicals). So yes, curcumin is a rather huge deal!

Curcumin (Turmeric) for Treating Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a recurrent concern that makes select places of the skin darker than other areas. "Hyper" suggests more, and "pigment" denotes tint. Hyperpigmentation may show up as brown, red, or gray spots or patches. The areas are often times termed sun spots, age spots, or liver spots.

Skin gets its coloring from a chemical known as melanin, which is a pigment made by skin cells referred to as melanocytes. When those skin cells are compromised or unhealthy, they can easily deliver an excessive amount of melanin. The melanin will clump, which causes that area to seem to be darker. So a basic underlying cause of hyperpigmentation is an additional output of melanin.

hyperpigmentation and skin lightener

Several studies have indicated that curcumin has the capability to minimize hyperpigmentation. Mainly it's the curcumin in turmeric that is the crucial factor in these studies to repress the action of tyrosinase, an enzyme necessary for melanin generation. Though this characteristic hasn't yet been proven in clinical studies, it tilts in the direction of the idea that daily topical applications of turmeric may well ultimately lighten your skin. With time, as darker skin cells are organically exfoliated, they would be replaced by cells that are of a person's normal skin color.

Turmeric for Dealing With Melasma

A number of health conditions are able to alter the production of melanin, leading to hyperpigmentation. Melasma is a very well known cause of hyperpigmentation. Melasma is a skin disorder that brings about spots and patches, ordinarily on the face, that are more dark than a person's natural skin shade. Although this ailment is harmless, it naturally makes a lot of people feel embarrassed.

Melasma is a skin problem distinguished by spots, or brown or blue-gray patches, mostly on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. Since hormonal shifts during pregnancy can be the source of melasma, it's frequently regarded as the "mask of pregnancy."

Melasma is a really routine skin condition, in particular involving pregnant women. Anywhere around 15% to 40% of pregnant women experience it. Although melasma can additionally result from too much exposure to the sun, the more common cause is hormonal changes from birth control or being pregnant, which is to say women are significantly more inclined than men to experience this disorder.

The first thing you need to do to treat your melasma is to make sure that it doesn't get any worse. Do this by avoiding LED monitors, irritating soaps, and tanning beds. Should you be exposed to the sun, you'll want to pick sunscreen with a SPF of 30 to 60 applied every three hours.

To actively deal with melasma (or hyperpigmentation of any cause), look into a topical skin lightening product like Meladerm from Civant Skincare or a turmeric mask.

civant meladerm dark spots remover

Turmeric contains curcumin, a potent antioxidant that lightens skin. Using a 1:2 proportion, mix milk or water with turmeric powder, and apply the paste on the darkened patches. Let the application dry completely and then wash it off using warm water. Repeat on a daily basis for best results.

Applying Turmeric Topically for Skin Lightening

The curcumin benefits for skin lightening are numerous. Applying turmeric on your face may help calm skin rashes, treat acne, and lighten dark spots. Though not an immediate solution, topically administered curcumin will help with discoloration if applied over time.

turmeric curcumin mask hyperpigmentation

Use Turmeric Masks to Topically Lighten the Skin

A person can find turmeric-infused skincare treatments to buy, but you can instead easily and affordably prepare your own treatment. A turmeric mask is the preferred technique to utilize turmeric topically.

Turmeric masks all have curcumin powder as their principal ingredient. Getting a big container of curcumin powder is more convenient and a great deal less costly (per the amount purchased) than purchasing turmeric in capsule or tablet form. It's convenient to take a scoop of powder from the resealable container and mix it with a liquid to form a paste to spread on the discolored places of the body. Be aware that since it's the curcumin that is the active component of turmeric root, supplements will often be labeled as "Curcumin" as an alternative to "Turmeric." A supplement may even be marketed with both these names, as in "Turmeric Curcumin." That's the text used by Microingredients for their powder supplement.

microingredients turmeric curcumin powder supplement

To make a turmeric mask all you have to do is add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder with one teaspoon of lemon juice. You could optionally also mix in one teaspoon of agave syrup or honey. Both honey and agave syrup may help moisturize and hydrate your skin. Lemon juice includes concentrated skin bleaching attributes so it lightens your skin tone.

The resulting mixture is then applied on your face and left applied for up to 30 minutes. Rinse afterwards with warm tap water. Dab on this type of mask on a daily basis for faster results.

Take Turmeric Orally for Skin Lightening

As you've read, turmeric powder works well externally to lighten skin by applying powder onto the skin in the form of a mask. Alternately, curcumin can be used internally for a similar goal. Taken orally, curcumin can limit undesirable melanin production. This means curcumin advantages for the lightening of skin will be attained by using the powdered supplement both externally or internally.

Turmeric Tea to Lighten Skin

Turmeric teas are a frequent approach for consuming turmeric because the taste is delicate and soothing, and the wellness effects are close as eating the whole plant in cooked solid food. The same turmeric powder that one would buy to use for a turmeric mask can be used as the basis of your turmeric tea.

Studies suggest that the standard turmeric dosage daily is around 500 mg to 2500 mg, but studies working with up to 9 grams daily showed no substantial side effects. Some powdered turmeric health supplements include a small spoon that measures 1000 mg (1 gram), helping to make it a breeze to brew a cup of turmeric tea. To brew a tea that consists of a 1000 mg serving of turmeric, just add one scoop of curcumin powder to boiling water and let it steep for approximately 10 minutes and then strain before consuming. To spruce up the flavor, the curcumin can also be combined with other spices such as ginger root, cinnamon, and lemongrass.

While turmeric tea is the most prevalent method to take oral turmeric, you can mix the turmeric powder in any beverage you want. If your personal preference is a juice or smoothie, then simply add a scoop or two in your currently favored beverage.

microingredients turmeric curcumin supplement label

The time of day you consume turmeric is up to you. The curcumin (turmeric) will not work any better or worse depending on the time you take it. Turmeric is not a stimulant, so if you wish to take your drink prior to bed as opposed to in the morning, that ought to work just fine.