Benefits of Turmeric for Skin

Wondering why there is a rising interest in turmeric for skin care? We will simplify the science of why turmeric is great for your skin. For those seeking an easy way to incorporate turmeric in their daily routine, Noctua Soap Co's Rejuvenation soap contains turmeric.

All the interest over turmeric is from its main compound, curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses which significantly benefits your skin [1]. This benefit comes from the compounds ability to help keep the communication pathways between cells clean [1].

Cells constantly have to communicate with each other to perform various functions. The pathway of this communication is essentially turned on and off [2]. On meaning the communication has started and off meaning the communication ended. Problems arise when the communication becomes stuck on either on or off.

If a cell was telling another cell to duplicate itself but the communication was stuck on, the other cell would continuously replicate itself (the beginnings of cancer). Now if the cell was trying to tell the other cell it needs to die, but the communication was stuck off, the other cell would never get the message it needs to die. This is a problem if it is an unhealthy cell the body is trying to get rid of (unhealthy cell referring to free radicals). Clear, beautiful skin depends on uninterrupted communication so healthy cells replicate (in moderation) and unhealthy cells die.

If interested in learning more about cell communication, we recommend reading Cell Communication and Cell Signaling.

The benefits of turmeric can easily be absorbed through your skin. Adding some turmeric in your weekly face mask is a great way to receive its benefits (~1/2 a teaspoon). Or simply make your own face mask mixing 1/2 teaspoon turmeric with 1 tablespoon of yogurt. For those seeking the benefits of turmeric daily, Rejuvenation soap contains turmeric specifically for this purpose.

[1] Davinelli, Sergio et al. “Cytoprotective Polyphenols Against Chronological Skin Aging and Cutaneous Photodamage.” Current pharmaceutical design 24 2 (2018): 99-105 .

[2] Orton RJ, Sturm OE, Vyshemirsky V, Calder M, Gilbert DR, Kolch W (Dec 2005). "Computational modelling of the receptor-tyrosine-kinase-activated MAPK pathway". The Biochemical Journal. 392(Pt 2): 249–61. doi:10.1042/BJ20050908. PMC 1316260. PMID 16293107.