Before I discuss turmeric for acne, let me tell you about my first experience with turmeric. My friend Betty Jo invited me to her house for a day of self-care. Frankly, I really needed it. I also needed some time to converse with another adult.
I have been home with my children for months due to what has been happening in the world. Yes, I know all the technology that I could have used to have a conversation, but I desired a normal conversation.
So when she offered the invitation, I talked my husband into watching the kids for a few hours and hit the road. Now Betty Jo only lives a few miles away, but the distance felt like a million miles. I could not get to her house quick enough. I felt like I had just escaped from some never-ending drama to freedom.
Our Plans
Betty Jo told me she had a recipe for a new dish she wanted to prepare for lunch along with a new drink. Oh, I wonder if it is going to be red or white. I knew Betty Jo, and she would surely have both.
As I drove down her driveway like a speed demon, I envisioned her opening the door with two wine glasses in her hands. One hand with a red and the other hand holding a white wine. All I can say is let the self-care begin.
To My Surprise
As soon as I parked my car, I flung the car door open and headed to her front door. As I reached for the doorknob, the door flung open, and I stopped in my tracts. What the heck is that? Something or someone strange opened the door?
To my surprise, it was Betty Joe’s voice but not her face. All I can say is that this person in front of me looked like a Jack-o-lantern. with a cut out for the eyes and mouth, but the remainder of the face was an orange color. But this creature did have a glass of red wine that she handed to me as she welcomed me into her home.
After the shock, I asked Betty Jo what was going on. She simply replied, “I am trying out this new turmeric mask.” You can imagine my shock when I said, “what the heck is turmeric, and why do you have it on your face?” In a nutshell, this was my introduction to turmeric.
What is turmeric?
If you have ever had Indian food, chances are you have had turmeric. This orange spice comes from the root of the Curcuma longa. Turmeric is also in the same plant family as ginger. While ginger has nubs on the root where new plants begin, turmeric is a straighter root.
To satisfy my curiosity, I took a trip to a large grocery store that I knew carried fresh ginger. I found turmeric root just a few bins away and was very curious about this herb.
You can peel it and add it to soups or stews. You can also grate it into dishes such as egg salad or scrambled eggs. If you decide to peel fresh turmeric, be prepared to have stained hands. The orange color easily comes off the root and stains everything. You can use lemon juice to remove the stain, but why go through all this when you can simply wear gloves.
I knew even if I wore gloves, I would still get stains all over myself, so I checked out the dried spice aisle. Due to the popularity of Indian food, dried turmeric is as easy to find as dried ginger in most grocery stores.
Turmeric as a facial treatment
Before moving on to the facial treatment, let’s take a look at why turmeric can be used to treat acne. The pores on your face can become inflamed when they are clogged with oil and dirt. The body’s natural response is to fight the infection with inflammation. Turmeric contains a chemical (curcumin) that is considered an anti-inflammatory, which helps prevent or reduce inflammation in the pores.
Turmeric helps manage microorganisms that can cause bacteria that will set into the pores. With the control of these bacteria, we can reduce the spread of acne. Just a bit of information on the side turmeric also contains antioxidants that are beneficial to the skin.
Now, there is a downside to turmeric. It can cause contact dermatitis, which is an irritation of the skin when Turmeric touches it. Before applying a mask, make sure to test it on your arm and wait 24 hours for a reaction. If nothing happens, then you can create your own turmeric facial mask using the dried spice.
If you need some ideas, check out this DIY facial mask recipe on YouTube. But beware, when using any turmeric mask, you may end up with an orange-stained face as Betty Jo did.
DIY Turmeric Face Mask
Oral use of turmeric
If you don’t really want an orange face, but you want the same turmeric benefits, consider eating the spice in foods you cook—experiment by adding it to eggs and stir-fries. Turmeric milk is another way of consuming it.
To make a drink, use turmeric, dairy-free milk, cinnamon, black pepper, and honey to give it a bit of sweet taste. If this drink doesn’t sound too good to you, then drink it in the form of tea. It is easy to find in tea bags, or you can make your own with turmeric root, lemon juice, black pepper, honey, and hot water. You can create your own recipe that tastes good to you.
The last way you can consume turmeric is through a supplement. I always suggest you attempt to use it in foods as one does not know what is in all the supplements. Keep in mind, though, that this spice can interact with some medications used in the treatment of gallbladder disease, so be sure to check with your doctor before taking a supplement.
How do I know if turmeric for acne is for me?
When you try a new approach to acne treatment, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. Everyone is different, and what works for me may not work for you.
Another factor to consider is the cause and cure for acne is complex. You have to consider many factors when you treat your acne, such as lifestyle, age, and your DNA.
Most of the time, we only recommend one test to solve your problems but, acne is such a complex problem you will need two types of DNA testing. The GxRenew looks at factors that relate to the skin and, yes, the aging process. The second one is GxNutrient, which looks at the nutritional aspect of health and wellness.
At this point, you may be scratching your head and wondering what this has to do with acne. Well, my mama always said, “If you want to look your best, then eat the best because what you put in your mouth will show on your skin.” Another saying I have heard many times is garbage in garbage out. In a nutshell, you need to make sure that your DNA allows for proper nutrition and that your skin is healthy.
How to Get Your DNA Test And Results
When it comes to collecting your DNA, the process is simple and only requires a quick swab of the inside of your mouth. Once done, mail off your sample and wait 2 or 3 weeks, and the lab will return your results to your DNA representative.
When your representative has your results, they will contact you to go over them and answer any questions you may have. You and your representative can decide based on your results if turmeric is right for you.
After all of this, you may be wondering what happened with Betty Jo and our self-care best friend day together. After the horror of the pumpkin face, we laughed and had a few glasses of wine. Betty Joe didn’t disappoint me in the food department.
My day with Betty Joe was perfect and nothing akin to normal. We chopped up a chicken, added some prepared vegetables, some stuff called coconut milk, and then dried turmeric. We let it simmer while we had another glass of wine. I was a bit worried, but it really was delicious, and Betty Jo’s skin looked fabulous. So I think turmeric really does work.
Next time we have a girls’ day, it will be at my house, and I don’t think I will plan anything as exotic as Betty Joe, but I can say we will have a glass of wine, good food, good company and the results to our DNA tests. So let the party begin.