It has been used for medicinal purposes in the East for centuries.
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What Is Turmeric?
Curcumin traditionally has been used in Asian countries as an herbal medicine.
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It offers health benefits against inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndromes, pain, and degenerative eye conditions.
These benefits are a result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of turmeric in treating these conditions is not very robust.
It is more common in teenagers and young adults, but all ages can be affected.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis typically begins in early childhood and usually disappears by adolescence.
Yet some people may have it later in adulthood as well.
In Asian countries, the use of curcumin to treat eczema is a common practice.
A study that used an herbal extract cream containing curcumin showed it alleviated many of the symptoms of eczema.
One group received turmeric tonic twice a week for nine weeks, while the other group received a placebo.
Symptoms include a rash and severe itching.
The two most commonly used medications to treat scabies are a permethrin cream and oral ivermectin.
However, essential oils that have antimicrobial properties have also been used.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder that produces patches of scaly skin that can itch.
These can be purchased over the counter but may not have been reviewed or approved by the FDA.
Risks
In general, curcumin has few side effects and is considered safe by the FDA.
However, a few symptoms were reported in one trial to assure curcumin’s safety and its health benefits.
In another study, some participants received 0.45 grams3.6 grams per day of curcumin for one to four months.
Turmeric has been used to alleviate several skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis.
However, some people are allergic to turmeric.
If you have an allergy to turmeric, do not use supplements or topical medications that contain this ingredient.
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Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects.
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Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health.Foods.
2017 Oct 22;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092
Medline Plus.Atopic Dermatitis.
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DailyMed.Turmeric-infused pain cream.
