Turmeric and Curcumin
Turmeric is a traditional spice widely used in Indian and Asian cuisine. Aside from making food tasty, vibrant, and aromatic, turmeric also has healing properties. Curcumin, its active compound, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Because of these, curcumin gives turmeric its ability to manage oxidative stress, anxiety, depression, muscle soreness, inflammation, and skin conditions. In fact, recent studies opened the potential of curcumin as a treatment for psoriasis.
An animal study conducted in 2021 showed that turmeric could alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis in mice. Clinical trials were also conducted to test the effectiveness of products with curcumin and turmeric extracts. For instance, curcumin gel can reduce inflammation and redness of the skin when used alongside antibiotics and topical steroids. 75 percent of patients who tried using curcumin gel for four months no longer displayed severe symptoms of psoriasis. Another example is curcumin microemulgel. This product showed impressive effects in reducing the skin’s scaling, thickness, dryness, and redness.
Aside from topical products, curcumin can also be consumed orally. In a study conducted in 2015, patients tried taking oral curcumin alongside light therapy. This combination is hailed as one of the safest and most effective treatments for psoriasis.
