Turmeric

I came across turmeric when I was researching natural ways to get rid of my acne scars.
http://www.acne-resource.org/understanding-acne/natural-treatment.html

Acne in severe forms need medical attention, but in its mild form and at the beginning, acne can be treated effectively by natural herbs and following natures way in our daily routine. These herbs, which help even in removing blemishes, are not from any exotic plants or some rare species. These are very common natural products and oils found in our day to day life.

Spices play a major role in keeping the skin, digestive system and immune system healthy. But one should know how to use them, and use them moderately. A little bit of spices in food help digestion, but excessively spicy food may upset digestion. Spices in raw form can be used in getting rid of acne and blemishes left it.

Fruits and vegetables are excellent in skin care if applied directly on the skin also. This happens due to the presence of minerals, essential oils and natural antioxidants in fruits and vegetables.

One very useful spice in treating acne is turmeric. Taken both internally and applied directly on affected skin, it helps a lot due to its antiseptic properties. Taken internally, particularly with warm milk, it helps our immune system and is generally used in India to get rid of colds, and applied as warm poultice in treating inflamed skin due to sprain and strain. In the treatment of acne, turmeric is useful in drying out acne and removing blemishes.

To use it on acne, make a creamy paste of turmeric with coconut oil (or sesame oil). You can either warm this paste in a tea spoon and then apply, or dab it just like that on the acne. Cover the acne and surrounding area completely with this paste. Use this paste at least 20 minutes before going to bed so that it dries before your face contacts the pillow.

Leave it overnight and you would be surprised to find in the morning the difference in the size of acne. Even acne produced by hormonal changes in women responds to this turmeric treatment greatly. It takes hardly 2-3 days for acne to vanish completely, without leaving a hint of ever having been on the skin spot.

This is the greatest advantage of turmeric treatment. It not only dries out the acne, it stops any blemish formation or making skin flaky or dry. It also is useful in having a glowing complexion if applied everyday on the whole face before taking a bath, even for 5-10 minutes. This “face mask” is routinely used by South Indian women and their clear, smooth skin is an indicator of its effectiveness.

Vegetables like cucumber and tomato are good in cleaning skin of extra oiliness. You can extract the juice of these vegetables your face five minutes every day and get a clean skin. But, remember, natural products do not work overnight. You have to give them at least 3-4 week’s time before you skin starts showing results.

All fruits and vegetables contain a high amount of water. Water in itself is a potent source of getting rid of toxic body chemicals and helping in the transport of nutrients to the body. Water alone does not remove acne but taken in higher quantities internally and used to wash face as warm water and as ice cubes, it greatly helps skin in remaining healthy.

Exfoliation is necessary in keeping skin healthy and preventing accumulation of dead cells in skin because dead cells are one more cause of acne. Instead of using chemicals for exfoliation as face scrubs, you can use gram flour with a pinch of turmeric and a few drops of coconut oil to make a face mask which not only removes dead cells, but controls bacteria and smoothes skin also.

Its regular use gives a clear complexion and is useful in controlling acne. It’s particularly useful during summers and humid weather when it controls sweating, and keeps your skin fresh for longer duration.