Can Turmeric and Honey Cure Acne?
In the sphere of health and nutrition, turmeric and honey are renowned as antioxidant-packed superfoods which nourish the body holistically. Often known for their three A’s- anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties- this potent duo gives a boost to any skincare routine.
But the most common question that arises in the minds of the people is that does turmeric and honey help acne?
To give you a comprehensive answer, we would first draw out how turmeric and honey individually play a part in curing acne, followed by how both of them can be used to eradicate these little zits once and for all. So, without any further delay, let’s find out is turmeric and honey good for acne or not?
Honey and its effectiveness against acne
Before we move on to honey’s effectiveness against acne, it is crucial to mention that honey here refers to raw honey and not the ones that are mass-manufactured in factories.
It is because raw honey is full of antibacterial properties, thanks to its enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand, commercially available honey is completely devoid of such properties and full of added artificial preservatives.
Now, let’s take a deeper look into how honey works against acne:
The reason behind honey’s effectiveness against acne is its high glucuronic acid content. This glucuronic acid gets converted into glucose oxidase, which after coming into skin contact, turns into hydrogen peroxide.
If you must know, hydrogen peroxide is the primary component of most acne treatments, such as in benzoyl peroxide. Moreover, due to the presence of fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamin B, and peptides, honey has a soothing effect on the skin, making it more effective against acne.
Since honey is nearly 69% sugar, it literally dries up the water present in the acne, preventing them from thriving and spreading. This is amongst the primary reasons why people use turmeric and honey masks for acne- it cures the zits from its roots.
Since we now know how honey takes action against acne, let’s see how honey nourishes the skin:
1. Performs deep moisturisation of the skin
Have you ever wondered why most of the over-the-counter beauty products contain traces of honey?
It is because the natural enzymes which are present in honey have the potential to easily seep into the skin and exfoliate it from deep within. Hence, it doesn’t only help in moisturizing the skin but also helps in clearing out its pores.
2. Lightens up acne scars
Often used as a natural antiseptic and moisturizer, this golden elixir can also be used to lighten up acne scars. The reason behind why it’s effective against these scars is because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that fuse to give a synergizing effect.
Honey heals the skin from its deepest layers and when combined with turmeric, it gives a boost to the rejuvenation process. This is why most of the experts recommend turmeric and honey for acne scars as it is both safe and effective.
3. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Honey, with an array of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, can also help in reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
If you want to lower your fine lines and wrinkles with honey, you could mix it with milk or curd and apply the paste on your face for 15-20 minutes. After the mentioned duration, rinse it off with lukewarm water and voila! You would have rejuvenated skin with reduced fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Helps with sunburn
For ages, honey has been used for treating burns. It encourages healing as it lowers inflammation and nourishes the burnt tissues. In case you want to use honey for sunburn, you could apply it to your skin along with Aloe Vera gel.
As you’re now aware of how honey takes action against acne and how it nourishes the skin, let’s find out the same about turmeric.
Turmeric and its effectiveness against acne
For hundreds of years, people from around the globe have used turmeric for its cosmetic and healing properties. Just like honey, turmeric also comes with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidants properties.
Due to its nourishing effects on the skin, turmeric can be used for the treatment of acne as well. Now, let’s look into how turmeric counters the problem of acne and acne scars:
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, one tablespoon of serving can meet 26% of daily manganese needs, 5% of daily potassium needs, and 16% of daily iron needs.
Along with preventing deficiencies in the body, turmeric also induces several positive side-effects in the form of anti-inflammatory properties, improving liver function and digestion. Hence, the consumption of turmeric indirectly helps in the nourishment of the skin.
However, what if you apply turmeric directly to your skin? In that case, turmeric can work wonders for your skin. Here are a few of the things that turmeric can do when it’s applied directly to the skin:
- fight eczema and psoriasis
- brighten dark circles
- prevent acne breakouts (and lessen active ones)
Since we know how turmeric, directly and indirectly, cures acne, let’s look into a few more skin benefits of turmeric:
1. Skin lightening
Turmeric dispenses glowing benefits to the skin, making it lighter and brighter. Skin lightening through turmeric is likely the result of the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that work together to boost the natural health of the skin.
2. Helps with acne scarring
The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric target exposed pores and soothe the skin, making it an ideal remedy to counter acne scarring.
If you want better results, you could look into using turmeric and honey face masks for acne scars, as both honey and turmeric, with their anti-inflammatory properties, can get rid of such scars in little to no time!
3. Combats sun damage and ageing
According to a study published in Science Direct, turmeric’s antioxidants could help in improving sun damage and reverse ageing by lowering fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Heal wounds
The curcumin found in turmeric can help in healing wounds by reducing oxidation and inflammation. By lowering the body’s response to cutaneous wounds, turmeric can accelerate the process of wound healing.
After covering turmeric’s and honey’s effectiveness against acne, let’s finally move on to how using both of them can cure acne:
Using turmeric and honey for acne
Till now, it must have been clear that both honey and turmeric are highly effective for curing acne. But when combined together, they make a powerful duo, as their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties get multiplied in manifolds.
So, if you think whether honey and turmeric are good for acne, the answer is yes! It sure does cure acne from the roots without any chemicals-induced side effects. While it may take some time to show results, it is a sure-shot way of getting rid of these little suckers!
Turmeric and honey face pack
Using a turmeric and honey face mask for acne is the best way of applying both of them to the face. Follow these steps to get the best results:
- Take ½ tablespoon of turmeric powder and ½ tablespoon of honey.
- Mix them properly and apply the pack to your face.
- Keep this face mask on for 10-15 minutes.
- Wash it off with lukewarm water.
- Use the pack at least 2-3 times a week.
Using honey and turmeric face pack for acne is the most ideal way of dealing with them in the comforts of your home.
Hence, both turmeric and honey are effective for curing acne. Moreover, people also use honey and turmeric for acne marks as they provide results with little to no side effects. With a wide array of benefits, it can be said that this potent duo can help you get rid of acne in little to no time!
General FAQs
Q1. Are honey and turmeric good for acne?
Ans: Yes, the combination of honey and turmeric is considered to be effective against acne as both of them boast antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Most people use a turmeric-honey mask for acne as it’s the simplest way of applying both of them directly to the skin.
Q2. How does honey and turmeric cure acne?
Ans: Honey and turmeric have their own sets of ingredients that provide relief from acne. For instance, honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is a primary ingredient of acne treatments, while turmeric contains curcumin, which combats the bacteria that causes acne. With their potential combined, they dispense effective relief from acne breakouts.
Q3. Can turmeric and honey cure acne?
Ans: Yes, turmeric and honey can effectively treat acne. In fact, both of them have been widely used for centuries for treating skin conditions. Due to their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, they prevent acne from thriving.