Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a golden yellow spice that packs bold flavor. It’s an essential ingredient in classic Indian curry dishes, as well as a powerful anti-inflammatory with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine, according to a review.

You may also know turmeric as curcumin, but curcumin is only one active compound in turmeric — albeit a very important one. In fact, many of turmeric’s anti-inflammatory benefits trace back to curcumin.

Traditionally, folks have used turmeric in hopes of treating arthritis, indigestion, and excessive gas, along with boosting energy, according to Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. Today, some people have turned to oral and topical turmeric treatments to manage the symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis.

Note that while many people use the terms "eczema" and "atopic dermatitis" interchangeably, eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause red, itchy, inflamed skin.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, and it often appears in the form of a red, itchy rash on the arms, legs, and cheeks, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Other types of eczema have different symptoms.

Unfortunately, atopic dermatitis is chronic and requires constant management, as certain triggers — like stress, chemical irritants (like laundry detergent), allergens, and sweat — can cause symptoms to temporarily worsen (also known as flares or flare-ups), according to the National Eczema Association.

Though there’s no cure for eczema, you can manage this skin condition by using a variety of approaches. Turmeric may make a helpful complementary treatment, early studies suggest.

The Effects of Turmeric on Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis

Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, making it an appealing treatment option for a variety of skin conditions, including eczema and atopic dermatitis.

As eczema and atopic dermatitis are inflammatory skin conditions, any compound that can help lower inflammation would be theoretically beneficial for easing redness and irritation. Substances with antimicrobial properties may help prevent the growth of skin bacteria or fungi in people with eczema and atopic dermatitis, whose skin often breaks during flare-ups and may be susceptible to more irritation and damage.

Meanwhile, antioxidants protect your body against damage caused by free radicals, which are often found in environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke. When there’s an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals in the body, a condition known as oxidative stress may follow, leading the free radicals to alter lipids, proteins, and DNA, according to a review in Pharmacognosy Review. Over time, diseases like cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease may develop.

Unfortunately, people with atopic dermatitis are more prone to damage from free radicals than people without this skin condition are, according to a study published in December 2013 in the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research. Thus, it’s especially important for people in this group to ensure they’re getting adequate antioxidants.

Typically, when people use turmeric for specific health benefits, they turn to turmeric supplements. Ground turmeric (the kind you use in cooking) doesn’t absorb well into the bloodstream, according to a review published in October 2017 in Foods. Turmeric supplements can provide the higher doses needed to see the benefits found in research studies.

For example, a supplement with 0.5 grams (g) of turmeric extract provides roughly 400 milligrams (mg) of curcuminoids (curcumin is one form of curcuminoid), while an equal portion of the ground spice provides only 15 mg of curcuminoids, according to the third-party supplement testing agency ConsumerLab. Research studies often use higher doses, which can range between 100 to 2,000 mg of turmeric and curcumin per day, according to a review published in August 2016 in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

As a skin-care treatment, turmeric may also be used topically in the form of creams and serums. Traditionally in India, turmeric was applied to the skin to make it glow, according to Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. Today, turmeric has been added to skin-care products to accomplish this, as well as treat a variety of skin concerns. Sunday Riley CEO Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil, for example, claims to add luminosity to the skin, thanks largely to an oil-soluble form of vitamin C and distilled turmeric oil. Meanwhile, the Cocokind Turmeric Spot Treatment looks like a lip balm but is meant to be applied to the skin to unclog pores, fight inflammation, and fade dark spots. It also contains ginger and tea tree oil.

As a treatment for anti-inflammatory conditions in general, turmeric may be useful, studies suggest. For example, it may play a role in treating arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes, according to the review in Foods. In fact, an earlier study found that it may be more effective than common anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and aspirin. Yet the effectiveness of oral and topical turmeric applications on treating inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis needs more research.

“[Turmeric] has not been extensively studied,” says New York City–based Samer Jaber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, member of the American Academy of Dermatology, and founder of Washington Square Dermatology. And the studies that do exist aren’t very conclusive — or necessarily specific to atopic dermatitis.

For example, a review published in January 2018 in the Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences revealed that oral curcumin may be an effective and safe treatment option for another chronic inflammatory skin condition: psoriasis. But the authors note that more studies are needed before curcumin can be recommended as a valid treatment option.

Meanwhile, a review published in August 2016 in Phytotherapy Research found that 10 out of 18 studies reported that oral or topical turmeric and curcumin treatments led to significant improvements in people with a variety of skin diseases. Ultimately, though, the authors concluded that while oral and topical turmeric and curcumin supplements showed some promise in treating skin conditions, more studies are needed to confirm their benefits.

And according to a review published in October 2013 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, topical use of turmeric and curcumin is limited by the spice’s bright color, poor solubility, and poor stability at a high pH.

The Importance of Talking to Your Doctor Before Trying Turmeric

As research on turmeric and eczema and atopic dermatitis is limited, you may want to avoid turmeric treatments, especially topical turmeric treatments. “I do recommend a diet high in natural foods and antioxidants but not for these things to be applied directly to the skin,” says Lauren Ploch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Augusta, Georgia.

“People with atopic dermatitis have a weakened skin barrier,” Dr. Ploch continues. “A weak skin barrier allows substances that are applied to the skin to be absorbed more easily.” This also means the effects of any substances are magnified in people with eczema and atopic dermatitis, making them more likely to experience redness and irritation from things like topical turmeric treatments, she adds.

If you’re still interested in exploring oral or topical turmeric treatments as an option for managing your skin condition, talk with your dermatologist, allergist, or other healthcare provider first.

For more information on eczema and atopic dermatitis, visit the American Academy of Dermatology.

Can Turmeric Help Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis?

The Effects of Turmeric on Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis

The Importance of Talking to Your Doctor Before Trying Turmeric