Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence

The 2016 systematic review by Vaughn et al. evaluated the clinical evidence for turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its active component curcumin in treating skin conditions. The review included 18 studies out of 234 articles, covering conditions such as acne, alopecia, atopic dermatitis, and other skin diseases. Ten studies reported significant improvements in skin disease severity with turmeric/curcumin treatment. The review concluded that there is preliminary evidence suggesting therapeutic benefits for skin health from both oral and topical turmeric/curcumin products. However, limitations such as small sample sizes and the need for more research to assess efficacy and understand mechanisms were noted. Specific findings included significant improvements in atopic dermatitis symptoms in a study with 150 subjects, skin firmness and elasticity in a study with 28 subjects, and reductions in pruritus in studies with 100 and 96 subjects, among others. Some studies, such as those on oral lichen planus and pruritus with 100 and 64 subjects respectively, found no significant difference between treatment and control groups. The review also discussed the safety of turmeric and curcumin, potential interactions with medications, and strategies to improve curcumin's bioavailability. Despite some positive findings, the review emphasized the need for high-quality studies to confirm the effectiveness of turmeric/curcumin for skin diseases.