Turmeric soap is trend, but does it really work?

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In recent years, TikTok has become a governing authority in our society and dictates many of our purchases and daily decisions – especially when it comes to beauty. The app is even hosting #beautytok, a place where you can get the latest hacks, products and trends within 10 minutes after rolling. One of the latest to catch our attention? Turmeric soap.

Turmeric is a flowering plant that is often used as a spice in Indian, southeast Asian cooking. The yellow-orange herb has a warm, bitter taste and a strong, down-to-earth aroma that you can easily discover, depending on its shape. Turmeric is also known for its health benefitsfrom fighting diseases to facilitating digestion. Therefore, it is meaningful that it has recently become a hot product in skin care, with many who claim antibacterial and anti -inflammatory properties. When it comes to what it does, many TikTok users notes turmeric soap can help with anything from Hyperpigmentation and dark spots to acne. But is there any scientific evidence to support this claim and does it really work for everyone?

While many have reported positive results with their skin, there have also been people warned to use turmeric soap and claim an increase in outbreaks. Given the mixed reviews, we decided to ask the experts to see if the orange-hued spice is worth adding your skin care regime. Continue browsing to learn more.

Experts displayed in this article

Joshua writerMD, is a dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology and head of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Corey L. HartmanMD, is the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham and Deputy Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine.

Turmeric soap’s skin care benefits

According to experts, turmeric reduces microbial growth and sebum production, which can be useful in the treatment of skin conditions such as acne, along with its anti -inflammatory properties. “By reducing skin inflammation, turmeric can help prevent pores from being blocked, leading to pimples,” dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, tells PS. “By allowing the skin to operate optimally, cells can revive a healthy collagen to maintain a strong skin foundation, and with Turmeric’s active ingredient as curcumin, it can easier hyperpigmentation by blocking one of the most important enzymes needed to produce melanin in the skin.”

While the herb has its advantages, a size-passing approach does not apply to this spice. “Homemade turmeric soap is not kept in the same rules and regulations as store -purchased soap, whether the soap has turmeric within or not,” says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman. “Soaps sold in the store must meet the government’s requirements for cleaning products sold in the US that apply to ingredients, manufacturing and total safety and efficiency of the product; I recommend that you buy from highly audited, reputable soap manufacturers who often list all ingredients in their homemade soaps.”

It is also important to pay attention to the proportion of turmeric in which soap you buy. “An interval of 5 to 15 percent is most effective, and most people usually do not have to go higher in the active proportion of ingredient to see results,” says Dr. Hartman. He recommends Aspen Kay Naturals turmeric complete soap ($ 10) as a natural alternative that uses organic turmeric and Doves turmeric milk & lemon dropp ($ 6) as pharmacy options.

Risks of using turmeric on the skin

While turmeric can help with some people’s hyperpigmentation or acne, all skin is not created equally, so it is important to continue with caution when trying the trend, and those with sensitive skin should facilitate it. For the latter skin types, you want to be careful about using soap with too high concentration, as it can lead to irritation. You can say this with the color: “If a soap has a ruddy, red, almost clay color, it probably has a higher concentration of turmeric,” says Dr. Hartman.

He also suggests having a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays after using Tumeric SOAP, as it can increase the sensitivity to the sun due to its active ingredient, curcumin. “It has photosensitizing properties that make the skin more susceptible to UV rays when using products with that ingredient,” says Dr. Hartman.

So there you have it: Experts agree that there are some benefits to using turmeric soap, as Tiktok claims, but probably in measure – and which always interrupts use if you notice any side effects.

Naomi Parris is a New York-based fashion and beauty writer with over seven years of experience. She served as an editorial operational assistant on PS, specializing in all things. Her work has also seen in Elle, Essence Girls United, Bustle and Elite Daily. Obsessed by telling stories that merge fashion and black culture, her areas of expertise include fashion week coverage, high-profile interviews, shopping rounds, op-ed and beauty stories.