Is Turmeric a Safe and Effective Home Treatment for Psoriasis?
Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness. Talk to a healthcare professional about whether a supplement is the right fit for your individual health, and about any potential drug interactions or safety concerns.
Turmeric, the bright golden spice used in ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, has become known around the world for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Research suggests that the active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, can have a positive impact on diseases such as type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Can this superfood also reduce the chronic inflammation associated with psoriasis, improving symptoms? Many psoriasis patients hope that it can, but what do scientists and dermatologists say?
In a meta-analysis of 26 prior studies on curcumin and psoriasis, scientists determined that the compound helps subdue inflammatory factors, improving psoriatic skin lesions with few negative side effects.
“Our findings suggest that CUR [curcumin] alone or in combination with other conventional treatments can effectively treat psoriasis,” conclude the study authors, while also noting certain limitations of the clinical trials included in the meta-analysis, such as small sample sizes.
One research review that looked at turmeric’s and curcumin’s impact on a variety of skin conditions identified two small studies that concluded topical and oral curcumin treatments may reduce psoriasis severity. But both of these studies were very small, and the review’s authors note that additional research with more participants and a control group is needed to add to the reliability of the findings.
In their most recent joint guideline about psoriasis management, the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Psoriasis Foundation recognized turmeric as a relatively safe supplement that may potentially benefit people with psoriasis, but there isn’t enough evidence to recommend its use alongside other psoriasis treatments.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that curcumin products may differ in composition or contain more substances than expected, which can make research on these products difficult to analyze.
While more scientific investigation is needed to better determine turmeric’s curative powers, some dermatologists are still comfortable supporting the use of curcumin as a psoriasis treatment.
“There’s a whole push for natural and safe therapies in general among the U.S. patient population,” says Matthew Lewis, MD, a dermatologist with Stanford Health Care. “Oral curcumin seems to be safe and effective as an anti-inflammatory for psoriasis, so I actually do recommend that to people who want to try it. It’s easy to recommend because of the safety profile.”
According to Dr. Lewis, some of his patients credit improvements in their skin to curcumin supplements. The National Psoriasis Foundation lists turmeric as an integrative remedy that may minimize flare-ups.
Lewis believes turmeric must be taken in relatively high doses to have any significant impact. “You can’t just sprinkle it on your soup and expect it to have an effect,” he says.
However, research doesn’t conclusively show that ingesting large amounts of turmeric is safe. High doses of turmeric and curcumin, as in products labeled as having increased bioavailability (meaning they’re easier for the body to absorb), may cause liver damage.
Low doses, while deemed safer, can still have side effects. These include abdominal discomfort and stomach upset when taken by mouth.
The medical community doesn’t have a standard measurement for a high versus a low dose of turmeric. One meta-analysis defined a low dose as less than 1,000 milligrams (mg) of turmeric per day and a high dose as 1,000 mg or more daily.
Turmeric and curcumin can affect a variety of medications, including lessening the effects of aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They can also interact with blood thinners, tacrolimus (a medication used to prevent and treat organ transplant rejection), and chemotherapy medications. High doses of these substances can also raise the risk of kidney stones, especially if you have a family history.
Before you try a turmeric supplement, talk with your doctor about how it may interact with the prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking.
Some people apply turmeric creams, oils, and ointments directly to their skin to treat psoriasis. These topical products may not only reduce inflammation but also help treat bacterial and fungal skin diseases. The antioxidants in turmeric might help keep skin cells healthy, according to a recent research review.
Some people with psoriasis on their face apply turmeric face masks to calm inflammation and heal skin, a beauty treatment long used in Indian and Chinese cultures. These are often do-it-yourself concoctions that you keep on for about 10 to 15 minutes — any longer can give skin a yellow tinge — then wash off with warm water.
The internet is full of homemade recipes, including a cream made from about a teaspoon each of turmeric, honey, and yogurt. Users are cautioned not to get it in their eyes.
But Lewis questions how effective this form of turmeric may be.
“I wonder how much absorption is really happening when remedies are prepared topically,” he says. “And you have to be careful whenever you try topicals. The vehicle used has the potential to irritate the skin.”
High-quality research is lacking when it comes to understanding the safety and effectiveness of topical turmeric. Lewis warns against relying on turmeric over proven psoriasis medications or lifestyle interventions, such as following a healthy diet, that can improve symptoms.
Although studies are limited, some research suggests that turmeric supplements in modest doses may improve inflammation for people with psoriasis.
Supplements containing high doses of turmeric — sometimes labeled as having increased bioavailability — may cause liver damage.
Turmeric supplements are not safe for everyone because they can interfere with certain other medications and potentially raise kidney stone risk for people with a family history.
If you want to try turmeric supplements or any other home remedy for psoriasis, always talk to your doctor first.
